Let's End Lazy Love

I’ve always read the section about the chief priests buying the potter’s field in passing. Recently, though, the ludicrousness of it struck me. It’s almost laughable just how misguided and skewed the chief priests’ thinking was. They didn’t want to put the blood money in the treasury for it was “against the law.” Instead, they used it for a real estate investment. The chief priests are classic examples of what it means to follow the letter of the law, but continue life with an unrelenting hardness of heart. They were concerned about appearing righteous but didn’t really care about being made righteous. They preferred distraction over contrition. Sometimes, we just want to check off all the boxes that make us appear a certain way. We don’t allow God to address the root of the problem or to change us from the inside out. The enemy loves to keep us in this bubble of delusion so we don’t fall on our knees before God. Bringing It In In which areas am I simply playing along to the world’s standards and living in misguided self-righteousness? Am I more concerned about how my actions look on the outside or how I can be changed on the inside? Lean In Heavenly Father, Help me take the time to be in your presence and allow your light to shine into my life. Reveal to me areas where I can change by the power of your Holy Spirit. Help me never to hide my sin under layers of distraction, busyness or foolish acts of self-righteousness. Amen https://www.instagram.com/p/B-MnlOQnMH-/?igshid=doo0s2e6ucve

We must remember to keep our minds on these things. All of the other junk will lead us to sadness, depression, loneliness, and anger. Focus on God and trust in His control. After all, He made it (us) all! https://www.instagram.com/p/B-FkvJmHMTI/?igshid=u1wjyptrjeb7

We can persist in prayer until we experience the rest that only he can give. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9jnEPvH8jS/?igshid=1qjab0p70h04x

“Asking is intentional. It involves the activation of our wills. We are not automatons—mindless bots pre-programmed and powerless to resist the Creator’s genetic coding. God respects us too much to ride roughshod over our freewill and loves us too much to force us to do his bidding. He comes where he is welcomed, and waits to answer until he is called.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B9b4XG2HUDi/?igshid=egxludhubxeb

“Sweet Jesus, I cannot begin to understand that moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. You were alone in the dark of the night. But it was nothing compared to the isolation you would experience on the Cross. Yet you chose to walk in obedience. You demonstrated your love for a hurting humanity by simply saying, “but as you will.” I bow down in awe. Amen” https://www.instagram.com/p/B9b25GkHjbW/?igshid=gr33mnd8rwav

“Father God, Sometimes it’s so easy to fall back on routine and ritual when it comes to Lent. We unthinkingly give up one thing or another, assuaging our guilt to quickly don a slightly self-righteous mantle. I pray for a renewed vision this Lent. Help me to come to you in true humility and allow you to prune me as you will. Amen.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B9MJi3Hney1/?igshid=1azswh1mrw7j7

Heavenly Father, I know I can easily be swayed by the fear of man. I often subscribe to the false idea that people control my circumstances, rather than a sovereign, loving God. I pray that I will give you your rightful place on the throne of my life. I pray that faith – not fear – will drive my decisions. Amen https://www.instagram.com/p/B9J9RNGnqI_/?igshid=1tkkt0bikty83

Praise God in the valleys as well as the hills. He created you and is in this for your good. He will see you through the darkness, you need only to trust Him. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9J7DYjHr5E/?igshid=1hqqjyuao0qyh

Matthew 26:6-13 “Heavenly Father, Help me to worship in a way that truly takes all of me. Help me love you with not just my words but with all my soul, my mind, my strength and my heart. Let me never be content with lukewarm worship, but let me burn with the flame of faith set aglow by a deep reverence for you. Amen. “ https://www.instagram.com/p/B9HLwUMnZPb/?igshid=9oybab6wcox

“God invites you to pray simply, directly and truthfully in the full and wonderful weirdness of the way he’s actually made you. Take a walk in the rain. Write prayers on the soles of your shoes. Sing the Blues. Rap. Write Petrarchan Sonnets. Sit in silence in a forest. Go for a run until you sense God’s smile; throw yourself down a water-slide, yelling hallelujah if that’s honestly your thing.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B8_f8b5H1JF/?igshid=88ukm6dqwf7a

This is something that I lose track of, Prayer. I stop going to Him because He fulfills a need or a desire, and so I stop talking to Him. Why? I have a beautiful family and He’s opened a door for me that I’ve been praying about for a while, and that’s how I repay Him? Forgive me, Father. https://www.instagram.com/p/B86UjkLnjLL/?igshid=4zrahy8646bj