EVERYTHING

“Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”

Acts 8:21, 22

King James Version

Pastor Elisha A. Hoffman wrote a hymn that every Christian needs to answer “Is Thy Heart Right with God?”  “Have thy affections been nailed to the cross? Is thy heart right with God? Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss? Is thy heart right with God?”  Is our heart right with God or are we hurting Him?

If we have allowed bitterness, resentment, jealousy, hatred and unforgiveness to remain in our heart, we are hurting God and breaking His heart.  If God could forgive us for crucifying His Son, who are we to harbor unforgiveness in our heart?  I don’t know about you but when I’m upset with someone and haven’t forgiven them for hurting me, I can’t look in the mirror because I feel so guilty for not forgiving the one who hurt me.  

William R. Newell wrote the hymn “At Calvary”.  “Now I've given to Jesus everything, now I gladly own Him as my King, now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary.”  Can we honestly say we’ve given to Jesus everything?  We can tell people we have but Jesus can see into our heart and He knows if we have given Him everything.

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times I have hurt You.  I pray that You will help me to be the Christian You want me to be and that others will always see and hear the love of Jesus in me.  I pray for people who are brokenhearted, discouraged, suicidal and lonely.  Please encourage and comfort them as You have been so faithful to do for me so many times.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

November 16, 2019