transformation

09
Mar
2024
Clean Heart – Confident Faith

Clean Heart – Confident Faith

Invitation

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)

We receive a beautiful invitation to approach God with confidence, knowing that our hearts have been cleansed and purified by His grace.

Cleansing

The imagery used here is striking – our hearts are “sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience,” and our bodies are “washed with pure water.”

This speaks to the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which cleanses us from sin and guilt.

Assurance

But it’s not just about being cleansed – it’s also about having “the full assurance that faith brings.”

We can come before God with a sincere heart, confident in the knowledge that our faith has been made complete through Christ’s work on our behalf.

Nearness

And because of this cleansing and assurance, we are invited to “draw near to God.”

No longer do we have to stand at a distance, separated by our sin and guilt. Through Christ, we can approach the very throne of grace with boldness, knowing that we are accepted and welcomed by our Heavenly Father.

This is the beauty of the gospel – that we can have a clean heart, a confident faith, and a close relationship with the One who created us.

So draw near, with sincere heart and full assurance, to the God who loves you and has made a way for you to be reconciled to Him.

~ Check Out ~
“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Forgiveness, Holiness, Humility
07
Mar
2024
Embracing Freedom: Living Under Grace

Embracing Freedom: Living Under Grace

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.” – Galatians 3:23 (NIV)

Imprisoned by the Law

Before the coming of Christ, we were held captive by the law – a system of rules and regulations that, while intended to guide us, ultimately became a prison of sorts.

The law exposed our inability to live up to its demands and left us feeling condemned, trapped in a cycle of sin and guilt.

Revelation of Faith

But then, something remarkable happened: the faith that was to come was revealed. Jesus, the Son of God, broke into our captivity and opened the way to freedom.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, He fulfilled the law and offered us a new way to live – a way of grace and faith.

Stepping into Freedom

Embracing this freedom is not a license to sin or to disregard God’s standards. Rather, it’s an invitation to step out of the prison of the law and into the wide-open spaces of God’s grace.

In Christ, we are no longer bound by the constant demand to measure up, but are empowered to live according to a new principle – the principle of love.

Living Under Grace

Living under grace means allowing the love of God to transform us from the inside out. It means resting in the security of our salvation, not by our own efforts but by the finished work of Christ.

As we lean into this grace, we find that our hearts are changed, and obedience becomes a natural expression of our love for God, not a burdensome duty.

Through Christ, we have been set free from the bondage of the law and invited into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Embrace this freedom and live as those who are truly free, empowered by grace to love God and others with all your heart.

~ Check Out ~
“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Humility, Trust
05
Mar
2024
Embracing God’s Wisdom

Embracing God’s Wisdom

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.” – Deuteronomy 18:9 (NIV)

Allure of Detestable Ways

In this world, we are constantly bombarded with temptations to embrace detestable ways – ways that promise fulfillment but ultimately lead us astray.

The nations around us often present a seductive allure, inviting us to adopt their customs, beliefs, and practices. Yet, beneath the surface, these ways are empty and destructive.

Resisting the Allure

Resisting the allure of detestable ways requires wisdom and discernment. It means recognizing that the ways of the world are not aligned with God’s design for our lives.

We must be willing to stand apart, to swim against the current, and to hold onto the truth that God’s ways are infinitely better.

Embracing God’s Wisdom

Embracing God’s wisdom is not just about avoiding the detestable ways of the world; it’s about actively pursuing a path of wholeness and fulfillment.

God’s wisdom is not a set of arbitrary rules but a framework for living that leads to genuine flourishing. When we embrace His wisdom, we discover that His ways are not burdensome but life-giving.

Path to Wholeness

By embracing God’s wisdom, we find ourselves on a path to wholeness – a journey of becoming fully human, as He intended.

This path is not always easy, but it is profound. It requires us to let go of the empty promises of the world and cling to the truth that God’s ways are the only ones that can truly satisfy our deepest longings.

As we walk this path, we find that God’s wisdom transforms us from the inside out. Our perspectives shift, our priorities align, and our lives take on a new depth and richness.

~ Check Out ~
“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Trust
04
Mar
2024
Breathing In God’s Grace

Breathing In God’s Grace

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)

Focus on What Truly Matters

Our hectic lives often leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from what truly matters.

In the busyness of our days, we can lose sight of the essential things God desires from us: reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedness.

Yet, these requirements are not oppressive burdens but invitations to breathe in God’s grace and find fulfillment in aligning our lives with His purposes.

Reverence

To fear the Lord does not mean to cower in terror but to stand in awe of His majesty and power.

When we recognize our own smallness in comparison to His greatness, our perspective shifts. Reverence helps us realize that our lives are not our own, but gifts from the One who created us.

This humble acknowledgment opens the door to true obedience.

Obedience: Following God’s Path

Obedience is not mere rule-following but a response of love and trust. When we walk in obedience, we allow God’s wisdom to guide our steps.

His commands and decrees are not arbitrary restrictions but signposts pointing us toward the abundant life He desires for us.

As we follow His path, we discover that His ways are indeed for our good.

Embracing the Giver

Love is the heartbeat of our relationship with God.

It is more than an emotion; it is a deep commitment to embrace the One who first loved us. When we love God with our whole being, our priorities align, and our actions flow from a place of genuine devotion.

Love transforms obedience from a duty to a delight.

Living with Undivided Devotion

To serve God with our entire heart and soul is to live with undivided devotion.

It means bringing every aspect of our lives – our thoughts, desires, decisions, and actions – under the Lordship of Christ. When we do this, we experience a profound sense of purpose and unity, no longer fragmented by competing allegiances or divided affections.

As we breathe in God’s grace and align our lives with His desires, we discover the true freedom and fullness that come from walking in reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedness.

Let go of lesser things and cling to the essentials, finding our deepest satisfaction in the One who asks us to give Him our all.

~ Check Out ~
“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Holiness, Humility
04
Dec
2023
Rid Yourself of Sin

Rid Yourself of Sin

1 Peter 2:1 – Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Taking Out the Trash

As followers of Christ, we are called to actively root out, and toss away habitual sins that entangle us, just as we would bag up smelly trash.

Malice and Deceit

Malice is the fruit of nursing bitterness and ill-will toward others.

Deceit manifests in subtle lies, exaggerations, or hypocrisy that poisons relationships.

We must remove these.

Hypocrisy and Envy

Hypocrisy exists when our words don’t match our actions.

Envying what others have breeds discontentment with God’s gifts for our own life. We must discard these sins too!

Slander

Slander appears when we drag others’ names through the mud.

This sin murders reputations and destroys trust. Gossip must be crucified.

Christlike Character

As we cleanse our hearts of sinful patterns, godly virtues planted by the Spirit can flourish – kindness, integrity, contentment and grace, and so much more.

Lord, Reveal Sin in Me

Lord, shine Your spotlight into the recesses of my heart. Reveal any malice, deceit, envy, slander or hypocrisy, bring it to my attention so I can rid it from my life by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Replace it with Christlike character.

If you like these daily devotionals; perhaps you would be interested in our daily
“One Minute with God”
YouTube videos. Check them out!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith