and the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, [2 timothy 2:24]
it is impossible to be kind to everyone, to not be quarrelsome, to patiently endure evil, etc, if your heart desires your glory – your fame – protecting your good name.
“delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” [psalm 37:4]
do you find yourself quarreling? difficult to bear alongside those who disagree with you? quick to speak and slow to listen? likely your desires are your own and not the Lord’s.
what are your desires? do you desire the Lord? delight in the Lord? where do your desires not line up with the Lord’s?
“…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” [matthew 12:34]
don’t pull up your bootstraps. you don’t have the power to change your heart. give over those things your heart desires besides the Lord and ask the him to give you delight in him.
the more we see the beauty of God the more we will desire him. spend time in his presence today and grow in your delight of the Lord.
~ keith kozlowski