Staying Faithful to Jesus - 350-365

350.  Should I ask God to search my heart, and help me to know my motives?

• Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
• Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
• Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
• Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
• Psalm 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Dear Heavenly Father, You know all things and are aware of every secret thought and motive. You know more about me than I know about myself. Only You can fix my faulty thinking. Remind me that nothing is hidden from You, and that You are my most trusting confident. I need You, Lord, to lead me and guide me in Your path.

351.  Does God want me to examine my own heart?

• Psalm 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
• Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
• Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
• 1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Father God, since You know my deepest thoughts, I ask You to reveal to me my hidden motives, so I can make a complete surrender to You. Shine Your light into my darkness so I may make a thorough examination of my heart. Show me how to surrender my decisions and plans, and allow You to take over. Keep me from being self-deceived, but help me to see myself as You see me.

352.  Is it possible for me to warp and defile my conscience?

• 1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
• 1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
• Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
• Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
• Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Dearest Savior, What a tragedy it would be to have a seared conscience! Lord, You warn us that our conscience can become defiled if we refuse to listen to Your Holy Spirit. Purge my conscience, Lord. Cleanse it, purify it so that I can serve You without hypocrisy.

353.  Is it important to keep my conscience clear, free from hidden guilt?

• Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
• Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
• Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
• 2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
• Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Dear Father, I want a clear conscience, so that I can be at peace with You and with my fellow men. I want to live in honesty and transparency, and be sincere and genuine. Only You can give me peace as I accept Your forgiving and empowering grace. I want to hear the slightest whisper of Your Holy Spirit, with a sanctified, sensitive conscience.

354.  Do I tend to make excuses for not obeying God, when there really is no excuse?

• Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
• Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
• Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
• Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
• Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Dear Lord, You have given me every reason to serve You with a joyful heart. You pour Your blessing on me continually. Help me to respond to Your calling with an eager and willing heart. Away with excuses! There is no excuse for disobedience and rebellion. There is no excuse for lack of love and compassion Keep me from blaming others or circumstances for my sin. Instead, help me to take responsibility for my actions, and to yield to Your sweet Spirit and follow Your holy will.

355.  Do I need to continue to stay close to Jesus until the end?

• John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
• Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
• Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
• Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
• Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Dear Jesus, Empower me to continue to pursue You, every day, all day, to not get indifferent and lethargic in my quest for intimate fellowship with You. Strengthen me to keep a strong grip on You, as I trust in Your strong grip on me. Enable me to hold fast until the very end, with confidence and rejoicing.

356.  Does God place a conditional "if" on His promises to me?

• John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
• John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
• 2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
• 1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Dearest Lord, In Your holy Word, You place the tiny Word IF in front of Your powerful promises. Lord, that IF requires my special attention. You need me to allow You to put Your commandment keeping ability in my heart. You don't want forced obedience, but You will provide the power IF I give You permission. Guide me, Lord, to choose to cooperate with Your obedience, so I can remain in loving, intimate fellowship with You.

357.  What has God told me about my need to persevere, enduring patiently?

• Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
• Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
• James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
• Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Dear Father, How I need enduring patience, that will continue to trust in You through difficult times, no matter what. Your Word warns us of persecution and tribulation and tells how You want us to hang on and endure, without slipping away and giving up. Your promise is for those who endure to the end of their lives, or until You come. Show me how to be solidly anchored to You, and not to faint or be indolent or indifferent. Give me the zeal, Lord, to stand firm for You always.

358.  If I believe in Jesus for a while, but later give up my faith, what happens?

• Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
• Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
• 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
• Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
• Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Father, Your Word makes it very clear that only those who endure to the end will be saved. It is only by Your power that I can do that, Lord. Sharpen my memory, and enable me to keep my hope and faith alive and vibrant, ever increasing in intensity, so that I can rejoice in that day when I inherit the promise.

359.  If I fall away from Christ, and return to a life of sin, what is the result?

• Ezekiel 33:13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
• Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
• Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
• 1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
• 1 Timothy 6:20, 21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Dear Lord, these verses cause me to recognize my desperate need to keep trusting in Your righteousness and not my own. Help my roots of faith to go deep, so I will never fall away from You. I plead with You, Jesus, empower me to keep You close, so that I will never waver in my firm commitment and devotion to You.

360.  If I return to sinful behavior, what will be the consequences?

• John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
• Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his
• Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
• 1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
• Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Jesus, I must have Your Holy Spirit abiding with me always. Holy Spirit, You take over, and keep me pure and holy for Your dwelling place. Purge out all sin and defilement, so You can indwell me. Than You, Lord!

361.  If I neglect or reject the provisions of salvation, even after I accepted them, what is the result?

• Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
• Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
• Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
• 2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
• Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

My Father, You are showing me how important it is for me not to neglect my relationship with You. I need Your power in my life to keep from becoming entangled in sin. I need to be ever watchful and prayerful and hold fast to You. I cannot live by faith without a continual surrender to You; a daily, hourly, commitment.

362.  Does God give me the opportunity to choose life?

• Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
• Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
• Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
• Jeremiah 21:8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
• Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Dear Father, You have set before me life and death. There is no middle, neutral ground. Either I will choose You or I will choose the devil. Your Word presents it so clearly that there should be no hesitation. I do choose You, Lord, as my Master, without any reservation. Enable me to serve You with my whole heart without wavering.

363.  Does God want to provide a daily spiritual feast for me?

• Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
• Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
• John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
• 1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
• Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Lord God, Feed me with Your delicious spiritual food! I want to learn to savor this daily feast. Heighten my spiritual taste buds so that I crave more and more of the bread of life. Give me a thirst for the living water so that reading Your Word refreshes my soul. Let me value Your presence so deeply that it satisfies more than a physical meal. Thank You, Lord, for this spiritual feast You provide for me!

364.  Is my commitment to Jesus a daily matter, so that day by day I am choosing God over self?

• Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
• Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
• Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
• 1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
• Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Dearest Jesus, Every single day, without exception, I want to choose You. Humble me to kneel before You every morning, laying down self-will, and taking up Your will. Let me live as a Christ-controlled vessel, with divine empowerment and direction. Every day I must search Your Word with a willing heart. Every day I must walk in the light of Your presence. Teach me Lord to maintain a consistent daily commitment to You, for the rest of my life!

365.  Is Jesus my only source of life?

• John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
• John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
• John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
• John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
• Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
• 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

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