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Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:27

I’ve thought a lot about the first part of that verse – and I’ve been asking God for a heart that loves Him more and more.  I do want to be completely committed to Him, and I ask each day for Him to show me His will.  But recently, God highlighted the last part of the verse in my mind: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t even know the neighbors on my own street!  We know some of their names, we’ve had brief contact with a few of them, but I don’t really know them. We live on a street with only 6 houses surrounded by wheat fields and forests.  It isn’t like a city street where the houses are close together and you might make contact with neighbors by just walking out your front door.  But that’s no excuse for me!

            One of my first thoughts was, “I don’t even know some of their names.  It would be strange to just walk up to their doors and introduce myself after all these years!”  But it became clear that God was asking me to do something.  I got the idea to invite the women of the neighborhood to my home just to get to know them. But where to start?  I had the phone numbers of two of them, so I called them first.  They gladly welcomed the idea of getting to know the rest of the women! One by one I was able to get the other phone numbers and invite them.  The man across the street came over to ask us about the new paving on our driveway.  We never see them at all, and I didn’t know anything about him.  I told him my idea and asked if there were any women in his house that I could invite.  He gave me his wife’s number. She’s delighted to come!

            I’m amazed at how quickly it all came together once I took the first step.  In just a couple of days I had called them all and discovered a time in a late afternoon when they would all be available!  And they are all really looking forward to it.  I’m writing this message on a Thursday morning, and they’re coming this afternoon!  I’ll write after our gathering and tell you how it went!  Several of my friends are praying for this time.

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            Okay, it’s Friday, and the ladies came yesterday at 4:00.  We had such fun getting to know each other!  They were here till 7:00!  I used some get-to-know-you questions that I’ve used with ladies from church when we meet for Newcomers Welcome – How long have you been in Spokane? Tell us about your family. Are you working/retired?  What kind of work did you do?  What are some of the activities or hobbies that make you happy? Anything else you’d like us to know about you? I had asked each of them to bring something that represents that activity or hobby.  It’s always fun to see what people bring!  It’s amazing the conversations that come from answering these questions. And it guides the conversation so we really do get to know each other a little better.  Now we’ve exchanged phone numbers and email addresses will be able to contact each other.

                        The ladies told me how much they enjoyed meeting each other.  And they expressed interest in getting together again.  One of them told me she’d be interested in visiting my church! I offered each of them a copy of the devotional book I published this year on Amazon: “Living in God’s Extravagant Grace; Encouragement from God’s Word.”  They all wanted a copy and asked me to sign it.  They are not all church attenders.  But maybe this will be the first step in some of them coming to know Jesus!  I’m excited to see how God will lead next!

I’ve learned a few important lessons by taking this step to get to know my neighbors:

1. When God clearly puts something on my heart, do it!
2. Even if it feels uncomfortable at first, do it anyway!
3. Trust that it is His plan, and He will give me one step at a time to accomplish it.
4. It’s never too late to get started on what He’s asking me to do, even if I’m reluctant.
5. He abundantly blesses what I’ve done in obedience, more than I imagine!    

(6) When I love others, I’m expressing love to God.

For the next devotional message, I want to write about “Who Is My Neighbor?”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is God prompting you to take specific steps to do something?

How will you respond?

Be encouraged that He will provide everything you need to follow what He is asking you to do.

NOTE: An error occurred during the posting of the devotional for September 6th. Some received it over the weekend, some said they didn’t receive it at all. So I’m posting it again. The one I sent out originally is called “True Worship.” I’ve changed the name on this one to avoid any more confusion.

True Worship

The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:23-24 (NLT)

I woke up one morning recently with the words of a song on my mind: “Set my spirit free that I might worship Thee.  Set my spirit free that I might praise Thy name.”  Then this Scripture in John 4:23-24 came to mind.  Jesus made it clear that true worship must come from our heart.

What is true worship in spirit and in truth? Here are some thoughts that came to mind this week as I’ve read and prayed about it. Jesus was speaking to a Samaritan woman at the well where He asked her for a drink of water. He turned the conversation to spiritual truth about her need for the “living water” that He would offer her. She knew a lot about God, but she didn’t know God!  

Worship is an inward attitude of the heart, my spirit responding to who He is and all that He has done.  The truth of who He is and what He has done is found in His Word.  Attending a service at church on Sunday morning does not necessarily mean that I have worshiped God.  Is my heart truly engaged in the words of praise I am singing and the words of the sermon? Going through the motions out of habit or routine is not worship.

God sees our hearts!  Matthew 15:8 and Isaiah 29:18 tell us that “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”   In my daily Bible reading, am I asking God to speak His words to my heart?  Am I willing to follow in loving obedience to what He says?

