We live in a world that is mourning. When I see the news wires and ponder the natural disasters of our day there goes through me a sadness of spirit that mourns the devastation of so many lost….forever.

 

 

This passage is a “sandwich verse.” The verse before it reads: “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded…” Then verse 9 follows…”Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.” Verse 10: “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

 

The key to this most important passage is “submit to God.” It’s healthy! It’s essential to good growth! If we draw near to God He sees our hearts willingness. He is active in helping us! How do we do this? It comes through confession of our sins daily. He (God) is holy. Confession purifies our hearts toward Him. Through confession we think and see better! Are we miserable and do we mourn and weep over our sins? Is this thought just that, a thought, or, do we take action in the confession and do something about it? Do we desire to turn away from the sin confessed? We are told to “not be double-minded!”

 

Pondering God’s perfection should humble us in His presence. Are we being humbled today? It’s heard to pull out the weed of pride! But we must!

 

My desire is for God’s hand to be upon me. My hope is that we each desire this. Let’s truly be confessors! As we daily keep short accounts of sin may our witness for Christ be so strong that He will be exalted through our obedient and confessed lives. Just some thoughts to ponder today for each of us!

 

May we draw near to God in the course of our daily activities for His name to be exalted!

 

Blessings to all,

Sandra Davis for all of us at the Women in Discipleship ministry center