Author: astherainandsnow

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’” Luke 18:9-14

There are several dichotomies in this parable: a Pharisee, regarded in public as straight laced and righteous, versus a tax collector, seen as a swindling greedy cheat. Both stood before God praying, but one haughtily held his chin up, the other could not lift his eyes to heaven. The Pharisee is strong and stuffed with ‘thanksgiving’ while the tax collector is weak and begging for mercy. Surface perceptions betray a stranger truth. The religious expert, seemingly beckoning God, is actually focused on those around him, his eyes a-glance at the ‘scum’ around and beneath him. With strutting self-acclaim, he boasts for his human audience, not the Lord who hears earnest prayer, elevating himself above the other men by naming why he should be favored and exalted. The tax collector, in contrast, has eyes only for God, and is self-deprecating against His highness and holiness. One expects God to marvel and coo, the other pleads for God’s gracious mercy. One is convinced he deserves God’s applause, the other knows he is an unworthy sinner. And Jesus exalts the humble.

When we live for a worldly audience, we will choose all sorts of costumes for the parade: arrogance, achievement, who we know. But when we live and breathe for Jesus, He fills our vision, captures our imagination, and satisfies our longing soul- both Godward and outward.

How do we approach Almighty God and the opportunities He’s given? Are we flippant, arrogant to boast of good deeds and to strut our stuff? When praying aloud, do we inform or entertain our audience, or acknowledge God’s holy otherness? Would we approach each day on bended knee, fully aware that the throne room is opened only by Jesus’s blood, dependent and grateful for His grace, enthralled with the King of kings? Those who recognize the Holy One and approach in faith, seeking mercy, will be heard and met and lifted by Jesus. (Isaiah 6:1-8; Luke 18:35-43; Hebrews 4:16)

And before what audience do we live our day to day? If our motive is the favor of men, our actions distort with varied applause and shifting fancies. But if we seek first the Lord’s kingdom, and righteousness, and glory, others will see our good works and glorify God. Which will it be? (Matthew 5:16; 6:33; 1 Peter 2:12)

Father God, help me keep You as my audience of one, in all I pray and do. You alone are worthy of my heart, my trust, my praise.

“David said to all the assembly,.. ‘I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, gold.., silver.., bronze.., iron.., and wood.., besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble… for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen… Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?’

 “Then the leaders… made their freewill offerings, as did also… the commanders.., and the officers over the king’s work. They gave… 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. Whoever had precious stones gave them… Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

“‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:1a-2,4b-9,11-13

“Neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver… But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.” Nehemiah 5:14-15

Every child of God is tasked with being a role model, and leaders have a particular burden. What is striking about David is that he was so enthralled with his God that his example to those he served came naturally as an overflow of reverence and gratitude for his Sovereign. The same is true for Nehemiah. We get no sense of manipulation, trickery, or prideful motivation in their willingness to sacrifice, only that of joyful devotion to the majestic Lord who had entrusted them with leadership. David’s sacrificial actions prompted similar generosity in his people, for they, too, had whole hearts for the God of Israel. (1 Chronicles 29:17b)

How we handle the stewardship we hold is evident to those observing. We may never know who watches us, but we can know that our actions speak volumes about our view of God and what He’s entrusted to us, and may be used of Him to prompt obedience and joyful service in His children. What heart attitudes do our choices display, and inspire?

Do we live and lead in such a way that others recognize and are attracted to the God for whom we live? Do they see us as servants of self and pleasure, or as joyfully living for something and Someone greater? Do they witness closed fists, or open hands? Safeguarded homes, or warm hospitality? Rigid schedules, or willing availability? If all riches are in and from His hand, would I raise mine in grateful, humble honor?

Lord, may all I do show off, and show forth, the greatness, power, fear, and glory of You.

“But when I thought how to understand this,
    it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
    then I discerned their end.” Psalm 73:16-17

“‘O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
    so justice goes forth perverted.’

‘Look among the nations, and see;
    wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
    that you would not believe if told…’

‘Are you not from everlasting,
    O Lord my God, my Holy One?..
You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
    and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
    and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
    the man more righteous than he?..
I will take my stand at my watchpost
    and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me.'” Habakkuk 1:2-5,12-13; 2:1

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5b

Hard things cloud our vision. When we encounter loss- of mobility, eyesight, general health, a job, a loved one- it is difficult to see through to the other side, and if our minds attempt to go there, it is dark and depressing. When obstacles of misunderstanding, disagreement, resentment, false accusation, or jealousy occur, the way forward in relationships seems impenetrable. With progress bleak, it’s natural to remain in a spiritual and mental fog.

