2 Chronicles 25:1-2 – “Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.  ² And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of Pride and Perfect Hearts filled my consciousness.  Those are incomparable, right?   Certainly!  Perfect hearts are God’s desire and should be our goal. Pride is a preventative to everything God desires.

In 2 Chronicles 25, Amaziah did what was right, but… that is always troubling. The “but” problem. “But not with a perfect heart.”  That is the condition of multitudes today.  We go through the motions and do the right things, but the heart is not perfect (pure and surrendered).   In 2 Chronicles 27:16, when King Uzziah became rich, Pride filled his heart and opened the door to rebellion.

In 2 Chronicles 32, we read of Hezekiah’s response to danger.  He prayed and declared, (v7) – “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed in the presence of the king of Assyria, nor in the presence of all the armies that have come with him; FOR there is more with us than with him:”   All he has is his army and earthly weapons, but we have  The Living God! In vv 20-21, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed, and prayer unleashed the avenging angel of God!

The deterrent to Pride is Presence!  God’s presence dismantles all ground upon which Pride can be built. Presence brings humility and peace.   Presence brings clarity of mind and purity of heart.  Presence brings the power of God.

Titus 1:15-16 reveals a valuable truth – Profession is not possession! Knowledge is not faith!  What we say is secondary to what we do!  Actions not only speak louder than words, but they also reveal the heart.  Many go to church but never become the church.  Many add Jesus as an accessory rather than their foundation.

Pride cannot thrive in the presence of Grace.  Titus 2:11-14 is powerful.   Grace brings salvation.  Grace teaches us to renounce certain things and to move into a life that is a complete contrast to the self-life.  Grace produces an upward look.  Grace brings us into the presence of purity.  Grace enlightens, equips, and enables.

Clean hands and pure hearts experience His presence.  Pride blocks the person and the provision of Christ.  If we discover any semblance of Pride, we should run, not walk, to the altar!  Peace and purity will not cohabit with pride. No peace, look for the presence of Pride.   

My cry is the prayer of Psalm 51:10-13.  Cleanness of heart, rightness of spirit, presence of the Holy Spirit, restoration of overflowing joy, and embraced by the LORD! Protected from pride and propelled by peace through purity.

Lord, help us to rid ourselves of foolish pride so we can enjoy a pure heart!

2 Chronicles 10:8 – “But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.”

As I read, prayed, and contemplated the Word of God today, one thing I heard was, “Who has your ear?”   Who are what are you listening to?  What is filling your thoughts?  What fills your thoughts fills your heart and affects your spirit.  Wrong voices produce wrong decisions, and wrong decisions produce wrong results.

2 Chronicles 10:8, Rehoboam had the opportunity to solidify the kingdom,

but he rejected the wisdom of experience for the pride and machoism of youth. That resulted in a divided kingdom.

Who has your ear?  What do you watch, listen to, talk about, dream about, and long for?  Remember this simple truth: fresh and salt water do not flow from the same spring.  What goes in the eye, ear, and thought gates shapes who we are.

Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 to FLEE the captivation of the world (money, possessions, position, etc). Flee – Follow – Fight.  James tells us to submit to God, resist the devil, and out of that condition and position, the devil obeys legitimate authority and flees.

Here it is, Run From something, but not just run away, run to FOLLOW.  Follow what?  The one-word answer is God.  But he details it in describing the shaping of character. Follow righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, and meekness.   Out of that condition and in that developed character, FIGHT the good fight of faith.

First, FLEE that which sidetracks and detracts. FOLLOW (run to) God and fill your heart, mind, and sight with that which develops godliness.
FIGHT (enforce the Cross) the Faith.

Who or what has your ear?  Determine that, and you know why you are where you are and your condition.  If that is not who, where, or what you desire, then change the channel. What we fill our eyes, ears, and minds with will shape us. Want something different? You have the pathway, pursue it.

Learn to listen to the voice that brings life!

1 Chronicles 19:10-13 – “David praised the Lord before the entire assembly:  “O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! ¹¹ O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You, Lord, have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. ¹² You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. ¹³ Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!”

The purposes and provisions of the LORD led to a new way of living that is totally dependent on God.  No lack even when there is an empty sack. That is my prayer for each one today.

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, David’s instructions to Solomon captured my thoughts.  In 1 Chronicles 28:9, David instructed Solomon to serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind.  The first is not possible without the second, and the second is attained through the first. Almost the chicken and egg scenario.

In 1 Chronicles 29:12, 17, we see that everything comes from God and that God tests our hearts and motives.  Obedience and righteousness open the door to that new way of lackless living.  That view of God as all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present brought me to the strength of His grace in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, His faithfulness in guidance and protection.

Perfect hearts and willing minds think His thoughts and desire His desires.

