The Overwhelming Importance of Christians having a Right Heart for and with God

12 Sep 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 September 2026   Matthew 15:8.

Matthew 15:8.        ‘This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’

Oh boy, it’s our lazy-day Saturday! Another bright and sunshiny summer’s day; the perfect day for lazing around and taking things easy after a hectic week. I’m a tad unhappy though because I just had to get up from a nice lazy-day snooze and come downstairs to write the Bit. But dem’s the breaks; you got to do what you got to do. (smile) So, let’s get going by offering up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer in all sincerity and truth.

As one strong voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And all it takes is a sincere, heartfelt plea for more intimacy with Almighty God for Him to flush our souls and spirits with His all embracing calm and peace, because greater intimacy with His human creation is what He so desperately desires. Of course He wants other things like obedience, but the problem is you can do those things and don’t have a true heart for Him.

And there are so many verses of scripture that talk about having a true heart for God, that we can only talk about a few today, beginning with these words of Jesus, where He calls the Pharisees and the religious leaders hypocrites, quoting Isaiah 29:13, and saying: ‘This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’ (Matt. 15:8)

That states the problem very clearly my people; we can pay lip service to God, saying the right prayers and gushing forth about God, while our hearts and true desires are elsewhere; our inner attitude and real motives being selfish and distant from Him.  And that’s why when the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel, Bruh David, He warns him thus about Eliab, Jesse’s eldest son. ‘Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused (rejected) him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 16:7)

Yes friends, that tells us very directly that when we approach God for anything, the first thing He does is look at the motives of our heart, and if they aren’t right, He won’t even consider our requests. And nobody knew that better than Bruh David. Listen as he imparts these words of wisdom to Cousin Sol. ‘And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.’ (1 Chr. 28:9-10)

Ah mih people, how I wish that many more of us today would impart those wise words to our children, so that they can grow up in the true presence of God! And we all know that the Lord referred to Bruh David as a man after his own heart, (1 Sam. 13:14) now why is that when Bruh David made several serious mistakes (adultery and murder)? The answer is simple. Unlike Saul who did his own thing then made excuses, Bruh David had a desire to obey God. he was deeply committed to doing God’s will, and when he failed turned to God and repented.

He was only human, like all of us, and obviously made mistakes, but His heart was always stayed upon the Lord. and we see that very clearly when he declares in Psalm 139: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my (anxious) thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ (Ps. 139:23-24) Oh friends, how many of us are brave and true enough to make that request of Jehovah God eh? Not too many; because many of us have a hidden agenda in our hearts that doesn’t vibe with God’s will.

And just look at Bruh David’s response in Psalm 51, to God’s sending the prophet Nathan to accuse him of his sinful behaviour. He immediately repents and plaintively cries out: ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy LOVING-KINDNESS: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified (be found just) when thou speakest, and clear (blameless) when thou judgest… Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right (steadfast) spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free (generous) spirit.’ (Ps. 51: 1-4; 10-12)

And yuh know what? The Lord forgave him, because He knew that His heart was right and sincere. However, Bruh David had committed some real grave sins and set a very bad example as the king, so although he was forgiven, he didn’t get away scotch free. War continually came against him, even his son Absalom tried to overthrow him. Then one son raped his half-sister, and another brother killed him. His household was forever plagued with problems and the Lord refused to allow him to build the temple, choosing Cousin Sol instead.

So although we confess, repent and are forgiven, it doesn’t always mean that the slate is completely washed cleaned. No. Sometimes we need to pay a price for our sinful behaviour, and it can often be a steep price, that’s why it’s so much better to do as the late Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) says: ‘Obey God, and leave all the consequences to Him.’ That’s wisdom of the highest order! May we take it to heart this lazy-day Saturday and sincerely and successfully put it into action in our lives. Much LOVE!

..a man after God’s heart…turns back to Him in humility…every time he falls…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 March 2016 Deuteronomy 31:8‏‏

31 Mar 2016 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Deuteronomy 31:8.   And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Oh friends, what a difference a difference in a day can make in the lives of mortal men eh! Yes sir, the ole fella is waxing philosophical this morning! (smile) 

But all that means is that yesterday was bright and sunny with warm blue clouds floating on high, and it automatically invoked emotions of joy and frivolity, of feelings that all is right with the world, even if that is far from true. But overall a sunny day brings a sense of well being. 

Today however, it’s raining, the streets are wet and slippery, the skies are dark and the soul of man tends towards that same attitude; a dark and dreary feeling, one of nothing’s right, even though everything might be right. 

It just goes to show how our physical circumstances tend to have a strong effect on us. Now yesterday I was out and about with a carefree attitude, today though, I wake up and see the rain and I’m steupsing and somewhat annoyed because I have to go out in such uncomfortable weather. 

But you know what my precious people, in God’s realm though, those things ought not to affect us so strongly, because where our God is concerned everyday is a beautiful day, loaded with all kinds of new blessings and mercies to uplift and improve our physical, emotional and mental circumstances. 

Christians are supposed to be people who run on an even keel, not ones who are ruled by the vagaries of their current situations. That’s why I want to share something from my One More Day – Daily Meditations for People with Chronic Illness. I believe I’ve shared it some time ago, but it’s till useful today. 

The quote is attributed to one Ed Howe, which one I’m not sure, because they are so many of them. (smile) However it says: ‘If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you grow old.’ 

I guess he’s trying to say that when you get old, trouble is what you have more than anything else, so you might as well learn to laugh at it, otherwise you won’t be laughing much. 

And the text says: ‘Laughing with others is important. Learning to laugh at our own problems is even more important. Since we will continue to live with situations that cause us all types of problems, we may as well learn to laugh at ourselves.’ 

And believe you me friends, laughter is the best free remedy available for all kinds of illnesses and problems. When we laugh, it brings on a more positive attitude in our spirits and we don’t seem to feel as dreary and forlorn as we were before, although there may be cause to feel that way. 

And as the text continues: ‘Laughter is a gift we give ourselves. We can carry it with us wherever we go, and it will always be ours.’ 

And all of God’s people declared a loud and lusty ‘Praise the Lord!’ then burst out laughing. 

Ah mih people, laughter is indeed a good remedy for whatever is wrong with our souls. And when that attitude is combined with the strong and faithful promise of our Bit, mankind will surely be able to move mountains. (smile) ‘And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ 

Now why are we still so fearful in our daily lives eh, even with such a promise from our ever-faithful and omnipotent God? 

It just means that we have not fully surrendered our lives to Him; our trust and faith are not to the level they ought to be. But friends, what’s the point of having promises if we don’t sincerely and fully believe them? None whatsoever! 

Now listen to Bruh David as he counselled Israel and Cousin Sol. ‘Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. 

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong and do it.’ (1 Chr.28:8-10) 

Oh my fellow believers, that is the exact attitude we need to adopt and follow today! We must continually seek God and keep His commandments and be strong and do whatever it is He has called us to do. That is the only way we can win this war against darkness and evil and further the LOVE Revolution of Jesus! 

So, please, let’s show ourselves to be true believers and get started on that righteous journey, right now nuh! Much LOVE!

…Jesus has triumphantly risen from the dead…and sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us…so what’s there to be afraid of eh…absolutely NOTHING…