FAITH CAPSULE: Determination is not enough for man to answer fully for God’s calling but prayer.
Psalm 19
Determination to have clean heart not to fail before God will fail but only prayer will enable man not to fail before God. When Jesus prophesied that Peter was going to deny Him, Peter did not accept Jesus’ prophecy but determined not to deny Jesus. Determination failed Peter as it is written, “A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.” (Mark 14:72) Peter, a disciple of Jesus is an example that determination is not enough to answer fully for man’s desire to live for God’s glory. Evidently, Jesus actually prayed against Peter’s failure as stated, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32) As a believer, it is good to have determination for God’s calling but there must be understanding that prayer is the key not to fail.
Is your heart clean for not to fail before God? Have you given your heart to God? It is important that man should give heart to a procedure that will remove all which represents wickedness. Procedure to remove and clean the heart is in prayer. The Psalmist prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) Man needs to engage prayer to help in having a clean heart. The thinking which man carries in the heart is what will determine man’s exploit on the face of the earth. The book of Proverb 23:7 buttress “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you but his heart is not with you.’” It is clear that man should keep heart with diligence to avoid any form of negativity. With prayer, Man should also know and understand to keep heart with diligence otherwise wickedness will reap through the heart of man.
Daniel kept his heart with diligence by purposing positives to the glory of God. Daniel 1:8 records, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel purposed heart and it marked him out for great exploit to the glory of God. Daniel’s heart made the difference that matters in all of his life.
It is written, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) Desire for a clean heart, keep to heart the word of God and give self to prayer trusting God to deposit what it takes to have a clean heart.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to fail but to stand for God’s glory.