Bring Us Home To You

I don’t know about you folks but I’m finding these times that we are going through quite difficult. Not difficult from a faith perspective, but difficult in how to effectively channel all of what seems to be rising to the surface, as time moves forward.

I was reminding God this morning how Paul had his “on the road to Damascus” experience and a vision as Paul relates in 2 Corinthians 12, and God reminded me that we have His Word. Obviously I had more of a personal revelation in mind and God let me know that I already had it. Not to mention, Paul and I aren’t even on the same ball field in so many important ways.

I really enjoy walking alone and saying my prayers. It’s my one on one time with God and quite often God reminds me of things, that for some reason, I seem to have forgotten.

This morning He reminded me of some of the things that I had done very early in my walk with Him. And when I say “my walk with Him”, I use that term loosely because there is a vast difference between where I was then and where I am now. And it’s not that I have gained a vast amount of understanding since that early time and now, but rather, I now see more clearly, how totally out of step I was with Jesus and how I was not even remotely aware of my own limitations, from a time perspective of then and now.

If I was to compare it with schooling, those early times were my kindergarten years, only I didn’t know it at the time. And where am I now? My answer is quite different from how I would have answered in those early years. I now have come to understand that I don’t truly know the depths of my own limitations, nor what I truly need, and so when I ask God to guide my steps, and the steps of those that I love, it is with the understanding that God truly knows what I do not know, and all I really need to do is just ask Him to do what is best for me and those that I love and care for, and trust that He will.

And then of course, as I am praying, those Scriptures verses come to my mind that validate this process, such as Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

I do know that my mind and consequently my emotions, can be affected by a thousand and one things. So also can my heart, the essence of my being. And as well as I might think that I understand myself, I have come to comprehend that this heart of mine is not like God’s heart and there is no possible way in which I change my heart to be like God’s. Only God can do that, so I have to leave that with Him too.

And sure enough, there is a Scripture of God’s Holy Word that comes to mind and covers that too: Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Take note Who does it

And then of course, there is my mouth, you know, that place where the words come out of (verbal or written). Closely associated with our minds (where we think) and hearts (where we desire). Big problem, right?
Do you want to know what state your mind and heart is in? Listen to the words that come out of your own mouth (verbal or written). Scripture verse to cover that? There sure is: James 3:10 comes to mind: “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

And about this time, as I am being mindful of my utter need, to have God control this mouth of mine and have God mold this mind of mine into His ways and His thoughts and change this heart of mine from stone to flesh, I am mindful of Jesus, Whom God our Father sent to us, because of His love for us, so that we might see and hear, more of the Father. And Jesus gave us His Words, and He showed His Words and He obeyed His Words, and we, who believe and trust in Jesus, through God’s grace are complete in Him.

And how about all that which envelops us day and night and night and day in these trying times?
I can’t speak for others but I can speak for me:
I am tired of our division.
I am tired of our twisting of truth.
I am tired of our lies.
I am tired of our dishonesty.
I am tired of our injustice.
I am tired of hearing us say that wrong is right and right is wrong.
I am tired of our never ending quest for power and control.

And is there a Scripture verse in God’s Holy Word that covers this? Yes there is. Romans 3:10-12
“as it is written:
“There is no righteous person, not even one;
There is no one who understands,
There is no one who seeks out God;
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good,
There is not even one.”

You don’t think that applies to all of us? Think again.

So my prayer this morning was, Father, in the name of Jesus, in your mercy, bring us home to you (Philippians 1:6).

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!