March 06 - A Heart Available to God

"God, You are my God; Early will I see You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory."
- Psalm 63:1-2

Five or six years ago, my daughter Carrie expressed her heart for God as a teenager when she wrote:

"Today is another day of questions-of giant leaps of faith into God's arms. Tomorrow brings a new time of seeking God-a bright, fresh new morning with mistakes yet to be made as well as opportunities to serve Him yet to be found. I refuse to worry. Instead, I will set my eyes on the Almighty Creator of the Universe in hopes that he will give me yet another glimpse of Himself-one of which I am truly unworthy. I refuse to walk away from Him. Instead, I will place my steps within the prints He has left for me on the straight and narrow, safe in the hope that it will bring me closer to Him-something I long for without ceasing. I refuse to remain silent. Instead, I will proclaim God's love from the rooftops in hopes that the whole world will hear what the Master is saying-a task I am privileged to be allowed to perform. While the mistakes I made are obvious, I will stand firm in Him as He molds me into what He wants me to be. While the world around me laughs and jeers at the passion I have for my Lord, I will stand firm in the grace He has given as He crafts my heart to fit with his own. In Him I will be strong; in Him I will make a difference; in Him I will shine like nothing they have ever seen before. I have been saved by grace alone through Christ alone, and I will live through faith alone for Him alone. Earthly rewards are not important, for my treasure lies above.

It seems to me that what Carrie has expressed in these few words are the essence of what it means to have a heart available to God for His use. Won't you consider the state of your own heart as we move into these exciting times as a church? If every believer at First Presbyterian Church expressed this kind of heart, I think buildings would grow out of ministering hearts excite about the future prospects of serving God together as his people.

Prayer - Father, please grant me a passion for your Person and for Your glory that You alone me be the treasure of my life and my future. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

- Ray Cureton