Ezra 10, 1 Corinthians 6, Psalms 31:9-18, Proverbs 21:3

What God said to me – When you get married you are no longer the “Lone Ranger”- there is another person for you to consider.  I designed marriage so that two become one and therefore everything one does will affect the other.  A good spouse stops to think how the money they spend or the time the time spent on jobs or hobbies or the way they take care or don’t take care of their health impacts their mate.  Whether you realize it or not, the same things apply to My children.  The one who joins himself to Me is one spirit with Me.  Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from Me, and you are not your own.  Just as a good spouse considers their mate in all they do, My children should consider Me – are the things you do and say pleasing to Me – are you taking care of your body as My temple – do you guard your heart and mind from exposure to ungodly, immoral things?  You have been bought with a price, therefore glorify Me in your body.

Ezra 8:21-9:15, 1 Corinthians 5, Psalms 31:1-8, Proverbs 21:1-2

What God said to me – There are many platitudes used to justify sin and rebellion – “do your own thing” – “live your truth” – “follow your heart”.  They sound wise but they all are just different ways of doing what is right in your own eyes, not Mine.  The heart is desperately wicked so if you base your thoughts and actions on it, you probably are not doing what is right in My sight.  There is no such thing as “your truth”, there is only Mine.  One of the reasons I have given society over to face the consequences of their sin is that they have exchanged My truth for a lie.  My word is truth so it is the only standard by which you must live if you want to please Me.  If you truly want to walk in a manner worthy of your calling, then you must be wholly devoted to My word.  It is impossible to walk with Me apart from it.

Ezra 7:1-8:20, 1 Corinthians 4, Psalms 10:1-12, Proverbs 20:28-30

What God said to me – You’ve heard the saying, “his heart was set on . . .  ‘ – it could be anything from taking a certain trip to going to a game to buying a specific pair of shoes or a myriad of other things or activities or behaviors.  The problem with this is the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.  You can’t even know your own heart.  If you want to walk in a manner worthy of your calling and please Me then you can’t let your heart set your desires, you have got to set your heart, not the other way around.  Look at the example of Ezra – he set his heart to study My word and to practice it and to teach it.  He had to be purposeful and disciplined to do it.  It is not easy to set your mind on things above and not on earthly things.  It is not easy to set your mind on spiritual things and not on fleshly things.  When My Son, Jesus, was nearing the end of His earthly ministry, He set His face toward Jerusalem determined to follow My plan.  You need this time with Me to help you remain steadfast.  When you slack off or neglect this time it is easy to relinquish control and allow your heart to lead rather than My Spirit.  Set your heart and your mind and your face toward Me.