I sought the LORD, and he heard me

Ps. {34:4} I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.


Isa. {66:1} Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? {66:2} For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

{66:3} He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. {66:4} I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.


God knows. God understands the depths of selfishess the human heart holds. Everything must be our way. We delight in the things we bring about, of what we believe is our own accord. The delusions we hold are full. Ask, and people well tell you that self-sufficiency is the prize for which we should strive. Self assurance, self love, self adoration, self...self...we are deluded with self. We are told to look inwards to our own powers, find our inner strength, inner peace. We are filled with the idea that we control our own lives and try to tell someone something different and they'll nod and smile, or argue with their logic.


God will use the delusions people hold because He has tried to get them to see that without Him, their Creator they are nothing and they wouldn't believe. He's tried and tried and tried... but consistently people choose to look inward, not outward, to glorify self not God. They think they are doing good but their good is evil. The keep looking to themselves for salvation as if they controlled it, as if they had power to give or take it away. Salvation exists not because we've designed it or reject it, or accept it. Salvation exists and we have to believe it. We can choose to believe it or not, but our choice won't alter it's existence. Yes, we are allowed our delusions because we wouldn't have it any other way. There is no wonder so few will be ready for Christ when He returns. The idea of giving up self for anything is repugnant to us. We've been taught from childhood to think of ourselves first. We call it self-preservation and make it seem as if without thinking of ourselves first we are condemning ourselves. Us first, then others second, and the few who can go beyond that are the oddities. Giving up self and giving us over to God. God first is possible through faith and faith alone, by Christ and His righteousness because we have none of ourselves. By His mercy! By His Grace! By His love! May the Holy Spirit fill us and keep us. May we not suffer under any delusion the devil may bring before us to keep us from the Love of God in Jesus Christ, our Savior. By His Grace may we be delivered of all our fears and may our unbelief be helped and by Jesus' love and mercy, by His power may we have the faith we need to be His completely.


Amen.