December 11

Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13.

The world will know us by our love—a love for God and a love for one another. It is love that is unconditional. It is an expression of our hearts, which have been made new in Christ. Our hearts need to be continually guarded so that they do not harbor any malice or impure motives toward others. In deed our hearts are a holy place for the Lord Himself to live. His Holy Spirit has chosen to reside there.

Lord, I confess that my heart is often filled with worldly ambitions, with unkind thoughts about others, and with desires to do what is ungodly. I am a strange paradox—the very thing that I wish to do I find a way not to do. I ask You to direct Your way into me. Rid my heart of strange and futile thoughts that do not honor You. Teach me to see others as You do, for in so doing I will reach out to them in proper love.

Yes, Lord, today is the day for these things to happen. Not tomorrow, not next week, but today. I submit my will to You. I seek Your guiding hand each step of the way that You have chosen. Free my heart and my mind from conflicts and misguided attempts to correct the ways of others. I would do well just to concentrate on Your way and to make certain that my way matches Yours. Thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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