Here are some Scriptures that describe a true heart of worship:

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) makes it clear that we are to “present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your true and proper worship.”

Colossians 3:17 tells us “Whatever we do in word or deed, do it as unto the Lord.” 

Luke 10:27  God commands us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Louie Giglio wrote the book “The Air I Breathe; Worship as a Way of Life.”  It is one of the best and simplest books I’ve read about worship.  I read it again this week. He makes a suggestion that I plan to follow.  He calls it a 30-day Worship Journey. He suggests starting with a prayer, “God, I am here for You; please show me who You are.” As you read through the Psalms, look for one attribute of God that grabs your attention and captures your heart.  Write that word at the top of a journal page and take time to meditate on that aspect of God’s character.  For example, faithfulness.  Think about what it means to your life that God is faithful.  Make it personal.  Keep that word with you throughout the day and thank Him for what He has shown you.  Remember that we are not just gathering information about God, but truly getting to know Him personally. He suggests singing a song praising God. We can ask God to transform our hearts to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has God spoken to your heart as you’ve read these words?  How will you respond?

I love this song that expresses a true heart of worship.  You can find it on YouTube and sing along!

“The Heart Of Worship”

Matt Redman

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus (Repeat the chorus)

He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.

Hosea 6:3

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain!  Normally I would not be excited about that, but after many weeks of 90+ degree weather and no rain, I’m delighted!  Many days have been so hot I haven’t wanted to be outside at all!  Too hot for hiking or a bike ride – my favorite outdoor activities.  The surrounding wheat fields are so dry that it will be an unprofitable year for the farmers.  Worst of all, many fires are raging around the country destroying many homes and thousands of acres of land.

Even more concerning than drought from lack of rain is the spiritual drought that is evident in our nation. But God’s Word has the solution for that – “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38-39). Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit whom believers would receive after He had been crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended into heaven.

As I was thinking about how important lifegiving water is for our physical lives, I was reminded of the many Scriptures that speak of “living” for our spiritual lives. As you read these, ask God to make these words new and fresh and lifegiving.  Notice the aspects of living.

God is alive!

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God…

Jesus is alive!

 Acts 1:3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God.

God’s Word is alive!

Heb 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.

As His followers, we are alive in Christ!

Romans 6:11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness

Colossians 2:13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings.

Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

We have a living hope!

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

God asks us to respond to Him by presenting ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice!

Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Would you describe your life now as filled with the Spirit and living water, or are you experiencing a spiritual drought? If you are experiencing living water, thank Him!

If you are experiencing spiritual drought, God invites us to come to Him in faith and trust Him for the abundant spiritual life He desires to give us.  He longs to “lead us by still waters and restore our soul” (Psalm 23:1-6). 

Ask Him for specific choices you can make to respond to His invitation?

God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7b

The words to the song by Michael W. Smith have been on my mind a lot recently.  “I’m coming back to a heart of worship, And it’s all about You, It’s all about You, Jesus.” 

I realize how easy it is to slip into the routine of doing even good and necessary things – like spending quiet time alone with the Lord daily, reading God’s Word, doing the ministry He has called me to do. I have to ask myself “Where is my heart?”  Am I doing all of this out of love and worship of God, or am I just doing it out of duty or habit because I know it’s the right thing to do?

These Scriptures are a reminder that my heart attitude and motivation are what pleases God, not just the outward actions.  God cares about what He sees in my heart.

Isaiah 29:13 People draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service.  But they remove their hearts far from Me.

Proverbs 3:1 Let your heart keep My commands.

Luke 10:27 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. (NIV)

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. (NLT)

2 Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.  (NLT)

Jeremiah 17:9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is? (NLT)

Psalm 139:23 gives the answer to that question. It is God who sees our heart.  We can pray with the psalmist: “Search me, O God, and know my heart…Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT)

God has given us the solution for hearts that are not aligned with His heart:  We need to recognize our sin and confess.  1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’” (NIV) We can ask Him for more awareness of our need for the Holy Spirit and the fruit that comes from a close relationship with Him – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22).

I need to have a “heart check-up” often.  Am I just going through the motions of doing what I know God wants me to do, or am I serving Him out of a heart of love and worship, depending on the Holy Spirit to lead me and keep me centered in God’s heart?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What is your attitude and motivation for what God has called you to do?

Ask God to show you what He sees in your heart.  Are you willing to confess any area that is not aligned with His heart?  He is so ready to forgive when we confess.

He delights when we come back to Him with a heart of worship!

Home remodeling construction started. Didn’t write a new message to send out this week. I plan to do more writing for next time!

