“I need a clean heart”

I don’t understand the phrase, “slow as Christmas,” because reality is we blink and it’s Christmas. The holidays are quickly approaching, and the gathering of family is upon us. It can be such an exciting time with good food and fellowship, but for some it can be a time of anxiousness.

You’ve probably also heard the expression, “the black sheep in the family.” Reality is the whole flock is together at this time of the year.  Opinions, emotions and broad personalities can turn into a recipe for a nutty fruitcake that you didn’t want served.

So, whether it be during family gatherings or life in general, how do we prepare ourselves for unforeseen scenarios or heightened emotions with those we are trying to love?

I’ve found myself in this predicament more times than I can count, well beyond the holidays. My emotions towards an individual ranged from frustration to grace and anger to mercy. My heart knew to extend the same mercy and grace Jesus had shown me, but my mind was stumped and could not find the words to even pray. I desired a deeper prayer for them but felt I was staring at a wall that had ‘emotions and opinion’ across it.

I was tired of the mental block and decided to get real with God in my prayer. No more frilly words, no more hidden heartache, the real deal, and just like that God revealed Himself. A particular scripture danced through my head, “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Memorizing scripture is new to me and I have retained about two verses out of thousands, but the more I read the Bible and ask God to speak to me, the more He whispers certain verses at just the right time.

The phrase, “create a clean heart for me,” felt like a ‘eureka’ moment! My speechless prayer shifted to “God, I want to be honest, this person bothers me, I am struggling to WANT to pray for them, BUT I want to do YOUR will. Give me a new heart, a NEW outlook, a new desire to pray blessings and life FOR them!” The words unraveled from my mind as if they had been bound up.

I am continuously being reminded of how powerful, effective and freeing scripture becomes when I allow it to take effect. My honesty in a prayer is also key. Submission precedes honesty and obedience follows, simple approaches for complicated circumstances; that’s how God works.

Holiday gatherings will come and go, individuals will produce a range of emotions within us, and life will be beautiful and messy…. but one thing remains…The Word of God.

Ask Him to reveal His Word to you, reach for your Bible often and get real with Him. He will reveal just what you need at the right time.

 Check out the song of the week below! It’s a great one!