Victory In The Heart

Friday, August 15, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse:Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Romans 14:8

Victory Exists Only In The Heart

So, what does Jesus mean when he says our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? It is divine righteousness in mind and motive. What we treasure fills our minds and motivates us to do outward works.

The Pharisees were motivated by outward stimuli only with no regard for the Holiness of God-just their own outward ‘righteousness’ judged by how they looked and how ‘holy’ they acted.

The danger is that we read and hear it and think that this is easy for us because we belong to Jesus. No, it is hard because of our sinful nature. The yoke of Jesus is easy to carry if that is all we carry and only possible with God(Mark 10:27). The yoke of Jesus is carried by the heart-the yoke of sin slavery is carried by our bodies and with guilt.

We cannot fabricate Jesus as our treasure-we cannot do it-The Spirit of Truth-the mind of Christ-is the only way we treasure Jesus above everything.

Now-there are people who love, provide and protect their families to the greatest human degree-what we would call good people-people who do the right things-just like the Pharisees. It is impossible to love Jesus more than family unless we give them to God-give our capacity to love to God-trust Him for it all.

The righteous life in Christ is war that is impossible unless our hearts are right before Him.

The simple point is living a life of conscious prayer.

Philippians 4:-6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Is this where you really want to be? Tell God how you feel. Ask Him to give you the heart He wants you to have.

...because He loves us, He will do it,

Father in Heaven,

I want to praise Your name forever and I want to know Your kingdom. I want my heart to be what You want it to be. Forgive me my negative and angry thoughts,

God of all righteousness,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen