* Deliberately

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:12-14 NLT

There I was, minding my own business, or so I thought... I have to tell you that I discovered I was definitely NOT being deliberate about 'minding my business.' I was headed home, singing along with the CD, and thought I was engaged in the music until a guy cut me off. I went right from perfect four-part harmony to a very discordant "JERK!!" And immediately, conviction flooded the car... James 3:9-10 - about the tongue - seemed to bounce off every interior surface - Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

There were so many Scriptures that came flooding in right behind it, I didn't know whether to beg for mercy or to praise God for His faithfulness in correcting me! But here's what I know according to His Word. Proverbs 3 (and Hebrews repeats it), My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

God has ALWAYS been very deliberate about His love for us. John 3:16 tells us He sent His Son to die for us so that we might live forever with Him. You can't get more deliberate than that!

So should I live haphazardly? Or should I live so deliberately for Him that I wouldn't even think about calling someone who is made in the image of God a JERK?!?

Prayer:

Father,
          How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen