May 19, 2013: Catching Up.../ Searchlight

search·light

: a very bright light that can be aimed in different directions and that is used to find people or things in the dark miriam webster

Proverbs 16:2

Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

Proverbs 17:3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts.

Proverbs 20:27

Amplified Bible (AMP)

27 The spirit of man [that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God] is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.

Proverbs 21:2

Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.

Proverbs 27:19

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19 As in water face answers to and reflects face, so the heart of man to man.

Proverbs 15:8

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8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!

Proverbs 15:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!

Proverbs 21:3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:27

Amplified Bible (AMP)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is exceedingly disgusting and abhorrent [to the Lord]—how much more when he brings it with evil intention?

So if I ignore God's tug on my heart, I am wicked. I can stick my fingers in my ears and sing, "Lalalalala" at the top of my lungs, and go on my merry way, sacrificing and praying, even! But I am still disgusting and offensive to the Lord if I refuse His correction.

ALL my ways are pure in my own eyes! (Prov. 16:2) Wow, really? Yes, really. I can justify ANYTHING I do. Just give me a minute. I can wax eloquent on why my evil deeds are perfectly acceptable. 

But God tests my heart. And proves if it's acceptable or not. I must have a soft moldable heart. 

2 Corinthians 3:3

New King James Version (NKJV)

3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Ezekiel 36:26

New King James Version (NKJV)

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

"Jesus, I don't want to pray this but I must. Crush me, break me, try me and test me. See if there be any wicked way in me, in the words of the hymn that I've sung all my life. I don't want to have a heart of stone. Mold me and make me, Jesus. I want to be a pure vessel, used by You. Hey, I just thought of something. If I am unwilling to be crushed and broken by You, the Master Potter, then I think I'm better than You. Because You were crushed and broken beyond recognition. So go right ahead, Jesus, pound away! here I am, a willing (Ugh! This is hard for me to say!!! The word that comes to mind right now is UNwilling, seriously...) vessel. I'm gritting my teeth, Jesus. But go ahead. Just do it. Because the sweet peace and joy that comes afterwards is sooooooo worth it. Thanks for, once again, shining Your searchlight on me. Love, Your reluctant daughter. AMEN"