Time for a Spiritual Check-up

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Psalm119:10-11

Psalm 119 is a Psalm that glorifies God and His Word. It is passionately written by one who truly loves the Lord. The Psalmist states in verses 10-11, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

How often do we get into a spiritual rut where our hearts no longer seek God? We let the world slowly ease in and infiltrate into our lives, and the world’s ways slowly become our heart's desire, replacing God’s ways. God is no longer the central focus of our lives, nor are His commandments hidden in our hearts. A thick wall of plaque and grime has encased around our hearts in which His Word cannot penetrate through.

Does His Word penetrate through your heart? Do you seek the Lord with all of your heart? Have you wandered away from His commandments? Do your words and actions bring glory to God? Do you harbor ill will, bitterness, hatred, or unforgiveness towards others? Are you kind, loving, and empathetic towards others?  Does your heart beat for God or yourself? Are you growing in the Word? Are you praying regularly? This list of questions could go on and on. None to say there are times in our lives we need to stop and examine our hearts and ask these questions. We need to self-discipline ourselves and feed our spirits, so that we do not clog up our hearts with sin, apathy, complacency, and the world.  

Our clogged hearts can be shown in our words and actions. If we allow the sinful worldly plaque to build up around our hearts, and not maintain a healthy heart line to God, our hearts will not be one with Him. Your heart will become a hardened wall of plaque that is deaf and blind to His Word. Therefore, your words and actions may not be holy or godly. We need to do periodic spiritual check-ups, so we do not fall to the wayside, and so the wall of plaque does not form around our hearts.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your Word. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that guides us, comforts us, and encourages us. Help us to keep Your Word hidden within our hearts and to obey it. Help us to keep our hearts free from the plaque of the world so that we may heed Your call and serve You and bring glory to You. And Lord please give us the grace to seek you continually with our whole hearts.

Amen.

Love and Blessings,

Carol

Good News

Image by MAG

Luke 2:10-11 "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

During these uncertain times, I hear many people saying that they are unhappy, and people are saying that there is no good news in their life right now. Many people are saying that there is nothing to be laughing about or to be joyful about. But I am telling you that there is something to be joyful about, during these uncertain times and that is the Good News. 

What is the Good News? The Good News is Jesus. Jesus, our great God, who became a man, and who died on the cross for us. He suffered terribly for us, for he was mocked, spitted upon, hit in the face, and was scourged. He loved us so much that he died on the cross to save us from our sins and to save us from the wrath that is to come. He bore our sins, our griefs, and our sorrows on the cross.  

And yet, people still say there is nothing to be joyful about? I am telling the world that there is plenty to be joyful about and that everyone should be shouting alleluia about it! And his name is Jesus, our Messiah, our Healer, our Lord, our King of Kings, our Victor over death, our Redeemer, and our Savior. In the book of Isaiah 53:5 (KJV), it says regarding Jesus Christ, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed."

Heavenly Father, 

I thank You for the great gift that was given to all Your people so many years ago. A gift that was announced through Your angelic host announcing the great news and bringing such great joy. Thank You for Jesus and for the joy and peace that floods all of our hearts who have found Him and accepted Him into our lives. 
Lord I pray for those who do not know Jesus that they would come to know Him personally and that they would be saved by Your grace by accepting Him into their lives. I pray that they would be able to experience the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding and that Your joy and peace would just flood their inner being. Amen.

Love and Blessings,
Carol