Aug 27, 2015

God Cleanses Us From Sin



Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem's damage and give her prosperity and peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their cities. I will cleanse away their sins against me, and I will forgive all their sins of rebellion. Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and  honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe! (NLT)(Jer. 33:6-9)

Forgiven. This is the wonderful message God gave to Israel. He promised to heal his people and restore them to glory and honor. He would no longer hold their acts of rebellion against them. This same message of hope and healing is for us as well. We have been rebellious against God in the past, and we do not deserve to be given honor and glory. But God in his grace has forgiven us, restoring us to himself. He has healed us from sin's sickness and has given us great peace and joy. Thank God for cleansing us from sin.

O GOD WHO HEALS US, we rejoice that you have cleansed us from sin. We thank you for forgiving our rebellion against you. May our restoration bring you joy, and may those around us glorify you. Amen. 


from the Praise & Worship Study Bible-Tyndale House Publishers

Aug 25, 2015

A Prayer For Discernment



Grant to me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, to praise what delights you most, to value what is precious in your sight, to hate what is offensive to you. Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my eyes nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men; but to discern with true judgment between things visible and spiritual, and above all things to enquire what is the good pleasure of your will.

-Thomas a Kempis (c. 1380-1471)

Psalm 122:1

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." (HCSB)