A SLEEPLESS NIGHT
In Esther chapters 6 & 7 in the remarkable story of the king's sleepless night, the results of unchecked attitudes and wrong motives are largely displayed. When Haman was asked what should be done for the man the king wants to honor His selfish skeleton showed up, thinking it was for him he suggested an elaborate reward.
Can you imagine for a minute Haman running the streets honoring the man who he wants to kill? Hmmnnnn.... Food for thought!
TODAY'S FOCUS: CLOSET SEARCH
A look into the chapters reflect a few skeletons of Haman's that were discussed on our prayer line at noon:
- Pride - Exalting himself and wanting reverence and bragging boastfully
- Hatred - For Modecai and the Jews including the queen
- Envy and Jealousy - Having to tell his wife and friends how he dressed Modecai with the apparel and riding him on horseback through the streets
- Selfishness - Thinking in his heart that there was no other worthy of honor but himself
- ___________ what else do you see in Haman's closet?
WHAT ABOUT YOUR CLOSET? Are there any skeletons?
On our fourth day of our fast ask yourself....
- Are any of the above skeletons in the closet of my heart?
- What other skeletons are lurking in the shadows ready to come out or exposed?
- How can I get rid of the skeletons before they harvest the fruit from the seed planted?
Remember to be cleansed you must get rid of the things that affect your heart and relationship with God and others. Let today be the day you do a thorough search of your closet and ask God to cleanse you with the washing of the blood of His son and renew a "right spirit" within you. By doing that your closet can be exposed at any time because you have confessed and forsaken that which affected you.
Please share your thoughts on today's blog and or what stands out to you in the chapters regarding the skeletons that are hidden and left to breed and harvest among the camouflage of ulterior motives.
God Bless - KEEP THE FAITH!
Virtuous Jewel
Thank you Jesus and bless his holy name! I want to share that God is working in the midst of us all. God is saying we as a church and as individuals need to release all pride, all hatred, all jealousy, all envy, all selfishness and anything in our hearts (closets) that is keeping us from having that closer walk with him. I want to see him. I want each of us to see him. Thank you Pastor Julie for this reading. It is a beautiful insight into us addressing and correcting the flaws within us. I want God to not just remove the pride in my life, but give me humility. I want God to not just remove the hatred in my life, but replace it with love. I want God to not just remove the envy and jealousy, but replace it with respect for others. I want God not to just remove selfishness, but replace it with lovingkindess and generosity. Thank you Father God for bringing those replaced feelings in our lives at this time.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Wayne S.
Hallelujah Bro Wayne S. That's what a cleansing is. To remove and replace it with something better. We know what is said if a place is cleaned out and not replaced with the right things, the chance of it coming back stronger is a given. Great post my brother. I am very encouraged by your motivation and feedback. Thank You and God Bless!
DeleteBro. Wayne's words was very powerful and impactful. I have to admit that I am selfish at times - selfish with my time, and with my things. Thank God for his mercies. I am need to be purified and pruned from that kind of behavior.
ReplyDeleteI saw the hunger for power in Haman. He would do whatever it took to get it. even it meant stepping on/ killing others to get it.
Thank you my Sis. Melinda for your kind words and reflection. Let us not hunger as Haman did for power, but let us hunger for the Fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance and place these things in our hearts. In hungering for these things God will manifest great things in our lives.
DeleteRegards,
Wayne S.