Today’s Scripture: Genesis 8:21, NKJV- “And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.”
The LORD already knows the inclination of the human heart. We are not shocking Him. We are made of flesh and blood and Galatians 5:17 is true; “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (NKJV) Thankfully Jesus left us the Spirit as our helper to walk faithfully. We can choose to walk faithfully with God. The LORD knows our human hearts still have imaginations and inclinations for evil. However, we can repent and turn back to the Spirit of the LORD.
How do we assure that the imaginations of our hearts are in line with the Spirit? This morning I was listening to Psalm 143 as I walked and I found myself echoing David’s cries in Psalm 143:1, “LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.” (NIV) Imagining God and crying out to Him directs us to the spiritual domain.
In Psalm 143:6 David gives us a way to change our thoughts, “I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah” (BSB) Google AI defines Selah as “an ancient musical and devotional marker that tells the reader or singer to pause, stop, and reflect deeply on the words just spoken.” We should get in the habit of pausing, stopping, and reflecting on our imaginations and then turning to God and His Spirit for direction.
Prior to my walk I had been on my knees and during this time with God I was reminded of His goodness. Listening to Psalm 143:8 I realized what David did when he prayed “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (NIV)
Meeting with God in the morning proves Psalm 143:10 to be true “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” (NKJV) God and His Spirit teach us how to redirect what we imagine. We go from the evil of the flesh to the goodness of God.
I also listened to Ezekiel 36 as I walked in God’s creation. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God promised “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (NKJV)
Will you choose to walk with the Spirit of the LORD today?
Today’s Prayer: Thank You, LORD, for loving us and for putting Your Spirit within us to replace the imaginations of our flesh. You know our hearts and imaginations LORD. I am crying out for mercy and have faith that You are teaching us Your goodness. Help us to walk faithfully in Your unfailing love. I am praying to go where You desire and walk with Your Spirit. Please take my every thought captive. Amen
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