God's Project
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 (NRSV)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
My husband runs a track hoe. He is currently helping to lay the foundation for a new school. I love to watch him operate the machine; it is graceful and purposeful.
He knows just where he wants to start digging, and he slowly and purposefully digs in and lifts out what needs to go. He digs until everything that should be gone is gone and the area is smoothed and ready for its intended purpose. In this case it will be filled with water and used to handle runoff in the rainy season. Sometimes he digs trenches for pipe that will bring water in or remove sewage or storm water. “Every excavation has a purpose.”
In the same way, God knows exactly what needs to be removed or exposed to accomplish the divine purpose in our lives. God knows just how deep to go and where to put what is removed. God lifts up scripture and prepares it to be used as the foundation for faith. And what God puts in its place is living water, deeper insights into scripture, new habits that channel sin away from our lives. Though sometimes painful, God's excavation into our lives is always for our good.
Help us, Lord, to open ourselves to your holy work in our lives. Amen.
Susan Hammond
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 (NRSV)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
My husband runs a track hoe. He is currently helping to lay the foundation for a new school. I love to watch him operate the machine; it is graceful and purposeful.
He knows just where he wants to start digging, and he slowly and purposefully digs in and lifts out what needs to go. He digs until everything that should be gone is gone and the area is smoothed and ready for its intended purpose. In this case it will be filled with water and used to handle runoff in the rainy season. Sometimes he digs trenches for pipe that will bring water in or remove sewage or storm water. “Every excavation has a purpose.”
In the same way, God knows exactly what needs to be removed or exposed to accomplish the divine purpose in our lives. God knows just how deep to go and where to put what is removed. God lifts up scripture and prepares it to be used as the foundation for faith. And what God puts in its place is living water, deeper insights into scripture, new habits that channel sin away from our lives. Though sometimes painful, God's excavation into our lives is always for our good.
Help us, Lord, to open ourselves to your holy work in our lives. Amen.
Susan Hammond
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