Letting God Refine My Heart with Love (Malachi 3)

Letting God Refine My Heart with Love (Malachi 3)

Evening Scripture Malachi 3 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/malachi/3.html] “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. “You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’” Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Evening Reflection Sadly, more and more people have heart conditions. Not the kind that requires physical surgery, medication, or exercise, but the kind of heart condition that needs to be spiritually softened, refined, and made new by the love of God. Most often, we don’t recognize what causes this kind of heart condition, such as jealousy, greed, self-righteousness, partiality, withholding good, slander, and more. Whereas physical heart conditions cause physical limitations, where those afflicted have to be cautious and often are unable to keep up with others; spiritual heart conditions cause spiritual limitations, too, such as our prayers not being heard and answered, blessings unable to be poured out to us, and the devourer robbing us of the fruitfulness God has prepared and waiting for us. Yet,  it doesn’t have to be that way, because we can ask God to refine our hearts with His love, meaning we surrender to His burning away of sinfulness in our lives, and a washing with His word  like soap to cleanse away dirtiness that has built up in our hearts. But isn’t the purging of our hearts worth it, to endure His purifying and cleansing so that we might walk and live in His blessings? It also involves us giving our all to Him, withholding nothing from His hand. Evening Prayer God, Starting tonight, purify and refine my heart, burning away and cleansing all within it that is not of You. Even though I don’t know all that will be involved, of all the changes and challenges that may come through it in my life, or if I even feel strong enough to endure it on my own, I surrender to Your will and ask You to do Your work in and through me; to cleanse, mold, and make my heart softened and attuned to You and Your word. Shape my heart to be generous towards You, withholding nothing from Your hand. Pour Your love into my heart so that it fills and consumes me, overflowing with love for You and for others. Amen Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Calling on the God Who Is Always Near (Psalm 86)

Evening Scripture  Psalm 86 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/86.html] Hear me, Lord, and answer me,      for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;      save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,      for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord,      for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good,      abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord;      listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you,      because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;      no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made      will come and worship before you, Lord;      they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds;      you alone are God. Teach me your way, Lord,      that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart,      that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;      I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me;      you have delivered me from the depths,      from the realm of the dead. Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;      ruthless people are trying to kill me—      they have no regard for you. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,      slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me;      show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you      just as my mother did. Give me a sign of your goodness,      that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,      for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Evening Reflection  As we approach the end of another day, Psalm 86 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/86.html] reminds us that we can call on our Father in heaven continually—day or night. The cares of this life threaten to take our focus away from our God who sees and cares for us. To shift our focus back where it belongs, all we have to do is call upon his name. He is always near. The psalmist David cries out to God in a time of need, acknowledging several praiseworthy attributes. Let’s review these truths from tonight’s psalm and allow them to settle our hearts at the close of a long day.  God is good. He forgives without condition and abounds in love that never ends. He delivers us from darkness. God answers our prayers. There is no other like him in all creation. He understands our needs and works continually on our behalf. God is gracious and faithful. We may not always feel his nearness, but every day we can count on him. He does not turn away in anger but pursues us with compassionate care. Some days begin and end like any other—with a predictable routine as we tend to our daily tasks. Then there are other days. Those when the trials of life weigh on us and hope seems like a distant dream. Whatever today looked like for you, let tonight’s Scripture passage soothe you and prepare you for sleep. God is near you right now. Evening Prayer Dear God, Thank you for your promise to be near me always. I’m calling on you, knowing you are here right now. Your presence brings me much-needed comfort at the end of a long day. I’ve made some mistakes, but you are compassionate and gracious to your children. As I think back on my words, my actions, and my thoughts from today, I release them all to you. Thank you for your forgiveness, Father. I am undeserving, but you love me unconditionally. Thank you for giving me strength in my time of need. When I feel buried under a weight that is too heavy for me to carry, help me remember that you hear my prayers. You are good and faithful. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Resting in the Truth That I Am Chosen and Loved (Ephesians 1)

