Still feeling broken today. I woke up with accusations coming at me, undoubtedly to keep me from wanting to get up and do anything. I rebuked shame and despair and chose to declare I am forgiven. I ask You to come to my aid and lift my head once again. What is not healed? I desire freedom but knowing the answer to this must be the way there.
You directed me to reread Matthew 12 this morning. V. 15b says; “Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all.” Your desire is to heal everyone. I know I am praying Your will. Maybe You directed me here to this verse to help me believe, to hear You saying it directly to me.
What is the prerequisite to the promise in this verse? To “follow” You. I’m following after You, seeking healing of my wounded heart. I can know You desire to heal all of Your children.
AND
Mark 11:24 “everything you pray and ask for-believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” and v. 25, while you pray, make sure your heart is forgiving towards others so your Father will forgive you.
So follow, believe, and forgive. Got it. Now I ask You, Lord, “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.”
My anxious thoughts often entail longing for the approval of man. I don’t want those thoughts anymore. Please help me break free of this habit of thinking. Let me be ever, only for an audience of ONE. This is humility’s best context.
Matthew 12:34b says: “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” v.36 “I tell you that on the day of judgement people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.”
Lord, from a heart state of humility, may I pause and let You be Lord of my words today?… Not fear or people pleasing…. I’ve noticed, I think, that fear (especially in the form of people pleasing), is stronger than shame for me. Even though I feel broken and tempted to feel shame and despair, if I am facing a threat, my fear will kick in and still cause me to sin with my mouth. Which, sadly only reinforces my shame.
No wonder You tell us so often not to fear. It does not bring us to the right path unless it’s a fear of You and of respect for Your commands.
My mouth is a litmus test of where my heart is. v.33b “for a tree is known by its fruit.” v.35 “A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.”
So when I feel the pang of fear, may it not determine my steps, No!
Streams excerpt 1/25/2026: “And in emergencies, when there (seems) to be no adequate time for deliberation or for action,” …we need to lean on the truth instead. “He that believeth shall not make haste.”
Isaiah 28:16 NIV “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious corner stone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never panic.”
Suggested Bible Reading for today:
Matthew 12
Isaiah 28:16