Before We Can Pray…

It’s so easy to want to keep some of the world in our hearts. We tell ourselves it’s okay. And maybe the worldly thing isn’t even a sin.

But what did Jesus do?

He set Himself completely apart. He laid aside what He wanted. He denied every particle of the world—for our sakes. That we might also be made holy, separate, set apart for others’ sake. (John 17:16-19)

That’s our call. He has made us to be priests—intercessors, coming before God on behalf of others.

What does that have to do with holiness?

Just this: a thought comes to your mind. It’s not a godly thought, but maybe it doesn’t seem like too bad a thought. Or maybe it does. Either way, you want to think about it for a bit.

What if that was the moment that God decided to answer your prayers for the person you love most . . . and you’re about to negate it by your filthy thoughts?

What if that was the moment God was about to pour out His inspiration for your writing and break through your writer’s block?

What if that was the moment God wanted to show Himself strong in your life and cause you to enter into His victory over the thing you struggle with the most?

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18)

Iniquity is happens in both the mind and heart. It’s meditation upon our own things, upon sin, upon what pleases our flesh. For your sake and for the sake of others, beg God to pardon your iniquities and receive His strength and power to set your affections wholly on things above, not on things on the earth.

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 

I sat not in the assembly of the merrymakers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand…

Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile [worthless], thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 15:16-20)

Receive God’s truth and be sanctified! Set your mind above! Live set apart! Live holy—because He’s holy, and for others. Others might think you’re strange, but what does it matter in light of eternity?

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed (holy) be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil—for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.