Go Beyond

Returning to Holiness — that’s what we are focusing on at Kingsland as we start the New Year. Alex Kennedy, our Senior Pastor, is teaching on holiness as we prepare to observe a sacred (or solemn) assembly at the end of January. As part of our preparation for our sacred assembly, Brian Haynes, our Associate Pastor, and I prepared the following daily devotional guide for use over the next week. I hope you find it useful in taking inventory of your personal journey with Christ.

Proverbs 6:16–19 lists seven things the Lord hates. Hate is strong language but is the best word in the context of these verses. God hates the things that Satan loves and Satan loves the things that God hates. The seven sins listed in these verses are among the things Satan uses to distance us from God and to cause our love for Him to grow cold. These sins and any sin we embrace and tolerate have the potential to destroy us and others including our families, churches, communities, and culture.

If we aspire to spiritual maturity and to experience personal revival, we must confess and forsake our sins — in other words, we must first own and then disown our sins. We must humble ourselves before God and give Him complete access to every area of our lives. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is reassuring to those who do so: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Tolerating and refusing to confess and forsake our sins will lead to serious internal strife (Ps. 32:3-5). Don’t allow that to happen. This week, please ask God to reveal the sins in your life that distance you from Him, damage your influence for Christ, and make you ineffective in the work of His kingdom. Like David, ask God to acquit you of hidden faults and keep you back from presumptuous sins lest they rule over you (Ps. 19:12-13). Cooperate with God and allow Him to thoroughly wash and cleanse you (Ps. 51:2).

Haughty Eyes
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs, 6:17, Psalm 18:27, Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 21:4, Matthew 6:1.
Lord, please examine my eyes. Reveal to me the things that obscure my vision and cause me to exalt myself and to diminish others. Please heal my eyes with the salve of humility. Remind me daily that “everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

Lying Tongue
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs 6:17, Psalm 5:6, Psalm 120:2, Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 26:28, John 8:44, Revelation 21:8.
Lord, please reveal to me all of the ways in which I am less than truthful. Confront me with the ways in which I exaggerate, bend or edit the truth, and lie. Please heal my tongue and help me to be like Jesus, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs 6:17, Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 19:10, Isaiah 59:7, Jeremiah 22:3.
Lord, please show me how I have shed innocent blood and how I have violated the spirit of the Sixth Commandment by being a party to character assassination, harboring hate, nursing grudges, and seeking revenge. Please heal any attitudes of hate that reside in my heart and govern my thoughts. Remind me that Jesus came that we might have and promote life (John 10:10).

Heart that Devises Wicked Plans
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs 6:18, Proverbs 6:14, Proverbs 12:20, Matthew 15:18-20.
Lord, please expose the wicked schemes of my heart — schemes that diminish my integrity, damage others, and lead to division. Please frustrate any plans I devise to sin against you or to harm others. Help me to invite others to hold me accountable for my thoughts and plans. Remind me to keep my heart with all vigilance because from it flow the springs of life (Prov. 4:23).

Feet that Run to Evil
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs 6:18, Psalm 52:3, Psalm 97:10, Amos 5:15, Zechariah 8:17, John 3:19, Romans 12:9, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Timothy 2:22.
Lord, please cause me to stumble when I foolishly run to evil. Please help me to have the sense to run away from evil and all that will cause my love for you to grow cold. Help me to follow your steps and to never lose sight of you. Thank you that you welcome me back when I repent and that you cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

False Witness Who Lies
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs 6:19, Exodus 20:16, Exodus 23:1, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 21:28.
Lord, please reveal to me any way in which I have given false testimony based on inadequate, wrong, or baseless information. Give me the courage to seek forgiveness from those I have wronged with lies I have told and to rectify any damage I have caused. Please remind me that what I say matters. “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

One Who Stirs Up Discord
Please read and meditate on these verses: Proverbs 6:19, Proverbs 16:28, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Timothy 5:13, Titus 3:10.
Lord, please show me every way in which I have been divisive and have frustrated your desire for unity in my home and in your church. Please give me the courage to seek the forgiveness of those I have harmed and those I have divided by sowing discord. Please help me to be a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9) and to “be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18).