We give the devil an opportunity and an advantage if we are disobedient. We open the door to the devil and close the door to blessing if we walk in disobedience and tolerate disobedience in the church.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 is not for pharisaical regulations; it is for preservation of purity and restoration.  Shunning a‘brother’ seems harsh, but tough love usually seems that way.  In 1 Thessalonians 3:13, we are told not to be weary in well doing.  That statement was given in the midst of shunning and marking the ‘brother’ who lives carnally in disobedience to God’s commandments. Verse 15 is the key.  Do not treat them as enemies.  That’s what some do.  They identify the error and seek to destroy the errant person rather than being heartbroken for them.  Consider ourselves lest we be tempted.

If we treated others as Jesus treats us, we would always seek to restore. We would be gracious and out of love, seeking to correct. We would demonstrate perfect hearts and willing minds.

I say, “Love me and love God enough to correct me with the desire to heal and restore me. But don’t make me your enemy, for even if I err, my heart is to know the truth and serve God fully.”

The blessings of God are upon tested hearts.  Be zealous for God and love others.  Don’t be a harsh, judgmental Pharisee.  Mercy begets mercy!

Have a great day, and keep looking up, for our redemption is almost upon us!

Isaiah 44:20 – “He feeds on ashes; his deceived mind misleads him. He can not rescue himself, nor does he say, ‘Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?'”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was reminded of a passage in Isaiah that frequently comes to mind.  The words of Isaiah 44:20 grabbed my heart today.  

Feeding on Ashes?   What is that?  It is allowing or elevating anything above God.  It is also failing to feed ourselves with true food (truth).  It is also neglecting to seek God first.  It is to feed the flesh at the expense of the Spirit. 

Do we feed on ashes?  Do we follow the prescription of 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24? 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, we find that famous passage of the LORD coming as a thief in the night. Coming ‘as’ (unexpectedly upon the unprepared).   Then, in v.4, something overlooked is revealed. “But you, my brethren, are not in darkness that that day shall overtake you as a thief.”  The believers who make Matthew 6:33 a cornerstone walk in light, not darkness, and will not be found unprepared nor unexpecting.  The charge in v.6 is relevant, no apathy, and v.8 encourages us to live in the now presence of the Living Christ. (He is IN us).

1 Thessalonians 5:14 gives us a description of body ministry.  We are to correct those who offend.   We are to comfort those who are fearful.  We are to uplift the weak.  We are to be patient with everyone.   It is only as we feed on the Bread of Life that we can do that.   In vv 15-22, we have the guide to becoming all God desires.

Deception comes in many forms and is often cloaked in, ‘God said.’  Anything that makes anything our source is not a ‘God said thing.’   Anything that diverts or detracts from body ministry and restoration is not a ‘God said thing.’  God does not promise to satisfy our selfishness.  It is a dangerous thing to attach, ‘God said,’ to our fleshly desires.  Just because we believe something and it looks good does not mean it is a promise from God. God’s purpose is always redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Judgment is ONLY after we have exhausted the limits of His patience.

I don’t trust voices that are never right but keep insisting that they have the inside information or a special revelation.  Yet, repeatedly, they prove to be wrong!  

So don’t be one who feeds on ashes, whatever they may be.   Feed on the Word of God! Feed on the fruit of a surrendered heart.  Remember, Jesus is coming soon, and we are invited to participate in His purpose now and His presence eternally.   Look in your spiritual cupboard and examine what you are feeding on.

Have a wonderful day in the LORD and feed on His Word, not the ashes of self.

Colossians 2:6 – “Just as (this is the key) you have therefore accepted Jesus Christ as LORD, so you MUST be led by Him.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I heard, “Learn the mystery of God.”  Colossians 1:27 gripped my heart. Paul spoke of the mystery and said, “Which is…” He defines it, “Christ IN you.” The indwelling Christ who is Savior and LORD. He says this is “The hope of our glory.”

Do we truly comprehend and embrace that revelation?  If Christ is IN us, then the life we now live in the flesh is His life. The cliché “What Would Jesus Do?” becomes a manifested desire and an outworking of our daily life.

Colossians 2:6 is arresting. “Just as (key) you have therefore accepted Jesus Christ as LORD, so you MUST be led by Him.”   We readily receive Him as Savior, but are resistant and hesitant in making Him our constant guide.

2 Kings 19:30 – “They shall take root downward and bear fruit upward.”   The fruit (visible manifestation) is only possible if the roots run deep into Him. Colossians 2:7 says it this way: “Rooted and built up IN Him and established in the faith as you have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving.”

As Jesus becomes LORD, Colossians 3 becomes possible.  We Set Our Minds on things of God. We mortify (put to death) carnality.  We put off the fruit of the flesh.   We defeat the hostility of carnal thinking.  Carnal thinking is the fruit of a lifestyle that feeds the flesh. Total surrender is the goal, and that is realized as and to the extent that Christ is IN us.

The old altar song echoes in my head and heart: “I Surrender All.”  Lord, help me to die to me so I can live to You. Help me to KNOW and be brought near to the full assurance of understanding of the mystery. Let Christ be formed in me so that it is no longer me but Christ. I surrender all.

Have a great day and surrender everything to Jesus!   Victory is ours through Him!