October 1, 2008

 

A Blameless Heart

By Sharon Sloan �?She Speaks Graduate

 

“I will walk in my house with a blameless heart.�?nbsp; Psalm 101:2b (NIV)

         

Devotion:

Living a life of godly integrity happens within the walls of our own homes first.  That’s really where we are authenticated.  For me, what God sees and knows of me in my home and with my family is most important to me, rather than how others perceive me elsewhere.  If I am living a life surrendered to Him inside my home and with my family, that life will flow naturally and freely everywhere else.  It will be genuine and self-evident. 

 

God sees and meets me when I spend quiet time with Him.  God sees me when I love and serve my husband with respect and joy.  God sees me when I handle His Word with tenderness and invest it into my children’s hearts.  He also sees me when I fail miserably in these areas and fall to my knees for forgiveness as my heart aches with the godly sorrow that leads to repentance and thus brings forth His life.  He sees and knows the real me.

 

If my husband sees and knows that I am seeking God daily and abiding in Him continually, then my heart is at rest and filled with joy knowing he has confidence in me.  He knows I desire an authentic life before our God and in our home. My husband’s confidence in me because I love and fear the Lord is priceless. I want the same to be true of me as it is written about the Proverbs 31 woman. “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.�?nbsp; Proverbs 31:11 (NIV) I want to be that crown on his head and jewel around his neck, and that must happen in our home with deep authenticity.  It doesn’t happen in social settings with shallow facades. 

 

A wise woman seeks to have a blameless heart in her home.  “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.�?nbsp; Proverbs 14:1 (NIV) The destructive hands of pride and selfishness will tear apart the beautiful gifts with which God has entrusted me. I so earnestly and passionately want to be the wise woman building up my home and family.

 

Walking with a blameless heart is a standard set by God.  Blameless does not mean sinless.  The NIV study note clarifies that blameless means “spiritual and moral integrity�?  Even when we really blow it, our godly integrity, born out of a vibrant relationship with Him, brings us back to a humble heart before the Lord.  When we do fail, God and those around us will see our true remorse and desire to be right with Him and with those we have offended. 

 

God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to depend on Him for our godly integrity.  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.�?nbsp; 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

 

Gentle Father, You desire me to walk with a blameless heart.  You have generously given me all I need for life and godliness.  May my life honor you in my home and before my family first, such that Your life spills out to all those around me naturally.  Strengthen my heart and hands that they may continually build my house in Your perfect love.  In Jesus�?Name, Amen.

 

 

Application Steps: 

Read Psalm 26.

 

Pray and ask God to search your heart to see if you are walking with a blameless heart in your home.  Ask Him for His strength and passion to do it.  If you are not, ask God and your family for forgiveness.  Remember He has given you everything you need for life and godliness.  Depend on Him.

 

Reflections: 

Are you the same person in your home as you are outside of your home?

 

Consider how an authentic life before God and your family also has lasting effects on those around you.

 

Power Verses:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.�?nbsp; Psalm 84:11 (NIV)

 

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.�?nbsp; Psalm 26:1 (NIV)

 

© 2008 by Sharon Sloan. All rights reserved.

 

Proverbs 31 Ministries

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Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org