Words to Grow On

Archive Devotions

October 25, 2004

"All I Can Be"

By:

Susan J. Gregg

Psalm 5:3 "Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend."

Everything is clamoring to become a part of you and me. We must carefully choose the things and thoughts we will allow to get inside. Let us ask God to begin to cleanse our consciousness and to determine, through prayer, to guard the threshold of our minds.

From the book, Deep is the Hunger , by Howard Thurman, a story is told of "a man who walked into an antique shop and asked permission to look around. It was a rather exclusive shop frequented only by those who could afford to purchase articles made rare by their scarcity and age. The visitor seemed strangely out of place because he was poorly dressed though clean; indeed it was clear from his appearance that he was a laborer whose face had been etched by sun and rain and whose hands were rough and worn. After more than a half hour, he left. In about ten days he returned. This time he found a very beautiful piece of glass and asked if he could make a deposit on it. Each week he made a payment, until at last the article was his. With much curiosity, the owner of the shop engaged him in conversation to determine, if he could, the use to which such a man would put his new purchase. 'I bought it for my little room. It isn't much, but I bring to it, from time to time, through the years, only the best and most beautiful.'"

What a wonderful plan for one's life. To keep in one's heart and mind only the best and most beautiful. Paul in his letter to the Philippians puts it this way in Chapter 4 ( The Message ) "Summing it up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

As we look around us we will soon realize that all we allow inside our hearts will become part of us whether it be good or evil. Our God wants the very best for each of us. He has so much to show us, so much to tell us if we will only surrender ourselves to His leading. Each morning as we come to Him in prayer and "lay out the pieces of our lives" for His disposal may He enter into our souls and fit them for Himself and hold them without spot or wrinkle.  

May this be our prayer:

  "Make pure my heart, O Lord;

    Make me both strong and resolute

    To hear and to obey your word,

    Accept no other substitute.

    Let not my foolish, undiscerning eyes

    Be pleased with bronze when pure gold is the prize."

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