Jun. 24, 2007 - Seeking Him: Honesty
"Nothing is covered up that will not be reavealed, or hidden that will not be known." Luke 12:2
The past week of the Seeking Him devotional I'm working through has concentrated on Honesty. I share my notes and thoughts with you because it helps me to remember what I am learning. Writing it down helps me to organize what is going around in my head. I also want to share because I hope it will cause you to want to know more and therefore search the scriptures and grow even closer to God. I do not want to offend or hurt anyone or I would not post it on this blog. I am interested in your thoughts and comments on anything I post!
Beginning in Genesis 3, we read about Adam & Eve trying to hide their sin and we can see that Honesty does not come naturally. We don't have to LEARN to pretend or LEARN to hide our faults, we know how to do that. What we need to learn is true honesty. The book then works through a chapter on David and Psalm 32 where David records his feelings of hiding sin and then the outcome when he is truly honest and repentant about what he has done. I'm so glad God shares these things with us through the Bible so that we can see His love to all sinners. He didn't have to tell us the story of David, or David's prayers, but He did -- what an encouragement!
At the end of the Honesty chapter is a time to reflect and examine my own heart. I never tell lies so I must be honest, right? Honesty is deeper than that. If I am speaking the truth but I exaggerate certain parts then I am lying. If, in conversation, I am purposely hold back a piece of information that effects the story/outcome, then I am not being honest. If I am striving to give others a better impression of myself than is really true, I am being dishonest. If I give a compliment to someone while harboring ill feelings toward them inside, I am being dishonest. You can probably think of more examples.
The authors pose 20 soul-searching questions and the following 2, are the questions that particularly "struck me":
Do I see my sin as God sees it, or do I tend to think of it in terms of "weakness", "problems", "slip-ups" or "personality quirks"?
Do I put up walls to keep people from seeing the "real me"? Am I willing to let others into my life - to be honest about my spiritual needs and to ask for prayer?
My friend and I talked for awhile about the last question. I wondered, "Do I have to tell about all the skeletons in my closet in order to be honest?" " Do I have to confess to the public all my sins of the week so that I don't become to proud or give a false impression?". No! But there is real value in being transparent with other Christians in order to give God glory for the work He has done in our life. Sharing with someone about how God has changed us or helped us conquer a particular sin can be so helpful and encouraging to another Christian who is struggling in the same area. Perhaps telling of a sin to one, discreet, person that will pray for you or hold you accountable, would give you victory over it. "Honesty breeds honesty"... so, swallowing my pride and telling about God's power over sin in my own life could cause another sister to be honest with herself and God about the same sin that is troubling her.
And when it comes to being honest with God, well, I might as well fess up. God knows it all anyway. It is very reassuring to know that He knows all about me and He still loves me! There is nothing hidden from God so why try to hide? I can be free through His amazing grace.
"Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Proverbs 28:13
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Jun. 12, 2007 - Humility
"If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
I have just completed my second week of the "Seeking Him" devotional book on personal revival. It was packed with great stuff, more than I can write about here! This weeks topic was Humility and naturally we had to deal with Pride as well. It is easy to find several Bible verses on both of these character traits and God has given us many examples too. We looked at two Old Testament Kings - Rehoboam and Asa (son and great-grandson of Solomon). 2 Chronicles 12 - 16.
Our pride will seperate us from God and hinder revival. Often I think of pride as "boasting" but the book really has you digging deep to find other ways pride manifests itself. My friend and I talked a while about how Worry and Fear can be manifestations of pride. Why do we worry or fear anything? We are focusing on ourselves and not God -- and that's a form of pride. Look at 1Peter 5:5-7...
v. 5 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humilty: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. "
v. 6 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
v. 7 "Casting all you care upon him; for he careth for you."
How many times do we quote vs 7 all by itself? I know I've seen it used and read as a kind of "stand alone" verse over and over but look again... it is part of a complete sentence that begins in verse 6. What is it that we need to do before we "Cast all our cares upon God"?? -- HUMBLE OURSELVES. 
It's all in our attitude - the way we view God and the way we view ourselves. God is holy! He is holy and we are nothing. The more we let that thought sink in and penetrate our hearts, the more humble we become. And humility is our first step for revival with a Holy God.
I know that this week I was convicted to work on the area of humility within my own family. I personally need to lay down my pride in my home and be an example to my kids. I don't always have to be right! I need to be quick to swallow my pride and ask forgiveness of my children.
"The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea-bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice. It is the complete anti-God state of mind." ~C.S. Lewis
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May. 30, 2007 - Seeking Him Bible Study
righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12 NKJV
A friend and I are beginning a new bible study on personal revival called "Seeking Him" It is written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom. (Visit Nancy's ministry on line at Revive our Hearts. ) Nancy is a women of God who will dig into the Word and tell it like it is. She does not sugarcoat - her little booklet, A Biblical Portrait of Womanhood is a treasure.
My copy of "Seeking Him" arrived a few days ago and I have worked through the first 4 days. Already, I have learned that revival starts with God calling his people back to himself. God, in his unfailable love, initiates the process, not the wayward soul. (Hosea 11:1-4) The person, then, must respond in humility with a contrite heart. Humbling ourselves before the Lord along with a prayer of confession will start the revival. The roots of sins such as pride, rebellion and unbelief must be destroyed. Praise Jesus they are covered by His blood and he has given us the power to uproot and rid ourselves of
the "sins which so easily beset us". I am anticipating His work in my life this summer.
My friend ("C") and I will begin discussing what we've learned on June 5th. I hope to post some notes on how God is working. You are more than welcome to join us. :o) I purchased my copy of the book through one of Amazon's used book sellers. The total price (shipped) was $12.00. You can also purchase it through CBD or the Seeking Him website. Let me know if your going to participate by leaving a comment or message. If you've been wanting to do a Bible study but haven't found one available - this could be it!
