1 Samuel 15:22
"Tell me," Samuel said. "Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him."
If you are a regular follower here at Meditations of My Heart, you know that part of my Lenten discipline this season has been giving up Facebook. So why, you ask, am I returning prematurely?
Because beginning this Friday, I will be sharing a series of posts that God assures me are too life-changing, too full of His grace and mercy, not to reach as wide an audience as possible. The Lord isn't interested in my "sacrifice" as much as He wants me to obey Him.
And obey, I will, with His ever-present help.
So today's post is short and sweet, a simple and sincere invitation to join me over these next few weeks, in what promises to be a story of God's faithfulness, His loving-kindness, and His answers to prayer. Lots and lots of prayers!
I do hope to see all of you, dear friends, back here on Friday. In the interim, know I will be praying this Scripture from whence my blog gets its title: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14
Amen!
Just preached on this Sunday. I believe "surrender" is one of the hardest words for the Christ-follower to live with and to live out. I look forward to reading what you have to share.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill! Yes, I picked that up about your Sunday sermon in reading your recent blog. Glad we seem to be on the same page with this!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Our tradition is not quite so big on obeissance- the closest English work is "hearken". But, I'm game...
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Roy (pun intended)! Indeed, we are to listen to God's voice.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, lately a song by Keith Green titled "To Obey is Better than Sacrifice" keeps coming to my mind. The Lord must be speaking! I hope you don't mind that I share the link below. This song was life-changing when I first heard it over twenty years ago.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzWyZxlwGKI
Beckie, I will be sure to check out that song on YouTube - can't wait to listen to it! I'm not familiar with it, so this will be a special treat. :) And yes, the Lord is speaking, indeed!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, "David's Prayer" has spoken to me since childhood. What a wonderful Psalm for Christian poets and writers to keep in mind! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Mary, it is the perfect one for Christian writers! I had a pastor several years back who would always pray these words before embarking on her sermon. Isn't that great?
DeleteLove and blessings!
I'm not on Facebook, Martha, but I will be looking forward to reading about God's faithfulness here. I never realized before that you based your blog title on that verse. That verse has often been the prayer and desire of my heart. Love and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteTrudy, I know you mentioned before that you are not on Facebook, but I'm so gratified that you have chosen to follow me by email. Facebook does, however, allow me to reach so many more folks, I felt I had to return for the time being. Like you, too, this verse from Psalm 19 has always resonated with me. Such an awesome prayer!
DeleteLove and blessings!
I'm glad you are following whichever way God leads you, Martha. ❤️
DeleteThanks, Trudy! I so appreciate your support!
DeleteMartha, I'm so looking forward to what you have to share about how God is working in your life. I follow your blog by email and on Facebook. And yes, God desires our obedience far more than any sacrifice!
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, yes, He does, Kim! I am already feeling so blessed by the positive reaction I've gotten so far in posting this "teaser." The blog for Friday is already written, so I'm allowing it to gel for a while before I move forward. Praise God for giving me the words to say!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Can't wait to read what God is teaching you!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jean, His teachings have redirected all my priorities. I truly feel like a new creation, more than ever before. Thank you for being a faithful follower of this blog - I pray that God's message will ring true and clear over the next several weeks.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Hi Martha! I'm glad you listened to your heart and to the Lord and opened your message to your FB followers. It sounds like you have so much to share, it would be such a shame to narrow your audience. Looking forward to your story!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Ceil
I'm so glad you are looking forward to the upcoming blogs, Ceil, and I do pray that what I have to share of God's mercy and loving-kindness will touch the hearts of many.
DeleteOh, what a week last week was!!! But God was in it all, thanks be to Him!
Love and blessings!
Looking forward to your words of wisdom, friend. Yes, sometimes God adjusts our pre-conceived plans.
ReplyDeleteWe do well to listen, don't we!
Yes, Linda, we do so well to listen! I'm praying that He will guide all my words in the weeks to come, that folks will hear Him, and His voice, not mine. Thanks for your latest blog post, too. So inspirational!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Ahhh, a little teaser to bring us back...love it! Praying with you as you share your heart with us over these next few weeks. It sounds like God is preparing your heart for something really special...but then again, isn't EVERY day special when we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word? I know you know that...and I can't wait to see what the Lord is impressing on your heart. Blessings, my friend.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Pam, every day is special when we walk with the Lord! Glad you are looking forward to seeing how God drew so close to my heart and met my needs where I was, which was not the best of places at the time. I pray to make His glory known.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Thank you Martha for this word of encouragement. Blessings, Marcie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marcie!
DeleteLove and blessings!