But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man “unclean.” For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man “unclean”; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him “unclean”. Matthew 15:18-20.

You will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:26.

The word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything He does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth. Psalm 33:4-5. The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name.” Psalm 91:14. You, O LORD, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the One who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 76: Darkness upon Calvary for three hours. Psalm 22:2: O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night but I have no rest. And, Matthew 27:45: Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

I loved this this morning in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: “There is no heaven that has a little corner of hell in it. God is going to bring you out pure, spotless, and undefiled, but He wants you to recognize the nature you were exhibiting – the nature of demanding your right to yourself. The moment you are willing for God to change your nature, His re-creating forces will begin to work. And the moment you realize that God’s purpose is to get you into the right relationship with Himself and then with others, He will reach to the very limits of the universe to help you take the right road.”

The first Scripture verse cited above struck home for me. I have been struggling of late with thoughts I don’t want to have; and yet as they play in my head I let them. Even as I know they are not good, I let them. Those kinds of thoughts are a prison, a little corner of hell, that I will by no means get out of until I have paid the last penny. What is the last penny? My own heart letting them run unchecked, becoming my own thoughts unchanged by God’s love. I have struggled with every sentence I have written because this is hard. But realizing that Scripture is given that lays bare what is needed in me is meant to be hard because darkness is hard! God’s love is the light that shines so the darkness can be seen for all that it is doing in me, and I cannot be that light for myself. The only thing I want to be zealous for is trusting our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. I love everything about Him and all He is doing for me in bringing forward the wellspring of darkness within, so it can be seen for what it is, and so I can see with His help all in me that needs His love healing me. I need Him. I am not ashamed to say that. I need His goodness showing me Life itself worth fighting for with His help. Fighting for our world begins with fighting for our own hearts turned away from God’s healing Love, and trusting and loving Him as He does that beautiful needed work. The word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything He does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth. The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me! I will protect those who trust in My name.” You, O LORD, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the One who holds my head high.”

***HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Holy, holy, holy! LORD God almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the crystal sea. Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, who wast and art and evermore shalt be. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, only Thou art holy: there is none beside Thee, perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity. Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God over all, and blest eternally. Reginald Heber, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” 1826.***