Prayer 556 - Week 2, Friday

I have been reading a book by NT Wright this week about the dangers of being a Pharisee. Pharisees were trying to live in such a way that through following the law the were without sin. “Impossible” says NT. Such an attitude expounded in a way that sees themselves as better than others is itself a sin. NT makes the point that Isaiah was a believer before He comes to the Lord for cleansing by fire. When the coal touches his lips, he is cleansed again. He is then prepared to say to the Lord,”Here I am .Send me.” NT goes on to quote I John 1:8,”If anyone says he is without sin, he is a liar. The Truth is not in him”. This letter is written to believers. Of course, there is a first time-a time when we remember asking Jesus into our lives and we receive forgiveness. But, that is not the only time. We need to come to the well of forgiveness again and again in our lives. Our conversion begins in a moment, but it leads to a movement as Kaitlyn has been teaching us.Isaiah points the way for us to walk. Day by day as we examine our lives In the presence of the Lord, we need cleansing. Jesus death on the cross paid the price for our forgiveness. As John says in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us. “ Clothed in Christ’s robes of righteousness, we are freed from sin as the fire continues to burn on the altar of the cross .

I think the thing I have needed most these two weeks from God has been patience. I am finding it hard to really dive into the subjects when I can’t see what is written. I am still having difficulty with using two forms of Magnification to see what is written. And even then it is so light that I have a hard time. So I’m asking the Lord to give me both away to see and handle the magnifications that I need. I don’t know how this fits into the questions for today. The one thing it has done is to bring me closer to the Lord through these difficulties. Sign asking the Lord to help me through this. I have found it hard to begin the lesson of the day at 5:00 AM because that is when I’m getting off of dialysis and we have about a half an hour of procedures to go through to get off of dialysis. I want to spend the time with the Lord and have tried to do that. And I am determined to make it through this six weeks even with this difficulty because that is my agreement with God. I want him to work within me to except the challenges of just doing this. I want to make it through, I want to please God and give him all the glory and honor that he deserves. Lord, you know the challenges that I have in my desire to please you. Send your holy fire to burn up all the things that are getting in the way. Send your grace to me And let me complete the mission at hand. Give me the strength to be able to get up at 5 o’clock and finish what I need to finish to get off of dialysis and then to complete the mission of the day. Hold my hand steady Lord and give me patience to see what is written. I have been reading it over twice or more to really absorb the daily reading. Hold me in your arms Lord God as I attempt to please you and give you the time and attention that you deserve. Change my heart to one of steadfastness. Take that live coal and touch my lips so that I will not Complain about the hindrances, but give it as a praise to you, Lord most high.

Susan, there is screen reader software that you can use that can assist you with understanding what you are trying to read. The image of fire that stands out to me is actually from our Bible app reading yesterday. Everyone will be salted with fire. God is preparing us to be a living sacrifice.

David, the “salted with fire” is something I never noticed. When Jesus says if the salt loses it’s flavor it’s no longer useful-it is good to know that in the Fire we can be “resalted”.

Today's reading has been my favorite Bible story for most of my adult life. And this is because of what Nick said--there's more than one level of refinement, the initial process and the continual process. In my life it's been harder to accept forgiveness and let go of guilt for old mistakes, but easier to recognize and admit them than those that are more recent or are recurring. This is something I'm still working on...seems like it takes some time for refinement to happen.

But isaiah's experience gives me hope-- when his lips are cleansed, he can then worship God properly along with the angels in the room, and only then, go. And I think this can happen every day-- in a way, this us what the morning practice has meant for me. It's not a new practice, but the accountability of doing it with others is, and that is making all the difference. It gives God space and time to refine my thoughts for the coming day, which refines my lips, which then enables me to go.