Category Archives: The Beautiful Attitudes

Are You Poor In Spirit?

Poor InTo be poor in spirit is to recognize my utter spiritual bankruptcy before God.  It is understanding that I have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God.  Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of my sinful nature, I am completely destitute spiritually, and can do nothing to deliver myself from the condition of my heart.

Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

  • I lack the compassion to be just
  • I am unfaithful to others and inconsistent
  • I judge myself by my intentions and others by their actions
  • My flesh is continually pulling me to exalt self
  • I am selfish, self-focused, self-absorbed, and self-obsessed
  • The purest of my motivations is contaminated by self

I need you, God.  I desperately need the Lord to set me free from my destructive, selfish nature–to deliver me from sin. Continue reading “Are You Poor In Spirit?” »

Joy Comes In The Mourning

Godly SorrowMost of my life I desperately ran from sorrow and pain.  But God turned everything upside down and revealed to me the joy in sorrow, the bliss in being broken-hearted.  It can only be experienced when you know that you know that you know that God has you, that He redeems you–when you know the fire will not burn you, the flame will not consume you.  There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the mourning.

 

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Why do I mourn?

Because I can see the the utter destruction of my sin–the spiritual, emotional, and financial toll as a direct result.  If my sin wounds or hurts another, he may in-turn wound or hurt another–you see, the destruction of my sin is like a wave that has the power to affect many.  My iniquity is before me and before my God–the Lover of my soul.  Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret.  Worldly sorrow produces death. Continue reading “Joy Comes In The Mourning” »