Hello friends – This is the day two of a five day series of heart reflections on the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). You can read previous posts and catch up here.

Join me as I unpack simple yet profound truths, I’m discovering as I ponder the feast this year.

Each day is broken into three short sections:
A simple concept to consider with Holy Spirit.
An action step
A verse to ponder/pray.

---

Day 2 – Reflect:
After the Maccabees won the battles over Jerusalem, the people had to inventory the damages. I imagine they slowly walked through the streets, caring for the wounded, burying the dead. They picked up clay pots and signs that had been crushed under the foot of soldiers and horses. As they surveyed the loss of their families and community, defilement of the temple was the most devastating.

As I reflect on the past few months and even the year, I survey my own heartland with Jesus. I see places of discouragement or weariness, places I’ve wasted time. I observe areas where I’ve tolerated small things that resemble the culture around me and not the culture of heaven… (a television show, a comment or conversation for a good chuckle, an emotion I feel entitled to have but that I haven’t taken to Jesus, etc.) 

I invite you to ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you the spaces of your life and heartland where your defenses are down. The areas where culture, religion, or outside relationships, etc vie for your attention.

Friend, these may be areas that need to be cleansed in your heartland and temple. Remember these areas might seem as innocuous as a television show or be as deeply rooted as an addiction to food, pornography or a substance – and anything in between.

Listen carefully, with joy – knowing the heart of Jesus is to heal and to restore you. Prayerfully consider the ways your sensitivity to God’s heart has been negatively impacted by the invasion of the culture.

Act: Take time and ponder with Him throughout the day. Write down or record what He reveals. Thank God for this time together. Remember His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Ponder: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

---

I look forward to joining you on this journey of dedication… I’ll meet you back here, tomorrow. 

Need prayer? Or help working through the debris you find in your heart? Email me! Let’s set up a time to pray together.