The reading for Wednesday is Matthew 23.
We are adding a new step, so if you haven’t been using a notebook or recording your thoughts somewhere, please consider starting that now. When you record your thoughts, you will begin to hear more and you can reflect back on what you have heard.
Okay, now that your notebook or computer or whatever is ready, let’s move on…
When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific.
Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer.
Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record your requests and questions on paper or on the computer.
Third, ask Him to guide you in your reading, so that you will hear his message for you today.
After you read, record your SOAP observations and then listen for three minutes. Set a timer and just listen to what he might be sharing. Don’t ask. Don’t thank. Just listen. (You can pray more after you listen, if you like.)
Here is what I heard in the reading:
Clean the inside.
Scripture: Matthew 23:26
Blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will be clean.
Observation:
Be sure your heart is truly in the right place.
Application:
The Pharisees were great at looking righteous and holy, following rules and rituals, but their hearts weren’t in the right place. And they aren’t the only ones.
Going through the motions of studying His Word or even serving Him will do little unless our hearts are truly focused on Him, listening and following His lead.
Don’t just go through the motions, using ritual. Make it mean something by focusing your heart first.
Prayer:
Lord, show me your path. Help me to keep my heart and my mind focused on that.
When you see me slipping and just going through the motions, please stop me and remind me of where my focus and heart should be.
I don’t want to just go through the motions and look good on the outside. I want real transformation from the inside.
Thank you for the changes I have already seen in me, and thank you for those that are to come. And thank you for caring enough to want to work on my heart and have true worship and communion, not just the ritual.
What about you? What did you see and hear in your reading of Matthew 23?
How do you keep your heart truly focused on Him and not just go through the motions?
Please share with the rest of us, if you are comfortable doing so. Feel free to leave your thoughts, or a link to post with your thoughts, in the comments. If you do link a post, please include a link in your own post back to this post so your readers can see what others had to say, as well, and potentially join us.
Didn’t start reading or Blogging Through the Gospels with us? That’s okay, join in anytime. Each Sunday evening I post the reading schedule for the week ahead and each evening I post the next day’s reading assignment and devotional. Feel free to jump in where we are anytime and blog or journal along using the SOAP format. If you would be interested in sharing your own SOAP observations on MomsToolbox as a guest SOAP’er, please send me an email using the contact button on the top right. I’ll be in touch soon to discuss the details.
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