1 Samuel

God Sees Each Heart

9:19 AM


 I believe the words in 1 Samuel were written for people like me- those who feel they may never measure up to their own expectations, let alone others'! And there were others like David that I found  in the Bible that God chose to use! Those like, 

  • Moses, murdered an Egyptian and ran away, but God used him mightily to bring His people out of Egypt!
  • Jacob was a deceiver, but God created the nation Israel through him. 
  • Rahab was a prostitute, but God used her to help bring His people into Canaan.
  • David was just a boy, but God chose him to be King over Israel.
In fact, when you truly begin to examine each of the lives mentioned in God's Word, I don't believe you'll find one perfect person except Jesus, but God choses to use us misfit, imperfect people anyway. I'll never understand why He does, for He truly doesn't need us to accomplish anything, but 1 Samuel 16:7 gives us a clear indication as to who He chooses to use to accomplish His work, 
...“Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

It's truly comes down to our heart. Does our heart beat for Him? Is it willing to surrender and yield itself to Jesus, or is it still demanding its own way? 

What can God do with a surrendered heart? Everything! 

 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," (Ephesians 3:20 emphasis mine)

God can do more through you than you can even dream up! Imagine that! 

 What can we do on our own? Nothing!

 "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 emphasis mine)

Nothing of any eternal value, anyway. Why is it we think we need to be good enough, wealthy enough, smart enough... when God says all I need is your heart surrendered to Me? 

This makes me think of a story I once heard of a wealthy, but fugal widow who one day decided to be one of the first homes in the area to install electricity. Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. 
“I’m wondering if you can explain something to me then,” he said. “Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?”

“Certainly,” she answered. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then turn them off.”

Her home was connected to this amazing power, but she failed to utilize it. I liken this to those who have accepted Jesus for their final destination (salvation), but have never trusted Him with their destiny. The power is there, but they're still getting by on our own strengths. 

Imagine what might happen if we not only tapped into His power, but left it on! 

It's almost as easy as flicking the switch. Just a matter of surrendering and inviting Him to come in and take charge, sitting back and watching Him go to work. That's really it! We humans like to complicate things and make them out to be more difficult than they really are, when The Lord has made it very simple really. 

Is there something He has been calling you to do? Something you would love to do, only you haven't quite figured out how? Or, just maybe He wants to do in you something you haven't even thought of yet!!! Just imagine! 

Are you willing to invite Him to take over? 

I truly cannot wait to see all He will do through you!

Blessings, 

Sue



Challenge for 2022

The Power Found in a Thankful Heart

8:30 AM


Did you know there is great power found in a grateful heart? It’s true, and they have research to prove it!

“Scientific studies have proven gratitude increases neural modulation in the brain, in the prefrontal cortex, which regulates negative emotions. It also activates dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for making you feel good.” That’s scientific talk that basically states that the results of maintaining an attitude of gratitude is instant happiness that will prompt you to continue to giving thanks.

A good friend of mine once confessed that she had been hospitalized due to a nervous breakdown and what helped her most to recover was reading her Bible and writing down 12 things she was thankful for in a journal each day- a practice she still swears by and practices today!

Gratitude also curbs other symptoms of anxiety, helping us to deal with the disorder more effectively according to a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the United States.

  • It can reduce Insomnia
  • Reduces stress hormones in the body
  • And can positively impact bodily functions, memory, and emotions.

 BUT more importantly, giving thanks is something that each one of us are commanded to practice on a daily basis; anxiety, or no anxiety. (Phil. 4:6-7, Col. 3:15, 1 Thes. 5:16-18, and many others)

So, How Can We Best Practice Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude? 

(These are just a few suggestions and if you have any other proven habits, I hope you'll share them with us as well)

1.) Keep a Journal

Write down all that is causing any anxiety, sadness, fear, etc. And then find at least 3 things to be thankful for right now. Even if it's, 'I'm thankful I woke up and I'm still breathing!'

2.)  Stop to Meditate

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Phil. 4:8

 Focus on all the good things in your life and start thanking God for each. You’ll eventually become a thankful person by nature.

3.) Share Your Gratitude with Others 

This may seem silly, but it goes a long way towards practicing gratitude. 

Writing down your thoughts,  dwelling on the positives and then sharing your positive thoughts with God and others will go along way to develop an attitude of gratitude and squelch all those anxious thoughts that try to take over.  

