James 1:19 – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters!  Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, several things tugged at my heart.  In Esther 4:14-16, there is a powerful reminder that we are not God’s only option.  Mordecai’s warning to Esther about her trepidation to get involved is a reminder that silence is not always golden. The position and condition we find ourselves usually have a larger purpose.

James 1 speaks to the reality that life has problems, and those problems are exams to reveal our progress and define our purpose.   Being joyful in a trial is not being joyful for a trial.  Understanding what the trial is doing is cause for rejoicing.  Trials reveal our inadequacy and God’s sufficiency. Lessons learned strengthen our confidence in God and solidify our faith.  Trials teach us the value of patience and persistence.

James 1:19 should be on a plaque we all keep before us.  Swift to hear. Speaking or doing rashly never produces the fruit of righteousness.  Speaking or doing without the revelation of God’s desire is a doorway to rebellion.

Be slow and guarded in our words, gives God the necessary latitude to work in all directions.  Hear the conclusion of the whole matter before putting in your two cents.  Be slow to anger.  Righteous indignation can propel us into right action, but selfish anger is a wedge between man and man and man and God.

James 4:3 reveals the importance of motives!  The why is usually more important than the what, when, where, who, and how.  Why are we angry? Why do we doubt?  Why do we fear?  Why do we fail?  Why?  The root of the Why is the condition of our hearts and is revealed in our tongues.  The overflow of the heart reveals the true heart!

Let’s practice the steps of God’s dance – Swift, Slow, Slow!  Dance to the music of mercy and watch God do what God does!

Let’s learn to do God’s Slow Dance!

Hebrews 12:28 – “So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. ²⁹ For our God is indeed a devouring fire.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, life became my focus. Life?  Not just time on earth, or even the events we use as markers, milestones, and memories, but life!

Hebrews 12:28 says we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Hebrews 12:1-2 speaks of the testimony of history that inspires us to persevere.   Hebrews 8:10 reveals that the New Covenant is a covenant of a relationship, not religiosity.  Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that we please God only by trusting God. If we trust, we obey.

Hebrews 13:5-6 gives insight into how we can live free of fear and pride. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that Jesus promised never to leave us or forsake us. Hebrews 13:6 reminds us that He enables us to live free of fear, free of attachment to possessions or positions, and free of dependence on self and pride. It allows us to live!

How do we enter into this kingdom, covenant, and relationship?  Hebrews 13:13 reveals that we go outside the camp to Jesus.  What is the camp?  We have to leave the system, the false securities, and attempts to earn His favor, and in total acknowledgment of our sin and need, we go to Him TOTALLY EXPOSED!

The Blood of Jesus is the Key to Life! Hebrews 9:22 reveals that if there is no blood, no forgiveness.  Living in the kingdom is living in oneness with the king.  It is Him living His life through us.  It is not a position; it is a condition.  It is to live the impossible!  It is to be FREE!  It is to die to self and live to and through Him. No King, no kingdom.

I’m longing for LIFE, not existence!  We have received an unshakable kingdom. What are we going to do with that blessing?

Live Life rather than simply having milestones and memories reminding of some past time or event!

Hebrews 1:1-4 – “After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, ² in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. ³ The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. ⁴ Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, several things filled my consciousness.   Jesus and the Father are EXACTLY the same.  Jesus has been where we are, so He can relate.  The New Covenant has Jesus as its guarantee.

Hebrews 1:2-4 reveals that Jesus is the express image of the Father!  That has little to do with physical appearance but with the essence of who they are.  Jesus has inherited ALL things.  That’s important because we are joint-heirs with Him.

He cleansed us (made us acceptable to God) by His death. He rose to life and ascended to the Father.  (Remember, we live in Him and are seated with Him in the heavenly places.)  Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 4:2 reminds us of the importance of faith.  The gospel was preached to those in the wilderness, but it did not benefit them.  Why?  Because it was not mixed or embraced with faith. The gospel is just words and theory without faith.

We make Hebrews 4:12 a proof text for the inspiration and inerrancy of scripture.  (It is) But the context includes vv 9-11. The Word is the source of information when coupled with faith and applied to LIVE in God’s Rest!

Hebrews 4:14 tells us to remain firm in the faith of Jesus.  Remember, the life we now live in the flesh we live by the faith OF the Son of God. If Jesus is IN us and living His life THROUGH us, we are supernatural beings living a supernatural life with supernatural strength. That is Who we Are because that is Who He Is.  Christ IN us…Christ THROUGH us…Christ WITH us…

When will we believe Him, take Him at His Word, and BE who He says we ARE?  The New Covenant is a better Covenant based on better promises.

Hebrews 7:22 – “All these things make a better Covenant because Jesus is its surety.” Notice v 25 – “Therefore He is able to save forever those who come to God by Him BECAUSE He lives forever to make intercession for them.” How can we not make it if Jesus is interceding for us?

Be what God says you are!  Be who God says you are.  It’s time to begin being!

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!