Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8)
Father in heaven, we are deceived by so much! We spend so much of our lives "chasing after the wind!" You have given us blessings and favors too numerous to count. Yet, we often respond by constantly chasing more; seeking only pleasure and self-gratification.
All around us, we see and absorb "norms" of warped values in life, work, and recreation. So much in our world is invested in things that have no lasting meaning, while people, and relationships, and important priorities go neglected and unnoticed.
Forgive us Lord! To one degree or another we subscribe in so many ways to the subtle and not so subtle influences all around us. Our times look much like Solomon in his worst years:
"I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil" (Ecclesiastes 2:10). Yet, ultimately, he found it all meaningless (vs.11).
O God my Father, today I pray for a pure and grateful heart. You have blessed me with so many good things. You have given me boundary lines in pleasant places (Psalm 16:6). Help me to use your gifts and blessings wisely. Help me to "get rid of all the moral filth, and the evil that is so prevalent." (James 1:21) Wilt the weeds of greed and self indulgence, and help me sow Spirit-pleasing seeds for a harvest into eternity.
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