Today as I was reading in Mark for the reading through the Bible in a year plan, a thought jumped out at me about stubborness.
In Mark 3, Jesus is deeply distressed by the pharisees’ stubborn hearts. It is so easy to be stubborn, or set in our ways. We don’t want to accept change or positive criticism. Instead, we all too often sit, soak, and sour. Or we will become bitter at what has happened. In the passage, the pharisees were stubborn because they really didn’t want to hear what Jesus had to say. They only wanted to trip Him in His words and get Him in trouble. Crazy, right? How many times do we act like that though? There have been many times when God was gently tugging at my heart to do something, but I just sat back and ignored Him or didn’t heed His advice. The same goes with the leaders around me. I want to look like I have it all together, so when someone tells me to work on something, I take it personally or think I am right just as I am. I don’t want to have a stubborn heart. I want Jesus to shape and mold me into who He wants me to be, not who I want to be.
Lord, may the beauty of Your Spirit in me be so evident to others that I would give up everything just to Have You. When I sing the Psalm, “Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere,” may it be true. Oh God, all I want is You, from early in the morning until late at night. Find in me a heart that longs for You, Lord, bless me and let me be patient with Your plans for my life. I love You, Lord and I know that through faith all things are possible and You want the best for me. Show me today anything I need to give up or release to You so that You will have my whole heart. Lord, show me anything that is taking Your place in my life. I open my heart to You and I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. (Priceless, by Chandra Peele)
