Forthright Fixation

Debbie:

“There are times when the one thing you want is the one thing you never get…You pray and wait.No answer.You pray and wait.May I ask a very important question? What if God says no?What if the request is delayed or even denied? When God says no to you, how will you respond? If God says ‘I’ve given you my grace, and that is enough,’ will you be content?Content. That’s the word. A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than he already has.”[Max Lucado, from “In The Grip of Grace”]

Hännah:

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.”  - Romans 6:17-19 (ESV)

Kaitlin:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”  - Psalm 73:25, 28 (ESV)

Kate:This week I’ve begun reading John Piper’s When I Don’t Desire God, and in it I came across this quote by Augustine exalting the way God replaces the fruitless longings of my heart with sweet satisfaction in Him.

“How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose…! You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them all from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood, you who outshine all light, yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts, you who surpass all honor, though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves….O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.”

Kelsey:

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” - Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

Riette:

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)

Stephanie:

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one…. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:3,5 (NIV)

Filed under: Truthfest