All tagged sincere
When we open ourselves up to Jesus Christ and allow Him to enter into us we not only become a new person internally, but also externally. Ezekiel recorded how God transforms us in wonderful fashion, and the New Testament contains many references to how Jesus cleanses us and allows for this same transformation. The sin that we have spoken of in past days is now forgiven, and we are refreshed. Are we ready to be changed?
As I read the title of the devotional message that Pastor E.M. Bounds had written this morning I was captured. It read "Bad Praying = Bad Living” but, as I read further, it was actually telling us that the way we live can impact the success of our prayers. When we are actively engaged in sinning it is nearly impossible to pray as we should. Oh, we might say the words, but the connection to our heart is broken, and our outreach towards God is without sincerity and strength.
Do you feel grief today before God? Is your heart breaking within you for some sin that convicts you unrelentingly? I am not speaking about a superficial knowledge of having done something wrong, but rather the deep understanding of a sin that emanates from your very soul. Are you seeking repentance for wrongdoing that has brought you to godly grief?
Are we constantly at the ready to pray for all the Saints? Is the Holy Spirit guiding us as we do; not in a quick word, or with repetitive phrases that aren’t from our heart, but in fervent prayer? If we offer prayers that are simply rote in nature... repetitive, and insincere, then we are not praying as we should.