A "Go To " Prayer for a Clear Conscious

Do you ever find yourself praying the same thing over and over again?
I sure do!

I have several “go to prayers” in my arsenal. Ones that I repeat often because I need the prayer answered routinely. One such prayer is this:

“Jesus, please make me easy to discipline and quick to convict.”

What this prayer means is this: I don’t trust myself. I know that given too much slack I could get myself into a mess of trouble. It says to God, “I need You to speak to me and show me anywhere I am or could potentially be stepping out of Your will. And if I should sin, PLEASE convict me (cause me to feel guilt and remorse) so that I will turn to Jesus and find forgiveness.”

I guess I learned the hard way about sin. I was redeemed from a very sinful lifestyle, and I don’t want to go back there again. But, there is one thing I am certain of: I don’t trust my flesh (the old sinful nature) one bit. I know, without the Spirit of God working in me and through me, my flesh is capable of anything. Therefore, I pray regularly for my heart to respond quickly to God’s voice and to obey Him should He point something out.

This morning in my devotional time I read the following entry from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. This teaching served as a great reminder to me about the need for a “Clear Conscious,” therefore, I thought I would pass it on to other Redeemed Girls.

The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience

". . . strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men"
—Acts 24:16

God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.

Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do.

The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).

God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . ." (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, "Why can’t I do this?" You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.

Dear Jesus, I pray you would make us so sensitive to your Spirit. May we love the things that you love and hate the things that you hate. Help us. Enable us to live with hearts that fear you and love you. May your Truth be our standard. Please make us easy to discipline and quick to convict. Thank you for your grace that is greater than all our sins!
Amen.

The "Sticky" Note

The “Sticky” Note

Various scraps of paper with urgent reminders, upcoming wedding and baby shower invitations, scripture memory cards, unpaid bills, numerous to-do lists, updated and outdated gym workout schedules, and several other items are adhered to the corkboard positioned above my writing desk—the perfect spot to place those “need to find fast memos” and “don’t forget” reminders.

We all need reminders, right?

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like I need certain truths right in front of me because I’m so very prone to forgetfulness. Therefore, near the top of my board—right at my eye level—sits an important piece of paper. Worn about the edges and pin pricked from years of moving and removing … this one is a keeper. It reads:

The Christian who knows he is
Crucified with Christ
Has no AMBITION and so has nothing to be jealous about.
Has no REPUTATION, and so has nothing to fight about.
Has no POSSESSIONS, and therefore, nothing to worry about.
Has no “rights,’ so, therefore, he cannot suffer wrong.
He is ALREADY DEAD, so no one can kill him.
By Leonard Ravenhill

Unlike invitations and to-do lists, this note will never grow obsolete and doesn’t have an expiration date. It sits waiting for those life-moments when I need a good dose of truth. Life is not about me. My life is hidden in Jesus.

If I really believe Galatians 2:20 which says, “I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” then Ravenhill’s words are spot on accurate (even if they do ring oh-so harsh to our modern, me-first mentality.)

Now that I think about it, that is one “sticky” note—a truth that I want to stick with me. I’ve found that simply believing this message can cure most of life’s ailments. Think about it, if I really believe that “I am Crucified with Christ” then half the things that bug, annoy, bother, and in general cause me to freak out, are really nothing I need to worry or to fret about at all.
The reality is this: we are hidden in Jesus…and Jesus is good. Jesus is safe. Jesus is our hiding place. We don’t need to impress others to find acceptance, we don’t need to amass wealth to feel secure, we don’t need to have power to be important…because everything we are, everything we need, and everything we long for is assured us in the Resurrected Life of Christ.

That is why we can lay everything else down and die to our fleshly desires because we trust that He has us and He is in control.

For instance, I can’t tell you the number of times that someone has said something negative about me and I have wanted to “defend” myself and God reminds me of the fact that “my reputation” is dead and I am “hidden in Christ.” He will defend me.

Or the times when I’m tempted to place too much value in the material things of this world and God reminds me that the only things that will last are those I invest in eternity.

I’m learning and need reminding daily that life’s circumstances must be filtered through the reality of who I am in Christ: the old Marian is dead and the life I now live is in Him, through Him and for Him.

I’ll be honest; I’m still very much a work in progress! Not a day goes by that I don’t feel rejected, embarrassed, overlooked, scared, or worried and need reminding of this amazing truth; hence the sticky note. Being “crucified with Christ” means dying to my selfish desires and embracing the glorious life in Christ—the life of love and selflessness that is only possible because He lives in me!

Apart from Him I can do nothing!