“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10-11)
When we keep hidden sin in our lives or continue to live in sin, we place a block between ourselves and God. We communicate to Him that we would rather do what we want than what He wants to do in us. We become proud and indifferent to what God has for us. Sin separates us from God’s presence, and without Him we can do nothing of power or significance. When we sin we must ask forgiveness and repent of it, turn away from it and not go back, and we must ask for God’s Spirit to take over in our lives. We must continually seek to be in His presence, for when we do, He promises to come to us and fill us with His Spirit. He hears those who would turn from their sin and seek His face (II Chron. 7:14).
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (John 15:7)
This creates a fundamental change in our lives, one that brings the reality of God’s truth into fruition in our hearts and minds. James said that we must not only be hearers of the word, but doers of it also. We must allow Christ’s words and teachings to penetrate our heart and allow God’s truth to reign. We must be obedient to what He has commanded and follow His will for our lives. When we are walking in His will, we will want what He wants for our lives. Then all that is left of us is to humble ourselves and become dependent on God, asking what we need and allowing Him to provide where we cannot.
The woman at Jacob’s well allowed Jesus to make provision for her.
COME SEE THIS MAN
The stranger at the well that day
Had no vessel with which to draw water;
Yet He spoke to me of a living stream
As if I were His daughter.
A stranger, yes…but He knew me
And described the state of my life;
He knew I was living in sin with a man;
That five times I had been a wife.
I spoke of Jacob and of the worship
That must take place on a mountain;
But the reason for His conversation
Was to lead me to an eternal fountain.
Come see this man!
Taste of the water He alone can give!
Look into His eyes – see His compassion;
Drink of His water and live!
-John Knoles, February 2002