It's Me Again God

108. You Have My Heart

It's me again God,

Spending this time with you really helps me to get my priorities in order! Taking time to meet with others at church on Sunday, worship You and hear from Your Word really helps set things right for the start of a new week.

However, I admit that even with these things in place, I can still be drawn away by the things of the world. Teach me today as I focus on these verses. May my heart be turned toward You:

"Don't set the affections of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world. The love of the Father and the love of the world are incompatible. For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance—none of these things come from the Father but from the world. This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭TPT‬‬

There are so many beautiful parts of our world in nature or even the things you have allowed man to make. We can admire them but You are reminding me today to be careful not to allow these things to have the place in my heart that is to be reserved for You and only You! Likewise, there are so many experiences that could make me feel good —exercising, eating, drinking, making things, redecorating my home and garden, but focusing on the gratification of my flesh is not helpful as this is from the world and not You.

Thank You that I have been so incredibly blessed by You in so many ways. May I see the beautiful things in the world in a new way —help me to always see You in them and give You praise and glory and honour!

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."" Isaiah‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth." Psalm‬ ‭47:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord help me to deal with the battle that sometimes arises within me as I desire status and importance. May I remember that this is part of my old self:

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:22-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thank You that I can make a choice to keep my affections and my eyes on You always even while living in the world. Thank You Jesus for praying for us before You were crucified because You knew that the enemy would try to lure us away:

"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."   John‬ ‭17:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thank You for the wonderful promise in verse 17 of 1 John 2, that 'those who love to do the will of God live forever.'  Our eternal life forever is with You in heaven:

"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.""
‭‭John‬ ‭3:13-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thank You for all You have revealed to me today. Please continue to speak to me as I leave this quiet place —may I be in the world but not of it! You have my heart!

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."   Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.