Sunday, March 29, 2009, 5:24 a.m. – I woke to this song:
One Thing I Know / Selah
Something in your eyes I see
Reminds me of what used to be,
When I was still uncertain of the truth.
Sleepless nights I've turned to days,
Alone inside an endless space,
Counted on someone to see me thru.
How can I convince your heart,
His light can find you in the dark,
And only He can make your blind eyes see?
For if we speak of lost things found,
Or lives that have been turned around,
Then tell me who knows better, child, than me?
I would never stake my life on any lesser thing
Than the Cross of Christ, where He gave His life,
To ease my suffering.
And if there's one thing I know
You were never left alone,
'cause you can always call on Jesus' name.
And if there's one thing I pray
Is Jesus helps you find a way
To make a change and listen to your heart.
God will take away your pain,
If you'll choose to let it go,
If there's one thing I know.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Ephesians 4:17-32:
Living as Children of Light
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
In the past couple of days, I spoke words a few times about some people that were unnecessary and that only led to conversation with other people that was not helpful for building others up. As soon as I recognized that my words were not helpful and that they were unnecessary, I stopped, confessed and corrected the situation. Yet, I still felt badly that I had not controlled my tongue better. I want to be a light for Jesus. I want to demonstrate his love with my life. So, I must bring not only every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ, but I must bring every word captive.
I prayed last night before I went to sleep that the Lord would show me what was in my heart and where I needed to change. That song “Much Too High A Price” has been going through my head for days. It says, “You paid much too high a price for me, Your tears, Your blood, the pain – to have my soul just stirred at times yet truly never changed.” My heart is continually changing, yet I believe the Lord was encouraging me that there were still some areas that needed some work.
I like that children’s song: “He’s still workin’ on me to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient he must be, ‘cause he’s still workin’ on me.”
Anyway, this passage of scripture this morning was just the encouragement the Lord knew that I needed to remind me that the Christian life is a process of putting off the old way of life and putting on the new – to be continually being made new in the attitude of my mind and to put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. I can not do this in myself. But, God working in me can accomplish these changes that must take place in order for me to live a holy life.
Lord Jesus, I pray that you will be my interrupter. Help me to think before I speak. Search me and know me and try me and see what wicked way is in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Help me to keep a check on my heart attitudes always. And, help me to always say what is helpful and beneficial to others. In Jesus’ name I pray these things, amen!