But what if we were to upend that perspective, and look at the clouds from above rather than below? There is more light in that expanse. What if we were to cast off their weight and climb high to view the infinite vista? What if we would take on the grand heavenly and eternal perspective rather than the bleak earthly and temporal? If the highest heavens cannot contain our God, isn’t this where we’d choose to dwell, where He is doing the unbelievable and everlasting? (2 Chronicles 2:6; Romans 11:33-36)

Too often we weary ourselves trying to figure out God’s whats and whys, when all could be well with our souls if we rested in His Who. We languish underneath clouds of woe when the Lord beckons us upward through the troubles to see His plan, His provision, His answers. When our pain is deep, will we look to the triumph of the cross? When relationships are strained, can we apply the grace of His reconciliation with us? When sight is diminished, can I take hope in one day seeing perfectly the face of my Savior? (Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 3:2)

Father, help me see todays trials as light and momentary, and every cloud You send as tinged with Your light from above. May I always listen and look for Your glory.

“It shall come to pass in the latter days
    that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
    and many nations shall come, and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war anymore;
but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
    and no one shall make them afraid,
    for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
For all the peoples walk
    each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
    forever and ever.

In that day, declares the Lord,
    I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away
    and those whom I have afflicted;
and the lame I will make the remnant,
    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
    from this time forth and forevermore…

There you shall be rescued;
    there the Lord will redeem you
    from the hand of your enemies.” Micah 4:1-7,10b

The prophet Micah foretells the day when the Lord’s people will flow to His mountain, and judgment and redemption are fulfilled. There will come a time of accounting, when Jesus puts man’s wars to rest and reigns forever over His own. God distinguishes His redeemed by the name in which we walk.

All the peoples walk each in the name of its god. Many walk in the name of virtual popularity, the currency of unknown followers. Some strut in the name of alma maters, the alphabets of title and degree. Others stride in the name of their children, or careers. As humans we identify by accomplishment and what we spend our time doing, or by creeds and movements we espouse. It’s important to recognize that what really drives us is the persuasion of our gods, and that we’ve made little idols of so many things.

But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God. The Lord calls us away, and higher. What does this look like? We acknowledge Him as the highest of high, and we clamor to be in His presence, to learn His ways. We walk in the counsel of His word, where and how He directs. We humbly set aside our own interests and rights to serve others as He did. We are not easily offended, and count it a privilege both to suffer and to stand up for His name. (John 13:1,5,14-15; Acts 5:40-41; Philippians 2:3-8; 1 Peter 2:20-21)

How cognizant are we in whose name we walk? What needs to change for us to walk to Him, with Him, in His name and power as His redeemed?

LORD, may I walk under Your reign today and in Your glorious name forever.

“David said, ‘Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.’ So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

“Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon, ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.  Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.”‘

“’Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God… Arise and work! The Lord be with you!’” 1 Chronicles 22:5-12,16

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6

“David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.” Acts 13:36

David was a man of many talents and lofty desires, yet the God who so fashioned him had explicit purposes for him during his years on earth. While he longed to build a magnificent temple for the Lord he loved and served, God said no, that’s for your son to do. There is much beauty in both his desire and his peace at God’s stay on his plan. He was content with the lines his Sovereign had drawn.

We may have many things we want to do, ambitions and dreams we hope come to fruition, and we can rejoice that God gives talents we enjoy and varied and pleasant desires. But we also have just one life, and the Lord has appointed us for such a time and place within allotted boundaries to fulfill our calling, a life no one else can live with intentions no one else can accomplish. (Esther 4:14, Job 23:10-14; Acts 9:4-6,15-16; 17:24-26)

Ofttimes doing God’s will within our boundaries means saying no to other good endeavors. Are we all in to set our face to the Jerusalem that is God’s specific plan for us? Are we willing to relinquish our own wants to the yes of loneliness, certain disciplines, training, or expenditure of time and resources, to heed His call? (Luke 9:51,53,57-62)

Would we choose joy in all God has chosen for us, because our greatest joy is in Him?

