Daily Morning Message 3/22/2021

MORNING MESSAGE
March 22, 2021
by Gayle Gordon

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
(Psalm 139:23-24 KJV)

The Psalmist is not presenting God with his own perfection, asking God to acknowledge his beauty of character and faith. He's asking what we're asking from our Father; show me the root of what displeases You, in me. This addresses that persistent flaw; the bad habit, the return to addiction, the unchanged opinion, the undisciplined words. We are all in need. There's victory in Christ!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart."
God knows our hearts and his Holy Spirit is at work on a constant basis, working to reveal to us the reasons for our sometimes baffling behaviors. He teaches us what sin is and how it works. He knows that understanding is half the battle. James had the development of sin in our hearts well understood in James 1:14-15;

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."
To be attracted to something displeasing to God is being coaxed to engage. It is not sin. It is pre-sin. The Holy Spirit will nudge you back on track, as you become more sensitive to Him. Satan wants you to believe that temptation is sin; it is not. Take that nudge immediately, and win victory. But, what if you continue?...

"Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;"
Conceiving sin is perceiving and accepting it as your approved plan. The Holy Spirit is very close, sending up red flares at this point. He knows that once we accept and approve of the temptation, it is very much harder to resist. So does Satan and He puts the pressure on. Once we promise ourselves we can do or say or think the sin, we open the door to actually performing it. Many, if not most, of the time, that door is too huge and heavy for us to slam shut...

"and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
Enough said! No 'wiggle room' here. Sin brings death, period. In this, "the Day (season) that the Lord has made", we receive and praise God that Jesus went through that death, for us. Our "full-grown sin" put Him on the cross. He acted to pay that price for our sin through the death of His sinless Son.

The time it takes in our hearts and minds to go through this process of temptation is sometimes incredibly fast. It can depend upon familiarity; you find yourself feeling that you do such-n-such because you always have. It's you!...the kind if person you are. You've done that for years. There's no use in trying to stop. It's just the way you're wired!
Jesus turns that into dust.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
2 Corinthians 5:17

What we think is of paramount importance to our Lord. If our thoughts wander (or are driven) away from Him, He knows their strength and the force of their impact, and is ready to rescue and restore peace. Be aware, today; watch, pray, praise, worship. Walk with your Savior.