Scripture of the Day -- er, make that -- the Season

Jeremiah 17.9,10
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.


So many things to consider here. So much for me to hold onto in this season of testing.

Recently a woman implied to me that she was failing as an older disciple because she still struggled with yielding her will to His purposes. Hmm. If the criterion for being mature in Him is to have finished struggling once and for all, I guess I lose big time.

But I'm not convinced that is a stated requisite. The Word says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." That sounds pretty ongoing to me. Pretty much a regular occurrence -- from here on in. It sure is in my life, and painfully so at times.

This verse tells me that God Himself will test my mind. My Bible includes further illumination on that word -- "most secret parts; Lit. kidney". He is revealing to me, through testings, my inner most feelings, allowing opportunities (a'plenty these days it seems) to yield it all to Him. Whew... I'll be glad when this particular time of testing is done. Oh, for grace to pass it all! I am thankful for His Holy Spirit which brings abundant help in all that we must endure!

I also am recognizing God's take on our hearts versus the world's. He says my heart (and yours, by the way) is deceitful above all things. Guess that means we don't want to pay it much mind; we shouldn't be catering to its whims and desires. But what about that sage wisdom from Hollywood and fable that tells us to "follow your heart" and all that stuff, right? Wrong. Following your heart gets you into big trouble. Setting your eyes on Him, delighting in Him, allows Him to change your heart and put His desires there, but trusting your heart and not His Word is trouble every time.

It's amazing how often the heart and the Word lead in different directions. That's what is known as a crossroads, as "altar time" in my life. Lay that crazy heart's desire on the table, sacrifice it to Him, let it be put to death. Only then will real life come forth. Lay it down, again and again, if need be. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."

This is truly faith stuff. We must believe that His way is better. Not only that, but we must believe that putting something to death will actually result in more life -- no, not just more life -- abundant life.

And we do this daily. So sacrifice is always in season.

But some sacrifices, some seasons, are more painful than others. Hanging on to His Word is vital right about then. So here I am, hanging on to my Scripture for the season. Daily.

"Lord, help me to know You, understand Your purposes, and cling to that which is good. I choose You, not my own deceitful heart. Continue to enlighten my path with Your glorious Light that I might walk with You every day. Amen."