Bathed in Prayer
Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV) For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
As I sit here studying the Word, I come across these scriptures and though I've read them many times before I find them to be incredibly sobering.
We talk so much about the sins that are acted out in our lives, but God goes way beyond that. So often I hear sin called "mistakes" in order to not offend people, but let's get real for a moment. You see, according to scripture, sin begins deep inside the soul and heart of man. Yes, there are times that we do something without thinking and we are quickly repentant and wonder how we could have ever done anything so stupid. Then there's those premeditated sins... the ones that occupy your mind. Maybe it's attitudes, negative thoughts about others, envy, cheating, unforgiveness, hatred and lust. If left unchecked they slowly consume your personality, attitude, and actions.
There's a battle going on for the space in our minds and as long as it's filled with things that oppose the love and nature of God, it's sin. Sin isn't just the things we do, but it's also about the thoughts and intents of the heart. I'm not saying this to judge anyone, but to let you know that none of us have reached perfection and we all have such a long way to go.
Don't settle for compromise and spiritual mediocrity any longer. Ask God to purify your heart and mind as He reveals to you more areas that require repentance and active resistance on your part. As those thoughts continue to press their way into your mind, press your way into His Word and presence. You'll begin to find that more and more of your thoughts will be focused on Jesus and His goodness instead of the deception of the enemy. Find your freedom as you bathe your soul in the incredible Word of God!
Ephesians 5:25-27 (TPT) And to the husbands, you are to demonstrate love for your wives with the same tender devotion that Christ demonstrated to us, His bride. For He died for us sacrificing Himself to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God. All that He does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.
Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV) “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
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