“Create in me a clean heart” by Donnie McClurkin
““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
All of us have at least one person you classify as an enemy... A person in Daphne terminology that, “Plucks your very last nerve!”
This person angers, irritates, sabotages, and means you no good. At times they attempt to give the impression they are superior. When not in your presence they talk not so sweet words about you. The individual purposely attempts to hinder your paths and place stumbling blocks to trip you.
I’m not sure what causes it. You see it clearly though. Trust me, I know you do. Your thoughts change. You become consumed. You attempt to talk it out. You are tested.
Yes, you’re being tested. Tested and tried actually to move to another level in faith.
What we as believers need to recognize is where these evil acts are birthed. We need to be aware it’s an attack from our ultimate enemy and not even that person. Satan attempts to be skillful, but he’s not as skillful as God.
Skillful? Yes, he’s skillful. He knows how to distract you. He knows how to attack in a manner which can throw you off, make you give up, keep you discouraged. If we allow he can kill – kill dreams, kill hope, kill faith.
The Bible warms us in 1 Peter 5:8 to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
But also in that chapter it states gloriously,
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10 KJV
How do get through the test? How do we eventually get to the latter part of the verse above where we are complete, stable and strengthened? Well there’s a journey that I’m just learning to take…prayerfully.
A part of that journey is – admitting you have been distracted. This person or problem has taken up precious time, energy and thought process that could have been used in other ways. The situation has probably stolen your peace and rest. With confession comes an awareness to do something different – to change direction. It gives license not to wallow or be “stuck in the mud,” but to move forward
“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
Psalms 51:3 KJV
Next we need to allow God to begin to change our mindset – or in church terms – renew our minds.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:10 KJV
We need a reset – from hatred, worry, and anxiousness to one where we love and pray for our enemies. To pray for someone – to call out their name in conversation with God means that you care. When you care, that means that they take up time and energy, but in a different way than the enemy intended – in a positive way. Your thought and heart process shifts when you “pray for” instead of “pray about” someone.
Praying about is actually selfish. Praying for someone means you are asking God to extend to them that which He has given to you as a believer – grace.
The act of loving and praying for our enemies distinguishes us as believers. It also solidified our witness for God. Within Matthew 5 of the Bible it states, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” Anyone can love someone who loves them.
Once our mindset is changed, God restores it to be focused on what it should be. We no longer are stuck in a cycle of negativity. We are able to view the person or situation as we should and can move forward. As Psalm 51 states our prayer should be –
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Psalms 51:12-13 KJV
Smile, that’s what this process has taught me and now I’m passing onto all of you. Yes, my joy is being restored by loving and praying. Now I’m moving forward by teaching.
I hope and pray you have learned.
lifeandgodliness 