| This is my online devotional that was posted today on The Life Project |
| For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.Psalm 32:3 |
| Let’s pick up the context of David’s psalm. It started out as the blessedness of forgiven sin. Then it went into how David’s bones were affected by his unconfessed sin. I encourage you to think about your own life. How healthy are your bones? Here is a verse from a new song the Holy Spirit gave me called “Rejoicing Bones” When I thought about my circumstances I became gloomy inside. My heart was getting heavy and my peace destroyed. Then in Your Word You revealed the secret of health. My bones are affected when my heart is in despair. In verse four David revealed the effects of his unconfessed sin. It says, “For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” Picture this as a dry creek bed. There is no running water, no vegetation along the bank, no fish swimming, and no animals coming to drink.Psalm 32:5 (Amplified) explains God’s way. It says, “I acknowledge my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord (continually unfolding the past till all is told)—then You (instantly) forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah (pause, and calmly think of that)!” When we confess our sin, the Lord is quick to forgive us and to cleanse away the guilt and the shame that was blocking our vitality. Lord, I am so grateful that my sinful thoughts are not hidden from you. Help me to always live in the present, being fully aware that you know what is in my heart. Since my bones are affected by my thoughts, help me to stay centered on you in every circumstance of my life. |
hidden-sin
Hidden Power Of Temptations That Defeat Us
| THE HIDDEN POWER OF TEMPTATIONS THAT DEFEAT USJULY 6 2024, WRITTEN BY MARILYN ADAMS |
| And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”JUDGES 16:5 |
| Samson was a Nazarite, set apart for God’s specific use. His parents were given explicit instructions before he was born. Samson violated them on several occasions. He was a judge in Israel for twenty years, and a mortal enemy of the Philistines. Samson also was an immoral man. He was seduced by a harlot, because his hidden sin inflamed illicit desires. His willful disobedience cost him his life.Samson’s story (which you can read in Judges 13-16) is a powerful message for us when we are tempted to sin. The secret hidden sins of our hearts are the kindling that ignites our smoldering desires into a consuming fire. We blindly walk right into the enemy’s trap set to overpower and defeat us.James 1:14-15 is a behind-the-scenes look at the bait used to entrap us through temptations. It says, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”Father, I am so thankful for your word. You have set out truths for me to follow, so that I do not fall prey to the devil’s deceptive enticements. Help me to apply the principles in your word, so that my desires please you.Throughout this day: Listen to Lord I Need You by Matt Maher, and be reminded that we need the Lord who is always ready to help us resist temptation.Share on FacebookSubscribe to Daily Devotionals, receive prayer or share your thoughts with us! |
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Trials Purify Our Faith~Part Two
Let’s look at Peter’s purifying trial. In Luke 22:31, Jesus told Peter that satan desired to sift him as wheat. Chilling words. Then Jesus assured him in verse 32. Jesus said, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Jesus’ words indicated to Peter that he would leave Jesus. Yet in verse 33 Peter boldly proclaimed, “…Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
Three times in the following verses Peter denied that he knew Jesus. How does our faith deny the Lord? One way is when we turn to our flesh. Galatians 5:16 is a command. “…Walk in the Spirit…”
Crucible. Refiner’s fire. Trial. Test. The words are synonymous with loss. 1 Corinthians 3:13 says, “…the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” Trials often expose and reveal what was formerly hidden from our conscious mind.
The Power Of Crying Out~Part One
There is only One who is always attentive. Not one iota of our lives is outside of the Lord’s attention. I wrote this to a mentee: Here is a good definition for a mental rut ~ falling into the same negative thought patterns that keep us stuck.
Case in point. You wrote, “But the fear part of me is still around…” That is rut thinking. We fall into that pattern of spiraling down the moment we are triggered.
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Proverbs 4:23 is great admonishment. We need to diligently guard our hearts from falling into the ruts of self-reliance, self-effort, or doing things in our own strength. It is sin.
Psalm 119:147 says, “I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.” Read this cry. Daniel 9:19 says, “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act!…”
Deceit Hardens Hearts
Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Calloused hearts have hidden sin. Romans 5:12 says that through Adam sin entered the world. Adam and Eve bore Cain and Abel.
Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, though Abel’s was. Genesis 4:5 says, “…Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” In verse 7 God asked Cain a question. It says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?…”
Cain’s sin remained hidden. His anger smoldered until in rage he killed his brother. He did not do what God had said. Verse 7 continued, “…sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
Hidden sin is the trap-stick in satan’s trap. Hidden lust, bitterness, resentment, critical spirit, unforgiveness, etc. Numbers 32:23 says, “…you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Prayers Not Answered? Part One
James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” As I meditated on this verse, I asked the Holy Spirit how we ask amiss.
Then my eyes glanced at my cross references and saw Psalm 66:18. I know that verse but I never had connected the two verses before. It says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
Slip over to Ezekiel 14:4. Written about Israel. It is about heart idols “…puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity…I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols.” Hidden sin is an idol. It takes God’s place as first in our heart.
James 4:8 says, “…purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Double-minded in this sense is wanting to please the Lord, yet at the same time refusing to let go of something that He has pointed out to you.
M's Creations 