*++* A Clean Heart *++*

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
*++* A Clean Heart *++*
2
Mon, 01-05-2004 - 7:09am
A Clean Heart

Psalm 139:13-15


In order to reach our God-given potential, we must begin with a clean heart, because that is where we relate to the Lord. We must remember that, while God created each of us with the capacity to achieve and become everything He had in mind, we nevertheless came into the world with a bent away from Him and His will.

So all the potential He placed within us remains inadequate until and unless we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

You see, God sent His Son into this world for the purpose of dying on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and mine by dying a substitutionary, all-sufficient, atoning death in our place. In the process, He forgave us of our sins and declared us no longer guilty. He set us apart for Himself, declared us His children, and welcomed us into His family. Even more than that, He placed within us awesome potential to become and achieve. But He didn’t stop there. As He did with the disciples, He also planned that we would “be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49)—His Holy Spirit.

When you trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the Spirit of God comes to indwell you and enable you in every single aspect of life. So it isn’t just your effort.

You’ve been indwelt by a person of the Godhead—God Himself!—to make your potential a reality.

But the Holy Spirit can function only through a clean heart. Tomorrow we will look at what is necessary for a believer’s heart to be clean.

Live With Passion!


Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Mon, 01-05-2004 - 8:28am
A great one this morning, Phyllis...I sooooo needed this one. I printed it to re-read throughout the day.

Love ya.

Sassy

 

                        

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-05-2004 - 11:51am
Love this, Phyllis! Reminds me of some of the messages I heard yesterday. One of them was the gospel is not about me, but about Jesus. A clean heart begins with turning my life over to Jesus and trying to live my life as he did his life. Of course, I don't come close to Jesus' example, but that's the goal. . .
Katherine (Kat)