Evening Scripture Ephesians 1 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/ephesians/1.html] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Evening Reflection  With another day coming to an end, Ephesians 1 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/ephesians/1.html] encourages us to consider anew the reality of who we are in Christ. We need this recalibration to what God says about us because there is much in our daily lives that attempts to tell us who we are: that we are defined by what we do, the accounts we follow, or the hobbies we pursue.   Yet the Apostle Paul holds up a tapestry of verses as if to say: “This is who you are, and it changes how you live.” The picture he gives us is that of loving adoption. Just as a family that decided to open their home to welcome a child as their own, the Father has brought us into His family as beloved children. He lovingly chose us, each one of us, to be His own. And He did so out of love by sending His Son to die for us. This was not a whim decision by God, but a preplanned choice made before time. We were predestined to be His sons and daughters. As we consider the past day, what has influenced our understanding of our identity? Does the ongoing dialogue about who we are make us feel like a beloved child or a forgotten orphan?   The passage from Ephesians tells us the truth–that we are chosen by the Lord and deeply loved by Him. Tonight, as we close our eyes, we can meditate on this reality, resting in the identity of who God says we are. For the Voice that really matters is the One that shows us who we are in Christ.   Evening Prayer  Lord, At the end of this day, help me to listen to Your Word. There are far too many things in life telling me who I should be and what I am worth. May I listen to what you say about me? That I was predestined in love to be Your child, redeemed by the precious blood of Your Son. Thank You, O Lord, for blessing me with spiritual riches I do not deserve. Let me rest in this truth tonight, allowing it to grow deep within me as I sleep. I want to awaken to live the new day based on the reality of who I am in Christ. Truly, this knowledge changes everything! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Learning the Way of Wisdom One Choice at a Time (Proverbs 10)

Evening Scripture Proverbs, Chapter 10  The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father,      but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,      but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,      but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty,      but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,      but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. Blessings crown the head of the righteous,      but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. The name of the righteous is used in blessings,      but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise in heart accept commands,      but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,      but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,      and a chattering fool comes to ruin. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,      but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflict,      but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,      but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense. The wise store up knowledge,      but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,      but poverty is the ruin of the poor. The wages of the righteous is life,      but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,      but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips      and spreads slander is a fool. Sin is not ended by multiplying words,      but the prudent hold their tongues. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,      but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many,      but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,      without painful toil for it. A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,      but a person of understanding delights in wisdom. What the wicked dread will overtake them;      what the righteous desire will be granted. When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,      but the righteous stand firm forever. As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,      so are sluggards to those who send them. The fear of the Lord adds length to life,      but the years of the wicked are cut short. The prospect of the righteous is joy,      but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,      but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted,      but the wicked will not remain in the land. From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,      but a perverse tongue will be silenced. The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,      but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Evening Reflection It seems that as the day comes to a close, we rack our brains for all the things we got wrong, then stew over how to fix them. However, the Lord has given us something much better than tossing and turning or mulling over all we wish we could redo. He blesses us with conviction, repentance, and forgiveness. Three things that bring us closer to the heart of God and point our gaze back to the wisdom He’s given us. It’s also safe to say that because of our mistakes, we see the need for God’s wisdom. We see how important all our choices are, big and small. And that our choices matter to God. As we walk with Him and set our life standards by His ways, we live in His peace. For a moment, look at all the wisdom Proverbs 10 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/10.html] gives us. It covers almost every topic you can imagine! It addresses our thoughts, words, and deeds. It discusses matters of the flesh and matters in the Spirit. It shows our desperate need for God and His unfathomable love and kindness, which He pours out on His people. We see the call to walk rightly when others are going wayward. We see the promise that the wicked will not enjoy the land of the Lord. He gives us the perfect map, the clearest blueprint; we only have to be willing to use it. Not just for a time, not just for a quick tuneup, but for every moment of our lives. Now, we will not live this out perfectly, but we should desire to do so. Tonight, set your gaze on the goodness of God and the promises of God. Repent over what He’s convicted your heart about, ask for forgiveness, and get back to living fully for Him. It grieves the Father’s heart to see His children living apart from what He wants for them. Turn to wisdom, one step at a time, one choice at a time. Evening Prayer Father, Thank you for the gift of wisdom. I pray to be a believer who lives by your Word, not by my own ways. Please help me as I seek wisdom in all areas of my life. Humble me, convict me, and move my heart to repentance over the ways I’ve not walked rightly with you. I pray that tonight you would bless me with deep rest and a covering of your peace. Keep me close and keep me hungry for your will and ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Letting Jesus Meet Me in My Need (Luke 5)

Evening Scripture Luke, Chapter 5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Read the rest of the chapter on BibleStudyTools.com. [https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html] Evening Reflection  Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. These times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don’t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often feel far from God. The idea of a good God gets challenged while we encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has said and proven time and again how his heart is with the poor and needy. God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn’t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us. He became a man to reach us where we were.  Here in Luke 5 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html] we see how Jesus’s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, meeting both spiritual and physical. Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him meet us, invite us into the story. First, we must realize he’s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he wants to do—love us and join us in our lack to fill it with his light and life, redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own.  Evening Prayer  Heavenly Father, I come to you in my need, not hiding my lack or pretending abilities I don’t have. You see my emptiness, and you draw near with love and power. You’re not distant; you’re Immanuel, God with me. Forgive my sin, restore my heart, and speak life into every broken place. I willingly and desperately invite you into my story, into my weakness, fear, doubts, and all. Fill and revive what I can’t. Heal what I can’t. You alone can bring change, and you are more than enough to transform my life and situation. Teach me to trust your goodness and love today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].