The title of the book is “Living in God’s Extravagant Grace.” If you have enjoyed reading the weekly devotional messages, you may be interested in ordering the book that contains all of them that I have published since June 2020.

Here is what shows up on Amazon in case you’re interested in ordering:

Let me know if you have any questions!

Blessings!

Sherrilyn

If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

                                                                2 Chronicles 7:14

Watching the horrific events that took place in our nation’s capital this week (January 2021), my first thought was that we are completely out of control and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it! But as I began to pray, I was reminded of this devotional message I wrote many years ago.  It has been in my file cabinet for decades, along with many others that I have begun to publish weekly on my website in the last few months.  I’m encouraged today to personally respond to this message, and I pray you will be encouraged too.  I realize it is our enemy, Satan, who will tell us that everything is completely out of control, there is no hope, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Here it is:

            What solution would you offer if you were asked how you would go about bringing healing to our nation?  I’m sure we could all come up with a very lengthy list:  If we could stop the sale and use of drugs…  If we could get a tougher justice system to lower the crime rate…  If we offered a stronger educational program in our schools…  If we could reconstruct the welfare program…  If there was more money for better housing and programs for the homeless…  If we had higher standards for environmental policies…  If our government were more (or less) in control…  The list could go on and on.  But, look carefully at what God says:

If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

            Where does God say healing of the land needs to begin?  Not with the government.  Not with drug control.  Not with the education systems.  It needs to begin with the people who are called by His Name — with Christians.  With me.  With you.

            Is that a sobering thought?  I believe that if each one of us as an individual Christian would take this verse seriously and act on it, our nation and the whole world would be a very different place.  We need to renew ourselves to a wholehearted commitment to obedience to God, to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).  We need to take seriously our charge to be salt and light wherever we live (Matthew 5:13-16).

            The first step God requires is to humble ourselves and pray.  As Christians, it is imperative to understand that prayer is not optional if we are to live life as He intended us to live. That is how we can know what He wants to accomplish in our life.  Prayer is not just presenting a list of our needs to God. We can ask Him to direct our thoughts to the matters that concern Him.

            Next, He tells us to seek His face.  What does that mean?  It requires so much more than just regular church attendance.  It requires much more than a daily Bible reading.  It is possible to participate in good religious activity and never have it touch our heart, change our behavior, or enable us to see God more clearly.  To seek His face is an attitude of the heart that desires to know God, not just facts about God, but to know Him, to see Him as He reveals Himself in His Word. We will not see Him if we are busily rushing from one activity to another.  We need time to be alone with Him, asking Him to reveal Himself to us, listening, and responding in worship and obedience as we see more and more of His love and grace.

            God doesn’t say “if murderers, drug dealers, hopeless criminals….”  He says that His people must turn from their wicked ways.  We must repent — a change of heart that leads to a change in our actions.  It’s easy to make the mistake of comparing ourselves with others and to conclude that we’re not so bad.  But when we hold ourselves up to the standard of God’s perfection, even our righteous deeds are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  All have sinned. We need to see sin as God sees it.  We need to turn away from sin, turn back to God and be forgiven.

            My prayer is that God will awaken my heart, and the hearts of His people, to inspire us to wholehearted commitment to Him.  I pray that He will open our hearts to understand the urgency of living as He has called us to live.  Lord, bring new life to your people.  Send a revival to our land.  Let it begin with me. 

Then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Spend time with the Lord asking Him what specifically needs to be done in your life in order for you to be a part of bringing healing to our land.  Ask if there are specific ways to be salt and light in the community He has placed you. 

Prayerfully evaluate your life in relation to each of these sections of 2 Chronicles 7:14:

Have you humbled yourself?  Have you completely surrendered your whole life to God to use as He chooses?  Or are you still holding onto your own dreams and desires?

Do you pray?  Do you honestly spend quality quiet time alone with the Father asking for His will for each day?  Prayer is quiet communion with God — pouring out our heart to Him, but also quietly listening for Him to speak to us.  It is not a list for God to “do this and do that” that we so often get caught up in.

Do you seek His face?  Do you long to know Him more and more? We should not be satisfied with just hearing what the pastor has to say on Sunday mornings.  We need to develop a close personal relationship with the Lord daily through prayer and study of His Word.

Have you turned from your wicked ways?  This is not a one-time-only experience of asking forgiveness for all our sins.  We need to consistently ask God to show us what needs to be forgiven so we can be a clean vessel for Him to use.

Lord, convict us to take seriously these words from Your Word.  Let it begin with each of us in our own heart. Help us to renew our commitment to pray for the healing of our nation and the world.