Greater Compassion

04/03/2019

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. -- Matthew 20:29-34 (ESV)

“Many speak of faith and the desire to be used of God to do the miraculous. I say, seek not the miraculous, rather allow me to place within you a heart of pity for others. If you cannot be moved in your deepest parts with compassion, then what lasting good can you do for them? The ability to be moved in regard to the needs of others is what should motivate you to a Kingdom response. It Is not great faith, but greater love for the blind, deaf, lame, and hurting that in the end it advances the kingdom of God!”

(The Holy Spirit)

Father God, I have prayed to be used by you, and to some degree you have honored that prayer, for which I am thankful. Today you have shown me that my greater need is not more faith or power. It is to be moved with greater pity, caring for the lost, the weak, the fearful, the despondent, the downcast, and the outcast.

Humble me to a greater degree so that Your compassion has room for increase. My desire is to serve you, and those you love with a pure heart.  Father God allow me simply to be a more compassionate servant! Amen.

His Love Endues Forever

03/11/2019

“to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever” Psalm 136:16 (ESV)

All of us from time to time will find that we are in barren places, the wilderness of winter where there’s appears to be little life. It seems harsh, barren, and cold. Our minds may be filled with questions as to how we will survive and how Long it will last. We may wonder if we have been forsaken, abandoned in our time of greatest need.

It is here in the wilderness that we must remember His steadfast love for us and His unending mercy. It is here that we must boldly declare in loud voices, that we are His beloved. We must cling to the truth; our Lord is with us in the wilderness valley and that we are never alone! (Psalm 23:4) We must believe that His promises are true and that they will come to pass. This calls for patient endurance and steadfast faith in His person, His character, His Word, and His love for us as his redeemed bride.

Lord, in our time of need and testing, tenderly draw us by Your Spirit help us to boldly declare with the prophet of old  “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV) . . . Your steadfast love endures forever!

Wisdom vs. Conceit?

02/26/2019

“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  (Proverbs 26:12 ESV)

As I read this verse this morning the Holy Spirit reminded me of a comment that I made last week that was prideful and potentially offensive. I had compared my method of counseling as superior to another method. The subtle truth is that I was actually thinking myself to be better, wiser, than another therapist. Regrettably, I played the fool!

“The peril is a very subtle one. We are prone to be wise in our own conceits, without knowing that we are so. A simple test may be employed. When we fail to seek divine guidance in any undertaking it is because we do not feel our need of it; In other words, we are wise in our own conceit. There is no safer condition of soul, than that self-distrust, that knowledge of ignorance, which drives us persistently to seek for the wisdom which comes from above.” (Morgan)

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the truth of Your Word. Thank you for loving me enough to expose my conceit and to lead me to repentance. Thank you for hearing my confession and for your forgiveness. Help me to walk more humbly before you and others. Amen.