Reading for today
Old Testament: Jeremiah 15, 16, 17
New Testament: Revelation 16
Thoughts from today’s reading
Jeremiah 17:9-10. The heart of man is very deep and is not easy to understand, however, the Lord searches the heart and knows what’s in it. He searches the way of our thinking and gives us the recompense for our behaviour born out of our ways. The Lord helps us change our ways by giving us His word, which acts as a mirror to let us see the state of our heart so we can make the adjustments in our lives (James 1:21-25).
Revelation 16:13-15. The tactics of the enemy does not change and his major strategy is always to use deceit to draw the people away from God. Falling into deception is like standing by the shores of the sea where the water goes back and forth and one minute you think you are in shallow waters, then the next wave carries you away. We must stay alert and away from all that the enemy has to offer so that we do not loose our garments given to us by Christ.
Prayer
1. Father, I open up my heart to your word because it is the mirror that enables me to adjust my thinking and behaviour so that I walk in your ways and reap the fruit of righteousness that comes by it. I refuse for my mind and heart to be the dumping ground for seeds of wickedness and deceit. You said you will root out of my life every tree that you have not planted, so I thank you for doing so as I open up my heart to you.
2. Lord, in these times that we live, help us to stay focused on your word and the teachings of Christ. Give us discernment to recognise the lies that come through various media, physical and digital, which are designed to confuse us and carry us away from the truth and make us enemies of God and Christ.