Jun 14 2021

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

"Can you do me a favor?"

This question is often posed by friends or family members when they believe we can do something for them. They might ask us to do a task we could easily do, or something that's seemingly impossible. Either way, when someone asks us for a "favor," they have confidence that we can help them.

Now, imagine that this friend or family member who needs a favor never listens to anything we say. In fact, the person does the opposite of whatever we ask them to do.

This afternoon's verse in 1 John addresses the confidence we can have toward God: "whatsoever we ask, we receive of him." We might interpret this as giving us the right to ask for anything we want, even billions of dollars, because it says that if we ask, God will give it to us.

The next part of the verse, however, reveals the true meaning: "because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." We can ask anything of God because we are obedient to what He wants from us. As we grow closer to Him, our hearts and minds conform to God's character. As we focus on Him, we begin to see things through His eyes. Then, we ask for the things that line up with God's Word and receive riches that are according to His will for all of our lives.

God, today I confess that I have confidence in who you are. You have been faithful and good in my life, and I can depend on you. Help me learn and obey your commands. I don't want to be disobedient... I want to follow you with all of my heart. With your guidance, I can ask for what I need according to your will, knowing that you will always provide. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jun 13 2021

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. :

Fact: Humans don't always act right. And we see it all around us: road rage, greed, lust, pride; the list goes on and on. People allow emotions to control their (our) actions and, thus, have to suffer the consequences.

After we come to Christ, we accept His grace and receive a new life. But if we aren't careful, we can slip back into our old way of living. In order to remain close to God, and push away from our old life, our heart's cry should be to become more like Christ.

In Psalm 51, King David tells us about a process that takes place in our hearts. This is part of a prayer, a cry to God, in which he says, "create in me a clean heart." People who create things go through a series of steps, but only God can create something out of nothing. Yet in this Psalm, David is asking God to form a clean heart inside him because it's a process.

David also asks the Lord to "renew a right spirit" within him. Without God working in our lives, we don't always do what is right. We need God to change our hearts to make us more like Him—but not just leave us there. We also need God to continuously renew us and make us right in His sight.

God, I am incapable of having a clean heart without your help. I don't always act right. I know that sin can't stand in your sight because you are pure and holy. I can't control the desire to sin without your strength in my life. Thank you for showing mercy to me when I fall short of your perfection, and help me to become more like you. In Jesus' name, amen.
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