Father, keep me within Your heaven-drawn lines and finding them pleasant. May I glorify You by finishing the work You have for me on earth. (John 17:4)

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For

‘Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” 1 Peter 3:8-12,14-18

Pursuing and keeping peace is hard work. Bless, have, do not, keep, turn away, seek, pursue, regard. With peace, there is no option, but command as God’s children in the world. And it is not simply the result of being calm and peaceful ourselves, sitting back and keeping friction at bay as best we can. Peace does not occur naturally. It requires an active quest, countering the evil, angst, and reviling that prevails, and taking up and going after what is too often elusive.

Thankfully, we are not left alone to figure out and muster up this pursuit. Jesus, who has brought peace to every believer through the cross, both compels and equips by depositing His peace that passes understanding within us. He who reconciled us to Himself by His blood enables us to reconcile with others by the power of that same blood. By His Spirit we lay down our rights, gruffness, and self-interest in living sacrifice. (John 14:27; 16:33; Ephesians 2:14-16; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 1:19-20)

When we honor Christ as Lord in our hearts, He rules over their domain: emotional responses to slander and suffering, the words from our tongues when confronted with vitriol, our demeanor when we’re pinched or opposed, ignored or criticized. He guides our minds with reason and hope. He gives grace to issue love, tenderness, humility, and respect. To pursue peace.

In what instances or situations am I most prone to spiritual inertia, where just the opposite is required? When it comes to promoting peace in turmoil or conflict, does fear, or laziness, or apathy, or fatigue cause me to give up, or give in? Have I yielded full rein to my Lord’s gentleness, righteousness, and unifying Spirit?

Lord, fix me on caring about, and living for, your will and not flesh passions, so Your peace is my pursuit and joy. (1 Peter 4:2)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.’

“It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?.. We have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy…” Hebrews 12:1-7,9-16a

Indeed, ‘all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant,’ but the Scriptures give great encouragement how and why to endure. Humanly speaking, we have a great cloud of witnesses- ordinary people just like us- who have preceded us, and their faith is recorded as our example. Even better, Jesus has gone before us, never yielding to temptation or abandoning His purpose, and victoriously endured for our benefit, our holiness. When we consider their hope and triumphs, are we not spurred on to yield to divine discipline’s guiding, correcting, and shaping hands? (Hebrews 11:1-2,4-40)

The done of discipline is the transformed life and power Jesus lived and made possible for us through His obedience. The do is appropriating His discipline in our lives that we might be Christlike as His emissaries here on earth. Discipline is not punishment. Rather, it is training applied to produce a certain outcome, namely our holiness. (Philippians 2:5-16)

What areas of attitude or action need particular strengthening and discipline? Where need we more pointedly strive to cooperate with His sanctifying exhortation? Jesus looked to the joy beyond the cross. We look to Him, and saints before us, to take heart and triumph by their same grace.

Holy Father, may I wholly yield to Your perfectly designed and measured discipline, and so be made like You in every way.

“Then Satan… incited David to number Israel.  David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, ‘Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.’ ³ But Joab said, ‘May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not… all my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt..?’ But the king’s word prevailed. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. [He] gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David… all men who drew the sword… But… the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab.

“God was displeased, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, ‘I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. Please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly…’ ‘I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great…’ ‘Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people…’ When David saw that the Lord had answered him.., he sacrificed.” 1 Chronicles 21:1-8,13,17,28

We cannot be certain David’s motive in wanting a census taken of his soldiers, but we can imagine there was pride fueling his compulsion. His skilled, brash commander Joab recognized the foolishness of such an exercise, and told him it would be a waste of time. There was no benefit to tagging a number value on the Lord’s immeasurable blessing.

But David ignored the check. And by ignoring it, he eventually saw and sought the grace of God. Pushing through with sin brings hard consequences, yet God in His patience uses the very pain to reveal His mercy and take us higher. This man after God’s heart was still in God’s school, and the Lord is a persistent Instructor who would not let him fail. (Acts 13:22; Hebrews 12:10-11)

Are we tuned in to God’s checks? How receptive are we when challenged or warned? With whom are we open about struggles, and willing to take correction? Where have we let pride puff to superiority, rudeness, and ‘I’ll do this my way’? (James 5:16)

When the loving Lord convicts us of sin and we repent, we open ourselves to healing and transformation from the weakness that got us there. We see anew His mercies in painful correction, and trust more deeply His ongoing grace in our sanctification. We worship more meaningfully because we see Him more clearly. And being touched, and changed, we want to give that grace to others.

