Day #22

Wow, today is freezing. Been raining non-stop for almost 12 hours now, with no signs of the clouds letting out. Combined with the wind, not a good day to be out and about. Wet and damp.

Reversed a little bit today, went back and finished chapter 5 since I accidentally did chapter 6 yesterday. haha.

"...let no one deceive you with empty words..." Eph 5 : 6

What do empty words here refer to? Simply things that sound wrong to us? What does empty sound like? Maybe empty promises? Or sayings which might go against what we firmly believe in, what the word of God says. Lies, perhaps? Even half-truths?

Either way, two things are pretty clear in this warning.

1. We WILL be tempted and misled, as we live our lives day by day. Hence going about our work convincing ourselves (falsely) that it will not happen simply does not work. Even if you somehow did manage to convince yourself so, you will just be all the more unprepared to face it when it does come. Main point is, we should not feel any sense of obligation whatsoever to allow other opinions and ideas to shake our belief in God. Sure, they might make sense, and they might sound reasonable, logical - then again, aren't all beautiful lies so? They make sense, they sound right, just like the salesman proudly and shamelessly proclaiming that the brand he is selling is the PERFECT brand, and coming up with excuses to your every 'but'. Be aware!

At this point I must interject and exclaim that today is absolutely freezing. Did I mention it was freezing cold? BRRRR...

2. Whether we allow these things to take root in our hearts or not, depends wholly on us. The phrase 'do not be' implies that at the end of the day, we DO have a choice. To believe or not to believe. To doubt or not to doubt. We can only be lied to and misled if we let ourselves be. Guard our hearts well, and do not let stray thoughts take over the throne of God. Sometimes we might not even notice that they have made a home in us, until someone points it out - such is our ignorance when it comes to our own shortfallings - we can see a speck in our peers' eyes but not a log in ours.

Learn to master our thoughts and guard our hearts - and fix them firmly on our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer : Dear Lord, we humbly come before you today and confess, that we have not been watchful. That we have allowed wrong truths and falsehoods to settle in and take root in our hearts. We pray that You forgive us, dear Father. Teach us to shut our hearts and minds away from all these things, that empty words will have no hold over our lives, and the truth that You have revealed to us. And even as we walk in Your ways, we ask that Your hand be continually upon us, to guide us, and to lead us. Thank You dear Lord. In Jesus' name we ask and pray, AMEN!