Wretched Heart...

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the ugliness of your heart?  It seems like the more you read scripture, the more you realize how wretched you are.  Yuck!!!  I start to get depressed, because I feel a huge failure.  I struggle with wanting people to like me all the time.  I think some people call that a "people pleaser".  Lol, yeh, that's me!  Those of you who know me probably know this about me.  There are times when I so worried about what other people think of me.  During those times, I have to take a step back and ask myself why am I feeling like this.  I've found that is is usually during times when I'm not spending enough time with Jesus.  That time with Him is so precious, and is so easy to let the busyness of life minimize that time to almost nothing.  Oh, friends, let us not give up our time with Jesus, even for those "good things" that we are doing.  That time is where my heart is renewed and where I'm reminded that He is my portion and the strength of my heart.  Only He can satisfy me!

Proverbs 4:23 says, "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them and healing to all their flesh.  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.  Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you.  Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.  Do not swerve to the right or the left; turn your foot away from evil."

My heart is prone to evil, so I must keep my gaze forward and not let it swerve for even a second.  I have found memorizing scripture is a powerful tool to keep our hearts focused on the Lord.  We are so forgetful.  Lord, help us to keep our gaze on You all our days!  But, I am reminded in those times when I do fail, His mercies are new every morning.  Praise God for His great mercy through the cross!