Blessings, 

sue

belong

Does Your Heart Belong to Jesus? {John 2}

9:30 AM


Good morning beloved!

Did you know that for the rest of this year we will be reading ALL of the Apostle John’s writing? 

John happens to be my favorite disciple, which is probably why I’m so excited! John had the gift of mercy and describes himself in this book as “the disciple that Jesus loved”. I think that speaks of how important that was to John -- Jesus loved him, and I’ll share a bit more about that later in this post.


John chose to stress the deity of Jesus in his gospel by giving us seven miracles that will serve to proclaim that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. We’ll also see Jesus refer to Himself as the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd and others that all point to His deity. In fact, John’s gospel is the most theological of all four gospels!

Have I peaked your excitement just a bit?  I hope so, for I hope that when we’re through reading all that John has written to us, you too will be so thankful for John and all he took the time to write!

Chapter two begins with Jesus’ first miracle ever recorded. I thought it was interesting that Jesus’ ministry begins at the time of the Passover celebration (verse 13) and will end during the Passover three years later.

But what I’d most like to focus on today is something I found at the end of this chapter in verses 23-25. I thought it was awfully strange at first and perhaps you can help explain why this is. Notice,
“ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” (emphasis mine)


Why wouldn’t Jesus “entrust himself to them”? The passage tells us the people, “believed in His name”, why wouldn’t Jesus entrust Himself to them?

What reason does John give?

“for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”

He knew their hearts! He knew people’s “hearts are deceptively wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9)

Here’s something I found that I thought summed it up pretty well:
"Although Jesus chose to live and work and say and do only those things that He heard from the Father.. He was still omniscient and knew the content of men's hearts. Jesus knew what men were thinking and He would not commit Himself to any of them, since He knew all about them - for He knew all men. Oh, the crowds were following Him around the streets of Jerusalem and they became excited when they saw the miracles He did. They started to believe in Him, but not for Who He was.. only for what they could get from Him. They saw the many signs and miracles that Jesus did, and most followed Him for the wrong reason. But Christ knew their hearts. He knows their thoughts. He knew their motives. Jesus knew whether their professed faith was from a genuine heart of real repentance towards God and a desire to live godly, or if it was simply a counterfeit faith, that was following after Him for selfish motives."--Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/john-2-24

Two important truths jump out at me right away:

1.)   We shouldn’t put all our faith in people.
This one statement could fill pages of a book to explain, but it simply comes down to,
·         People are fickle; they’ll love you one day and forget about you the next!
·         People are fallible; they are doomed to fail at some point and could end up hurting you.  Even our best intentions are no match for a perfect God!
·         Cling to Jesus and together the two of you can love others.

2.)   Jesus doesn’t need us! We need Him!
He sees our hearts and knows whether our profession of faith is genuine.  

Therefore, I must ask you, have you truly put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you walking intimately with Him each day?

If you’re not certain, it’s imperative to settle this now! Do you know, that you know, your heart belongs to Jesus? Why spend another day without Him?

Blessings,

sue

heart

The Real You {Mark 7}

9:30 AM

Today's Scripture Passage:  Mark 7


As we shelter in place I’ve noticed a lot of jokes about remaining in your pajamas all day; failing to shower or shave, and I had to wonder, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be loved for who we truly are, without pretense?

Did you know God feels the same way?

Here in Mark 7 the Pharisees are watching and questioning him again eager to find something to pin on Jesus to discredit Him. Notice:

The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“‘This people honors me with their lips,    but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me,    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (Mark 7:5-9)

Jesus was always Himself, but that didn’t seem to make a difference to the religious rulers of that day. He couldn’t remain true to His purpose for coming and hope to win their approval. 
Yet He wants to show them their own hypocrisy; “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

But it’s what He says next that should be important to all of us,  “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:14-15)

It’s all about our heart! Outward appearances only masks our true nature. We should never go by what we see externally in knowing a person’s real spiritual condition --how they dress, how they behave on Sunday are only outward signs, and don’t show the true spiritual condition of a person.

 Our true nature is generally buried deep within our heart which only God can openly read, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we were free to be ourselves? No pretense, no play-acting?

