“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” 1 Peter 5:5 ESV. At age thirteen, I began piloting boats, spending endless hours cruising around a large lake in Florida. Those years of boating experience did little to prepare me for the complications of navigating tidal waters. On my first boating adventure as a young adult in unfamiliar tidal waters, we headed to shore, not paying attention to the channel markers. We ran aground on a sandbar at nearly full speed. Thankfully, we suffered no injuries, but we were seriously grounded on the sand bar until the tide rose. Thankfully, the only real harm was to my bruised ego. I learned an important life lesson that day. Father in Your mercy, please grant me a teachable heart and awaken my discernment to the navigation signals You place along my path. Deliver me from presumption and teach me to be alert to Your guidance and that of others wiser than I.
A serious pursuit of godliness requires an equally serious renunciation of worldliness. Too often, we measure spirituality with false scales. While being wisely selective with our public vices we are less so with our private attitudes and perspectives. In reality, it is the thoughts and intents of the heart where the greatest battles must be waged; our actions will ultimately align with the condition of our hearts. Lord God, You know me inside out, You are not fooled by human facades. Plow my heart with Your Word and Spirit and leave nothing unturned. Refresh my inward man that I may outwardly glorify You in all places at all times.
Amen teach us father god continue to dig up the the hard ground of our hearts so you’re word will take root in us
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