Promise for Today - Wonders

[Jesus speaking] I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.

John 15:1-3

My son-in-love did a little landscaping cleanup, and I realized I had the illustrated sermon of this Scripture passage in front of me.

As he clipped and trimmed and shaped and removed sucker growth, I thought about God being our gardener. I wonder at His patience when we resist His tending. I wonder at His ability to see past all the unruly growth to get to the heart of who we are and then to create a clean heart in us. I wonder at His great love to remove the suckers from our lives, so that we may be pure and exhibit true, healthy growth.

And I wonder if He kicks back when the work is done, knowing He's done right by us - and for us - and waits for us to bloom exactly as He planned in the spot He has planted us or transplanted us. I wonder how long He'll have to wait...

Prayer:

Father,
          Cultivate our hearts. Don't let them become stony and hard through inactivity or misuse. Regenerate and wash us with Your Word as You have promised. We want to be and do what You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Filling Your Heart - Guest Author Stephanie Mitchell

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV

Stephanie writes:
How Are You Filling Your Heart?

Have you ever made a poor decision and thought— “Why did I do that?” In the Old Testament, the heart was considered the center of inner life, and people believed it dictated thoughts, emotions, and actions. It was essentially a combination of someone’s soul and mind. When Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts” what it’s essentially saying is, “Pay careful attention to how you fill your inner life.”

What goes into your soul and mind determines what comes out of your mouth. And what you say influences your actions and decisions. While you might not notice the effect your choices have on you today—over time, they will impact the direction of your life.

So how do we intentionally take care of our inner lives?

Our bodies were made by God, which means the thing they need most is God. He is the One who sustains us. So some of the best things we can do for ourselves are intentionally seeking God through prayer, studying Scripture, reflecting on His blessings, and inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to us throughout our day.

The best way to guard our hearts is by giving our hearts to God. When we make Him the center of our lives and the source of our strength, what we do will flow out from Him.  Instead of fitting God into our daily routines, let’s create our daily routines around our relationship with God. Let’s create space for God to speak to us and restore us. Let’s allow God to heal the parts of our lives that are broken so that what comes out of us is God-honoring, encouraging, and reflective of the good we’ve allowed [God to put] into our hearts.

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Prayer:

Father,

           We pray as King David prayed, "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—
now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Clean Heart

Today's Promise is from guest author, Stephanie Mitchell.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you’ve ever messed up, you’re in good company. Paul, the author behind much of the New Testament, writes in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Paul wasn't always a man who followed God's own heart, either—in fact, early in his life, he killed people who followed Jesus.

God did not abandon Paul. He did not exclude David. And He will not forsake you, either! God does not leave us to ourselves or our pasts, nor does He give us what we fully deserve. Instead, He put on skin and took our place. Jesus became the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for our sin—once and for all. He loves us, despite what we may have done!

If you’re longing for a second chance or craving a relationship with the one true God, but aren’t sure where to start, try borrowing some of David’s words. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

When we seek God, we realize that He’s already been seeking us.

God is faithful. He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He’ll do. He is your merciful Savior, He forgives your sins, and He not only makes your heart clean, but He also makes you a brand new creation.

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We pray as David prayed. Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. Point out anything in us that offends You, and lead us along the path of everlasting life. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen