I am convinced that my primary focus is meant to be my relationship with Jesus, versus being a person of good character who makes the right choices. When I am in a growing friendship with Christ I have a much better chance of doing the right thing out of a pure heart. This is because when I open up myself to Him and receive His Words and His love toward me, He changes me from the inside out. It is a process I cannot hurry, or complete on my own, in any way that will come close to the transformation that happens after each encounter with Him.
Each day He lovingly welcomes me like a friend, just as I am, and I cannot help but be changed. As reveal my heart to Him in rigorous honesty, and He lovingly reveals His perspective to me, somehow, my heart starts to look a little bit more like His.
There is no reason to hide from a compassionate, merciful God.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev 3:20 (NIV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Ps 51:10 (NKJV)
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezek 36:26 (NIV)
All 3 of the verses you shared impacted me in a brand new, powerful way after reading your blog! It was the content and concepts that you communicated in your writing that opened up my eyes to FRESH revelation from “familiar” verses. Wow!! What a treasure for my thoughts to get flooded with light regarding these Scriptures! So alive!!