Praise - Glimpse

Will you, can you, make me see, Ah, It is only revealed to me, when I look above, to thee. The wisdom of the world can only claim a part, But You, dear God, inhabit my full heart.

The universe contains You, yet You dwell within my soul, A mystery so vast, yet it can make me whole. The mind of man, a fractured, finite lens, Cannot comprehend where its own knowledge ends.

But lift the eye and turn the heart to grace, And in that gaze, You show Your holy face. You are the Truth, the simple, shining key, Made known to all who yearn and want to see.

Edification - Wrestling with a Deceitful Heart

Hi Friends,

Have you ever found yourself saying all the right things but feeling a disconnect on the inside? You praise God in worship, you nod along to the sermon, but in the quiet moments, your heart feels… far away? I’ve been there. Recently, a single verse, Psalm 78:37, hit me with the force of a revelation: "For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant."

I realized I hadn’t stopped being a habitual liar; I just hadn't been honest with myself. I was living with a lie in my heart—toward myself, toward others, and most importantly, toward God. I flattered Him with my lips, but my heart was full of doubt, complaint, and ingratitude. I saw His signs and wonders, yet I still struggled to rejoice. My heart just wasn't right.

It was a tough truth to face. The Bible tells us that the heart is “deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9), and I was experiencing that firsthand. But in that moment of raw honesty, I also found a glimmer of hope. I wasn’t alone in this struggle. The Apostle Paul himself cried out, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24).

The answer, for Paul and for me, is the same: Jesus Christ. I can’t fix my own heart, and neither can you. The good news of the Gospel is that we don’t have to. We can come to God with our broken, deceitful hearts and ask Him to do what only He can do—transform them. He promises to replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh, to give us a new desire for Him.

I’m learning that true change doesn't start with my effort; it starts with my surrender. It begins with the simple, desperate prayer: "Lord, take this evil away from me. Sustain me and, by Your grace, change my heart to not desire these fake gods." It's a journey of daily confession and reliance on His power, not my own. 

If you’re in a similar place, take heart. The first step toward a transformed heart is simply to admit that you need one. And the God who created your heart is more than able to make it new again.

C. H. Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotional - Unlocking God's Promises: A Heartfelt Approach

 

Hello Friends,

Ever feel like God's promises are just... words on a page? We hear about them, maybe even read them, but truly experiencing their power can sometimes feel out of reach. Today's devotion from C. H. Spurgeon gives us some incredible insights into how we can move from simply knowing about God's promises to actually living in their overflowing goodness.

The Main Theme: Experiencing the Power of God's Promises

The core message here is simple yet profound: God's promises are not just abstract concepts; they are living, active truths meant to be experienced. We often miss out on their richness because we don't fully engage with them. It's like having a treasure map but never bothering to look for the treasure! Spurgeon encourages us to deeply meditate on these promises and, even more importantly, to root our belief in the character of the Promiser Himself – God.

Decisions You Might Need to Make

This devotional gently prompts us to consider a few things:

1. Will you set aside time for meditation? In our fast-paced world, slowing down to truly ponder God's words can feel counter-cultural. But it's in this quiet reflection that the "juice will flow," and the blessings begin to distill into our souls.

2. Where is your focus? When you think about a promise, are you fixated on the size of the blessing (which might feel overwhelming) or the greatness of the Promiser (which will bring immense encouragement)? Shifting your gaze from what God can do to who God is changes everything.

3. Will you truly receive His words? It's one thing to acknowledge God's promises; it's another to genuinely embrace them as His undeniable truth, spoken directly to you.

Applicable Action Items

So, how do we put this into practice?

• Pick a Promise: Start with just one promise from Scripture that resonates with you. Perhaps it's about provision, peace, or strength.

• Meditate Deeply: Spend time with that promise. Don't just read it; chew on it, think about it, let it sink into your heart. Imagine it coming to pass in your life.

• Focus on the Promiser: As you meditate, consciously remind yourself who made this promise. It's God – unchanging, all-powerful, all-wise, and completely truthful. Let His character bolster your faith.

• Speak Truth to Your Soul: Actively tell yourself, "This promise is true because God said it. He cannot lie, He is all-powerful, and He knows the perfect time."

Embracing God's "exceeding great and precious promises" is a journey, and it's one filled with grace and encouragement. Let's take these steps today and experience the sweetness that comes from trusting our faithful God.

---

You can find the original devotional here: 

https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/me/view.cfm?doy=209 

---