Do we love them enough to do so? We may pretend we shouldn’t judge, or offend, or impose on another’s preferences, but that can prove cowardice or a protection from being confronted ourselves. Sometimes the most compassionate (and bravest) decision is to challenge, “Why should this be a cause of guilt?” Whether or not that person receives our admonishment, we have honored the Lord. He will deal with them directly.

Lord, thank You for Your grace in checking me- through others and by Your Spirit. Keep me tender to Your conviction, and filled with grace to be Your check for others You love. (John 16:8)

“While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke 5:12-13

There is much that is moving about this man, an outcast from society. He probably kept his own face down and hidden as much as possible, since he was likely disfigured and strange from diseased skin. His only view of others’ facial expressions over the years would likely have mirrored his own soul ache and disgust at his condition: horror, repulsion, or at best, disdain.

But then came a man who was different. There was something about His voice, the humble, kind way He interacted with the marginalized, His compassion and unhurried tempo, the power that flowed from Him. It was said He came to set people free from oppression and disease, and this leper was captive to both. Maybe he could face Him. He watched Him among the crowd, and wanted to get closer. Drawn by the magnet of His compassion, he bravely made his way toward Him to make his request. He knew this man Jesus could heal him, and hoped He was willing. But when he actually saw Him, he fell face down in an inseparable move of reverence and shame. (Luke 4:18,31-41)

This leper knew what it was not to belong, to be rejected and unloved. This was a man who knew he did not deserve grace, and there was nothing he could do to earn Jesus’s favor. Yet, because of what he knew about this anointed Wonder-worker, he approached, in the humblest faith. His ugly body bowed, His marred face down, unworthy, before God in the flesh. That face was hidden but his faith was not. It was bold, even brash- “if you will, you can!” And Jesus did.

The effect of falling facedown is glorious. It is an honest expression of the truth about us: we are marred people all. It wins us an audience with the blessed Sovereign, and begs for mercy from the lowest place of absolute necessity- the very place mercy enters and thrives. And Jesus comes there, lifts our repaired visage, and makes us whole. (Ephesians 2:1-8; Romans 3:23)

Have we come to recognize our depravity before the perfect Savior, that we are spoiled from the inside out? Are we so confident of the loving Lord’s goodness and power that we bring all our regret and bitterness and shame to His nail-scarred feet, and beg to be made clean? Are we willing to put aside what others think, all we value of the world, and our naturally greatest assets, before the only Asset that matters?

Lord, keep me prostrate in heart, my face bowed in reverence and reflecting Your countenance. May I be a living expression of Your healing, freeing power.

“I will show you my faith by my works.”

“The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell… No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so…

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 2:18b; 3:6,8-10,13-18

The tongue is a fire, and not a pretty one. In the chaos of clashing cultures and inner anger, the tongue adds fuel to flame, distorting truth and disrupting discourse. The very tool that can be used for so much good is too often unreined and left to do much harm. Even solid faith is shrouded when a runaway tongue undoes or destroys every otherwise good work.

The Lord calls us to be fire fighters and faith farmers. If we are truly people of faith, our behavior should look and sound like it. By His Spirit our words must be controlled, and used for blessing, uplifting, truth-telling with love, and consoling. We can quell the cacophony of bellicose arguments and controversy by reminding ourselves that those with whom we converse are also image-bearers, and speak to them as such. We remember that faith displays itself in being distinctly other, unlike the world and very much like Jesus. We douse the flames of unrighteousness by the meekness of wisdom, smothering the earthly with the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 14:3; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians 4:15)

Are we prone to criticism and contention, speaking evil of others? Do our words antagonize and tone of voice invite friction? Are we aware of the distrust our betraying confidence enflames, the destruction our gossip breeds, or the conflagration our pestering and goading sparks? Confess the sin, and quench the fires with grace upon grace! Hoe out the gripes and sow in the peace. Bridle emotion with reason, and nurture sincere impartiality over arrogant superiority. Give way for faith to bear its glorious fruit. (Colossians 3:10-16; James 4:11)

“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.” ~Frances Havergal (1874)

Father, may my words be gracious, sowing love and truth to produce a harvest of righteousness, that You might be praised.