All I have is His

““It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ””

Matthew 21:13 NIV

I was reflecting on this verse today and began to think about my heart attitude while praying.  God desires are a humble heart willing to do and sacrifice for His glory.  A heart that will take great riches and use them to glorify Him.  How many times do I seek to gain from my prayers? How many times do I seek to buy a sacrifice rather than giving until it hurts?  A sobering thought in suburbia tonight.  All I have is His...feeling humbled.

Look for the "why"

Scripture: “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

Observation: it's not what but why.

Application: things aren't always what they seem.  Look at the why or the heart behind things to gain clarity.

Prayer: Father, teach me to act from the heart and to look at the why in myself and others.  Amen.

Struggling with being more "human"

Scripture: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

1 Peter 3:8 NIV

Observation: we are all called to be this way as Christ followers.

Application: Focus less on cause and effect, justified vs. unjustified, or deservesd or undeserved, for Christ showed no partiality to our own sin.  Be like minded in grace showing sympathy, compassion and humility.

Prayer: Father, I struggle with some of the more "human" traits of compassion, & sympathy when the situation seems "fair".  Give me Your eyes and heart, that I may learn to behave differently and my first instincts would become love, grace, mercy, and sympathy.  Amen.

First

Scripture: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”

Psalm 63:1 NIV

Observation: do I long for Gid in this way?

Application: do not wait for all other things to fail before relying on God.  Seek Him first in all things.

Prayer: Father, be my hearts desire.  Be first.  Amen

Change catalyst

Scripture: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

Romans 7:24-25 NIV

Observation: God is the change catalyst.

Application: I can't but God can, that is the nature of change.  He is able to do all things and spark changes in me that I fail at in my own power.

Prayer: Lord, keep changing me!  Amen.

Mercy

Scripture: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Observation: "in his great mercy"

Application: God loves us why?  Because He is merciful.  We can't earn it, He chose to give it.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your mercy. Teach me to be merciful to others!  Amen.

Perfect will

Scripture: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 NIV

Observation: His will is perfect.

Application: Things in this world may not make sense, but God's will is perfect in purpose and practice.  Surrender.

Prayer: Father, Your will is far superior to anything.  I pray that each day You would show me Your will and that I would obey. Amen