Simply Devotional

The last couple of days God has given me the promptings and alertness to make time with Him my first priority of the morning. I tend to be the type that overdoes and over plans EVERYTHING!
You know, morning devotion had to be with a hot cup of tea; sitting in my recliner; complete silence of sleeping children; and very early in the morning so that I could completely focus on my bible reading and study for a solid 45 minutes.

Yeah right!

Yep, you guessed it. It almost NEVER happened. And so I just kept feeling guilty.

But then it hit me that I could do more than nothing.
I started by implementing the repeat method with the shortest book in the bible. After all surely I could read 14 verses at least a few times a day.
Then I realized that I could do this very easily first thing upon waking.
So now I keep my compact bible next to my bed. Sometimes I'm nursing baby, or have kids bouncing on the bed but in this very simple easy way I can meet with my Lord first thing. And sometimes I bend my knees next to my bed and converse for just a few moments before the craziness starts.

Another lesson learned....simple is best!

Are you living in the Safety Zone?

Week 5

Rebuke - to be right, correct, chasten, convict

Have Mercy - to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, have pity upon



While I have been reading and meditating on this verse one phrase has stood out to me "For I am weak". That pretty much sums up the basis of my struggles and problems. I am too weak to say "no" to self, to weak to stand strong, too weak to be steadfast.

I have spent so many years giving up and giving in instead of crying out to Jesus for mercy.

My soul is greatly troubled when I look on my failings but there is a way of escape "have mercy, O God".


Cleanse me Jesus, make me new, draw me into Your presence.

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."


"Have mercy on me O God, according to your steadfast mercies, wash away all my iniquities, cleanse me from sin."

Week 4

Supplication/Mercy - earnest prayer, entreaty

Heard - attentively, diligently discern, give ear

Mercy (dictionary) - price paid, compassion, relief of distress



How blessedly true this verse has been for me recently. It seems that daily I am crying out for mercy in the dailiness of life.

• God give me patience through math


• God I need Your strength & alertness through breakfast


• Jesus I need wisdom for Phonics


• Help! I have no inspiration for supper

These cries seem so utterly menial and meaningless and yet we have His word telling us that he "diligently and attentively listens" for our voice and cries.



While pondering on this verse I hit upon something that I hadn't taken note of previously.

God has sent revival to my soul and spirit in the last few weeks and renewed my hunger & thirst for Him, and in doing so I have needed to call on Him continually because I know with clarity that I can't.

Not just I can't do, I can't find, I can't know but simply I can't.

For my heart is "desperately wicked" outside of Christ. He is the One who can in all things.



What is even more amazing is that I will never outgrow Him, the closer I am to Him the more I "cry" for mercy because His glory reveals my depravity.

Faithfully,

Jessica

Clean Heart Clean Home devotional & journal is available at Dandelion Seeds blog.

Week 3

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely..."

Hosea 14:4

backsliding: turning away

I will love: to have affection for like a friend

freely: spontaneously, willingly

I have been mulling this verse over and meditating on it all week and frankly don't like where that has brought me:)

If I have backslidden (and I most certainly have) then it means that I have turned away from my Lord. But it is more than just turning away because in this world nothing is static. I am always moving towards or away from one thing to the next.

Here are the "things" that I have turned away toward:



pride - I know the best way

judging - At least I'm not like that!

comparison - I'm so much more organized, better, neater, etc

blame - If he were home sooner, if he helped out more

selfishness - I want to do my own thing

anger - Why do I have to put up with this

despair - nothing will ever change or get better

frustration - I just cleaned that!

coveteousness - I want a nicer/bigger/newer house

jealousy - It's not fair that I don't live close to family for help

discontent - My life will be better with this purchase



Oh God, Forgive me.

"I will HEAL your backsliding"



I come to the end of myself for there is nothing of this "old woman" that I care to keep around.

You, O God, are my healer. I sit here and soak in your healing love. I feel no guilt or reproach from you in response to my backsliding because I feel your spontaneously abundant gift of love....for me.

Clean Heart Journal

1 Corinthians 14:33

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..."



confusion: instability, disorder, commotion, tumult.



peace: quietness, rest, set at one again, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.



For God is not the author of instability of mind, disorderly thoughts, commotion or tumult but He is the author of quietness of heart, rest in my soul, and freedom from disquieting thoughts and oppressive emotions.





As I have been meditation and pondering on this verse and what it means to my life I began to question what it is that causes me to be in a state of confusion?

Hmmmm, fear of circumstances (empty bank account, unpaid bills, health problems, etc), and lack of direction and purpose are what come to mind first, but to dig deeper I believe the root of my confusion is a lack of trust and faith in my Jesus.

In John 14 Jesus is sharing with His disciples about His leaving but the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. And then He says in verse 27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Do you see what that means?

Not only is God the author of PEACE but He has given us PEACE!

So when the phone is ringing off the hook, there are no clean dishes for lunch, the floor is covered with toys, your searching baskets to find some clean clothes, the baby won't sleep, the kids are quarreling and you just want to run away and scream or fall in a heap and cry......remember.....He has given us PEACE.

Seek the author of rest, and quietness.

faithfully,

Jessica