And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? 14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. 15 The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. 16 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.
You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name. 21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.—Deuteronomy 10:12-16; 20-21
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”—Luke 1:76-80
As I read today’s readings my heart was convicted but also thankful...
Thankful that there is forgiveness with God.
Thankful that His mercies are new every morning.
Thankful that He is so faithful even and especially when I am not.
Thankful that He is sufficient for all I face because I know I am not.
Thankful that You, Father, by Your tender mercies have delivered me from the power of darkness and conveyed me into the kingdom of the Son of Your love.
Thankful that You go before me and guide my feet in Your way of peace.
Oh Father...fill me with Your fullness. Renew in me a right spirit....enable me to give You the pre-eminence in my life...to love You with all heart, soul, mind and strength. You are my praise...You are my glory and You are my God. Your desire toward me is good and Your working in my life is wonderful. Encourage me to love those around me with Your unselfish love...the love that grows out of Your love for me. May my service toward others be motivated by and seasoned with Your love. Remove the fat that surrounds my heart and enable me to be stiff-necked and stubborn no longer. Help me to live today and every day worshiping You and walking in Your ways.
Forgive me for making this life so often about me. Forgive my lack of love. My lack of mercy. Forgive my wayward heart that forgets You and neglects to bring me with You as I go about “my” day. Forgive me for rejecting You...the One who set His affections on me...who took upon Himself my sin and suffered and died in my place so that I could live forever with Him. Forgive me for allowing my heart to become unthankful...blinded by pride, fear and a lack of faith to Your blessings that surround me and follow me. You bid me to come to You with my burdens and to cast my cares at Your feet...Forgive me for not obeying You in this. You want always and only what is best for me. Your yoke is “kind” and Your burden light. Unite my heart to Yours and enable me hold tightly to You always.
