I ASKED FOR IT
Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 29-32

I asked for it, Lord. I know that.

I bowed before my prayer chair and in no uncertain terms asked you to make Your Word come alive to me in a special way this morning.

I asked You to speak to me through the pages of the Bible.

I asked You to talk directly to my heart.

I asked You to skim the dross off the top of my heart.

And You answered. Boy, oh boy, did You answer.

And I'm taking it like a big spoon of yucky-tasting medicine--because I know I need it and I know it's come from You.

"Do not be stubborn, as they are, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you." 2 Chronicles 30:8 NLT

I looked up the word 'stubborn', since it seemingly jumped off the page at me and became imprinted in my heart...

refusing to change your ideas or to stop doing something; difficult to deal with, remove, handle or manage; unreasonably or perversely unyielding; firmly set in one's ways 

That's me. Anyone who knows me, knows that's me.

In attempting to be unlike 'them', I was floating along in the same boat 'they' were in. In praying that I'd be more like You, my unchanging heart and ways made me more like the Pharisees and the Sadducees you speak against...unchanging, unyielding, unmanageable. In seeking to honor You I'd settled into habits and routines that were comfortable but not worshipful. In taking a stand I'd forgotten on Whom I stood and how often You bent in service and love.

So, thank You. For hearing my prayer. For speaking to the matter at hand. For loving me enough to point out what needs fixing--no, removed. For giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit to make the changes needed. For allowing Your Word to come alive again.