Jesus knows the real “heart” of each of us.  And LOVES US! Uniquely! He loves us in our messiest or picture perfect. Our outward appearance doesn’t matter. Let these words sink in a moment:

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, __(your name)__, And He who formed you, ______, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!” (Isaiah 43:1)

If we would start loving other the way Jesus loves, or better yet, allow Jesus to love others through us, perhaps we will one day be absolutely free to be loved for who we truly are. 

 Blessings, 

 sue


2 Corinthians

A Spiritual Checkup {2 Corinthians 13}

12:00 PM




Monday May 11, “Walking In Wisdom”


A few years back I had to have some testing done on my heart. And although the process was worrisome and a little painful, I was rewarded with a good report from the cardiologist. “Everything looks normal”, he said as he went over the findings. “And because you got these tests done, you now know you have a healthy heart. And that’s great news. Because if your heart isn’t healthy, the rest of your body won’t be healthy either.” Our physical heart health, and the care we give it, is very important; especially as we age. But just as important is our spiritual heart health. For as Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” 

Because some members of the Corinthian church were still continuing to walk in sin after having been saved, Paul wrote a stern letter to them warning that he would soon be returning to Corinth for a third time. And this time warnings would be replaced with consequences. “I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone.” (vs. 2) So before he arrives, Paul urges now would be the perfect time for a spiritual check up. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (vs. 5) But it’s not only the Corinthians who needed to test their hearts, so do we. We too need to ask ourselves, “Is Jesus in me? Is my heart healthy?” 

So how do we go about giving our hearts a checkup? By asking the great Physician. “Search me O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any hurtful way in me. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.” (Ps. 139:23,24, Ps. 26:2) When we ask, through the Holy Spirit, God will show us the areas that need our immediate attention. And when He gives us His findings, it’s our job in loving obedience and repentance to examine, “everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good, and abstain from every evil.” (1 Thess. 5:21-22) Another good test of our spiritual health is the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit manifested in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us,  “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” If we are truly filled with Jesus, these fruits will flow freely from ours hearts to others. 

“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!” (Lam. 3:40) One day very soon Jesus will come back. And on His final triumphant return, like Paul, the warnings He gave will turn into consequences for those who rejected His gift of salvation. Now is the time for a spiritual checkup. Time to take stock of our hearts and be sure they reflect the image of the Lord, so that we will not “fail the test” and find ourselves “disqualified”. And until that glorious day of our Savior’s coming, in the beautiful words of Paul may, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” vs. 14)



heart

Words By Roxanna ~ How to Refresh Your Mind, Heart and Soul

9:03 AM

The former televangelist, Jim Bakker, in his autobiography I Was Wrong, tells the story of his descent into ignominy, impoverishment and imprisonment. He lost his freedom, his sanity, his dignity, his confidence in his faith, and eventually even his wife. Inmate 07407-058, one-time confidant to presidents, had hit rock bottom.

At his very lowest point, a prison official came to him and said, ‘Billy Graham is here to see you!’ He thought, ‘Billy Graham has come here ... to this place ... to see me.’ When he walked into the room Billy Graham turned towards him and opened his arms wide.
He said at that moment he felt total acceptance and love. ‘I will never forget that the man who had just been voted one of the most influential men in the world and who has ministered to millions of people took time out of his busy schedule to come minister to one prisoner.’ He describes how in the midst of his depression, flu, filth and hopelessness, Billy Graham’s visit refreshed his heart and boosted his spirit. ‘I felt as though Jesus Himself had come to visit me.’
Refreshment means restoring strength, energy and vigor. A light snack is sometimes referred to as a ‘refreshment’. Physical refreshment can also come, for example, from sleep, rest, or exercise.
Paul tells Philemon that he has ‘refreshed the hearts of the saints’ (Philemon 7). Later on in the letter, Paul asks him to ‘refresh my heart in Christ’ (v.20). But how do we refresh our minds, hearts and souls?
Blessings Roxanna

greatest commandment

Scripture Saturday~The Greatest Commandment

12:00 AM

Saturday, September 8, 2018


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Matthew 22:37,38...

 Jesus replied, "You must love your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment..." (NLT)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

heart

A Heart Ready to Worship {Malachi 1-2}

8:00 PM


“I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” 

Listen:
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised.  When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.  
 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 
 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand." Malachi 1:6-10 (emphasis mine)

 Can you see God’s heart in these verses? Can you hear the longing in His words?

Israel had been back from captivity for a hundred years now, and they’ve mixed in with many foreigners once more. The Temple has been rebuilt and they are now worshiping and serving God “religiously”. But what they still don’t understand is that it’s not about a religion, but a relationship!

What exactly are the priests being accused of?

  • Honoring people more than God (v.8)
  • Despising God (v.12)
  • Complaining about the work (v.13)
  • Offering defective and stolen goods as sacrifices (v.13)
  • Attempting to deceive God with their sacrifices (v.14)

AND why is this important to us today? 

Because we are now called a royal priesthood, (“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” -1Peter 2:9) And we’ve got to be careful that we’re not guilty of doing the same type of things these priests we’re doing!!

There seems to be a growing trend in many churches today of creating a “seeker friendly” church. At some point the focus on worship stopped being about God and more about what individuals wanted. It seems that in many churches today, the music and the message are now focused on our pleasure. Paul warned us that this would happen eventually, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2Tim 4:3

It was the same for Israel in the days of Malachi. Prophets and priests tickled the ears of the congregation and favored whomever contributed the most money. The religious leaders chose to speak on the positive and popular aspects of God's blessing, and stay clear of the negative, unpopular aspects of His Word. Ultimately, the leaders were more concerned with the approval of men than with glorifying God at the risk of man's rejection.

With their view of God diminished they neither sought to glorify nor fear God; they were simply going through the rituals; offering the One who they owed their very life and existence to, far less than their best, and we must be very careful we don’t fall into the same patterns.

All that we do; every decision we make must be made for the purpose of honoring God!

I wonder, is there anyone who can honestly claim that every decision they make is based on whether it honors the Lord or not apart from Christ Jesus, Himself?

  • When we dress for church, are we dressing to please Him? 
  • When we sing, are we only singing to an audience of One? 
  • Are we opening His Word to hear only from Him, or are we more interested in listening to others? 
  • When we give, are we giving the whole tithe from our "first-fruits", or are we keeping some for ourselves?
  • When we serve, whom are we ultimately serving?  

God wants all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength in all that we do, but especially when we worship. If we are not striving to worship according to the way He desires, and with the right mindset, it would be better for us not to worship at all. (v.10)

He isn’t seeking perfection in our worship only our heart.  --A worshiper, whose greatest desire is to love and glorify Him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you yearn to experience more of the love of Jesus in your life this fall? Come join our New Testament study with an eclectic group of women from around the world!

Together we'll read through the entire New Testament and grow to love our Lord & Savior even more! Trust in Him, and begin an adventure that will transform your life and maybe others as well!
Begins August 31st! on Women in the Word.

Angie Benjamin

Deeper Living {Jeremiah 17-20}

12:55 AM


The heart is deceitful above all things
    and beyond cure.
    Who can understand it?
 “I the Lord search the heart
    and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
    according to what their deeds deserve.”- Jeremiah 17:9-10

Jeremiah 17 verse 9 teaches us that the heart is deceitful. So often we hear phrases like "follow your heart", but the truth is that it's our heart or "flesh" that often gets us in trouble.

Self deception is one weapon that the enemy uses to trap us. Our heart (flesh) always helps self to get whatever self wants. When we have a strong desire for something, we can easily deceive ourselves by telling ourselves whatever we want to hear.  When our will desires something, our mind will give us a variety of reasons why we should have it, even our emotions will follow in agreement to what our will or flesh desires! and oh boy... that's when problem comes in!

I've been blessed with a husband who is a very quiet man...but very wise. He doesn't get moved by emotions, nor by feelings (though sometimes this fact frustrates me as well, since by nature we women tend to me very emotional ha!). The truth is, that he has always taught me that I need to live deeper than the shallowness of my own mind, will and feelings.



Living deeper means that we go beyond what we want, what we think and how we feel and we decide to live by the Word of God.

It is only when we bow our knees (our will) in humility to God's will and His word that we will find our true blessings.

We must pray and stay alert against any deception from the enemy. When we believe something that is not true, we are deceived.

Believing a lie, to a point that it actually becomes truth to you even though it's a lie is a very dangerous place to be. We must rather recognize the fact that not everything we want is best for us. We must pray and ask God for what we want, but always be willing to change when we discover it doesn't quite align to God's will for our lives.



After all, God has our best interest at his heart- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.- Jeremiah 29:11.

Above all, hold your peace and remain at rest.

"Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart" - Psalm 51:6

The more we fill our hearts and minds with God's word and wisdom the less room we'll have for deception to come in.

Remain blessed sister, enjoy your weekend.

Angie

Cyrus

God Can Use Anyone {Ezra 1:1-3:13}

12:00 AM


The prophet Isaiah wrote a prophecy concerning one whom God called “His anointed”. (Is. 44:28-45:25) A man who God would take by the right hand. This man would subdue nations, rebuild God’s temple and shepherd the Lord’s people. Who was this man? No other than Cyrus the great. A mighty king of Persia who didn’t know God, and who followed his own rules. And yet roughly 150 years later, this unbelieving king became an instrument of God, proving that not only does God keep His promises, He can use anyone to do so.

Because of their sins of idolatry and rebellion, God allowed the Jewish people to become captives and taken to Babylon. But in Jeremiah 29:10 God promised, “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place’.” To fulfill this good word, God used Cyrus. “The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom.” (Ezra 1:1) This proclamation allowed the exiled Jews to be freed; to return to their holy land and rebuild the temple. Cyrus even restored the temple treasures to Jerusalem and allowed building expenses to be paid from the royal treasury (Ezra 1:4-11);(Ezra 6:4-5). And all of this happened at God’s hand. He rules all; even the actions of a pagan king. For as proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is like the channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Throughout Scripture we find God using believers, nonbelievers, and even His enemies to accomplish His will. He is the Sovereign Creator of the universe. And because of this no matter what; not our past, not our shortcomings, not even the condition of our hearts prevents Him from using us for His purpose. Think about the story of Pharaoh in Exodus. We know that God used Moses powerfully to save His people, but He also used Pharaoh to bring about His desired results. Just like Paul says in Romans 9:17, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the entire earth’.” 

God’s not looking for perfect people to accomplish His goals. In fact, He doesn’t need our help at all. Instead He gives us the privilege of being used by Him. Whether we are given a small purpose like volunteering at church, or being a friend to someone in need, or given a large purpose like leading His people or rebuilding His temple, being used by God is a wonderful thing! I love how Pastor Rick Warren puts it, “Remember the basics. You were planned for God’s pleasure, formed for God’s family, created to become like Christ, shaped for service, and made for a mission! These are the purposes for which God made you!”

The next time you feel unusable by God, reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 which says, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,  or many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.” The Lord loves to use the weak, the simple, the unexpected, and the flawed. There’s a saying that goes, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” No matter who you are or how imperfect you feel, when it comes to accomplishing His will the Lord can and will use anyone or anything. And no matter our circumstances, that includes you and me!

“Think about the people in your own life, believers and nonbelievers. How is God using them to work in your life? Take time to thank Him that He is not bound by our preconceived ideas about who is ‘worthy’ or not to do His bidding”....iworship Bible



Angie Benjamin

Wholeheartedly Living {2 Chronicles 25:1-28:27}

7:22 AM


Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became kind, and he reign in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin, from Jerusalem. Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly.
2 Chronicles 25:1-2

Doing the right thing with the right heart...

The heart, the heart and its condition.

The heart in our physical body is the most important organ, and I believe our "spiritual heart" is as well the most important aspect of our spiritual life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

Many people have a right heart. They love God and they really want to do the right thing in every situation. But there are others who have a wrong heart, even when they do "the right" thing... the do the "right thing" with the wrong motives.

In this passage we read about Amaziah who did what was right on the outside but inside he often resented what he had to do.

His obedience was best half-hearted. When the prophet promised God's deliverance, Amaziah first complained about the money that had been lost (25:9).. and he also valued military success more than God's will.

So even when this king, did "the right things" God was not pleased with him, for God really knows the condition of the heart.

 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




Let's look at another example.

When the Bible says about giving.. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver, a person who gives not out of compulsion or with a bad attitude but someone who has a willing heart.

Today let us search our own hearts and root out any resistance to obeying God. When we comply while at the same time we grudge is not true obedience.

Let us make sure that we are not only doing the right thing, but we also the attitude in our heart is pleasing to the Lord.

Have a blessed weekend,

Angie