heart is blameless – Praying Pint

3.s. But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

2 Chronicles 16:9    For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him

Psalms 33:18-19   Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,  that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

1 Peter 3:12    For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

Zephaniah 1:6    those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.”

Hebrews 10:38    but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Faith in action. It takes a very close humble walk with God to have this kind of faith, where you are ashamed to ask for protection from the king, who is more than willing and able to supply the protection, because in your heart you know God is more protection, more powerful, more awesome, and no one can defeat what He has put into motion. I am reminded once again of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they told the king that our God is able to protect us from your threat, but even if He does not we will not bow down and worship your image. Ezra is saying about the same thing when he purposed not seek the king’s help and protect but chose faith in God. He was ashamed to have even thought the thought of asking the King.

If we were true to ourselves and asked how many times do we seek help outside of seeking and trusting God, what would that number be? Trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation is a little easier as there is no other savior who can save us. However, when we come down to living out our daily lives and see we can get help outside of asking Jesus we easily turn toward a non-faith, non-Jesus, solution. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Our faith will only mature as we grow closer to Jesus. Our closer walk with Jesus will only mature when we spend time in His word. Time in His word will only mature when we intentionally/daily commit with our whole heart, mind, and soul to humble service, honoring, glorifying, worshiping, following, trusting, and obeying Him. Our maturity will then happen line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. When we see Jesus Christ as our all in all for every moment of every day we will begin to grow and mature in our faith.

3.m. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love

Ezra 5:1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

2 Chronicles 16:9   For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

Psalms 32:8    I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Psalms 33:18    Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

1 Peter 3:12   For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Psalms 34:15  The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

There are always going to be those in opposition to the work, plans, and purposes of God. They cry foul, make accusations, and try hard to stop this work. God’s word is full of examples of men in opposition. They only succeed when it is in God’s plan and for His purpose. Sometimes it is for our testing so that we know what is in our heart. Other times it is in God’s wrath to the fallen and deliberate hardened heart of those who choose to be neglectful and complacent in their walk with Him.

When we are faced with opposition let our eyes, ears, heart, mind, and soul be focused and trusting in God. Praise and trust in His promises of steadfast love, power, strength, refuge, peace, and rest. Philippians 4:12-13 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We are never alone. God’s eyes are always on us.

152. To give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

1 Kings 15:9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days.

2 Chronicles 16:9    For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

Jeremiah 16:17   For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.

Proverbs 5:21   For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.

Proverbs 15:3    The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Psalms 34:15     The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

Hebrews 4:13     And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

If your life was being chronicled like those in the Bible, what would be recorded? Would it be said that you did right in the eyes of the Lord and wholly true to Him or would it say something along the lines of being more lukewarm, lacking conviction, and being influenced by worldly things more than by God.?

I think it would do each well to examine their life, thoughts, and actions in light of God’s word. Of course, this would require time spent in His word with an open heart and desire to have your eyes and ears opened to hear Him speak into your life. I think this is where commitment falls apart. When we have to spend time and effort to be led by God it becomes a burden. When we want, desire, and seek to spend time and effort to be led by God it becomes our purpose for living.

When you get up in the morning do you say I get to spend time in God’s word or do you think I have to spend time in His word? Getting too will be a blessing and having too will be a burden. Having to do the right thing is different than wanting to do the right thing. I have to because God said is different than I want to because God said. I have to thinks there is something to be earned. I want to thinks God is worthy and that they are thankful. One is a partial heart and one is a whole heart. One life is blessed and the other is not. One finds peace, joy, hope, strength, power, love and courage the other finds disappointment, frustration, unhappiness, and confusion.

Our lives, thoughts, intentions, and actions are not hidden from God so why do we pretend that they are. You get to choose to seek and desire God. You get to choose to live for Him. You get to choose to surrender to Him, honor Him, serve Him, follow Him, obey Him, trust Him. These choices will lead you on paths with purpose. Choose and commit to seek and desire God every moment of every day.

By His Glorious Power

“For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalms 17:7
Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,

Psalms 5:11-12
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Psalms 10:14
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

Psalms 20:6
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.

Psalms 44:3
for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

Exodus 15:6
Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

Isaiah 41:10
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Sometimes I wonder if we think our lives this side of eternity is to be trouble/problem free. Words like “fear not”, “I will strengthen you”, “take refuge in You”, “nor did their own are save them”, “strong support”, “hide me in the shadow of your wings”, all indicate and confirm times of problems and trials happen to all of us this side of eternity. Yet God is all seeing and knowing and there is nothing His eyes do not see. In these times we are not alone. We have GOD who is with us and will protect us. It is in these times we feel alone but we are not. He is there. In these times call out to God and trust in His might power to help. Trust and hope and rejoice, for He will never leave us or forsake us. We don’t have to go it alone.