Thursday, July 11, 2019

praying effectively: Clean the Inside First (Matthew 23:25-28)


(Matthew 23:25-28)  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will: that we ask God to forgive our sins to become believers, and confess our sins as we go, so that God may continue to work on our hearts, so that His righteousness will be demonstrated by the things we do and say (23:26)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your forgiveness.  Help me to realize when I am in the wrong, so that I may confess those sins to You, and to the appropriate people when necessary.  Work on me from the inside out.

I confess that I struggle with a negative spirit, while usually trying to disguise that as humor.  That is a sin, and I confess that to You.  Fill me with Your spirit of love and patience and whatever else is needed in order to be more of an encouragement to others.  Amen.

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