All about me.  The clothes that I wear, the food that I eat the entertainment I crave.  Have I ever stopped for a moment and truly conceived of what grace goes into keeping me alive?  How valuable each breath, each thought, each moment I could have spent for God’s purposes.  I’m palsied, not by inaction, but by Wrong Action.  The things I crave, the things I must do for me are my impediments.  My self-spoiling behavior is what keeps me from the King.  Of all of the despicable actions that I have taken, being entirely consumed by what I want will always be the worst.  The absolute worst thing about all of it is when I get myself in trouble catering to my endless, self-service how I can justifiably call out the name of God for assistance.  I know that He will be there when I do, but man isn’t that the most grotesque way to use the Lord?  Will He ever be able to depend upon my words or my actions?  Or is He guaranteed in one thing, that I will always take the wrong action when the choice is between what I want and what He wants of me or for me?

Lord, I know that the answers to this issue are all painful.  Painful in seeing myself clearly each time that I cannot fill my endless desire to fulfill my wants.  Painful each time that I see the sin I have remaining internally that undermines my relationship with you and the things that I wish to accomplish in this life for Your Kingdom.  Painful when you discipline me, as You will, for going astray from You in my conceit and self worship.  Painful to those around me as I take from them to give to myself.  Painful in that seeing myself in truth is the only way to coming to You in contrition and begging You to remove this self-focused behavior.

I can barely look upon myself, seeing how selfish I remain although sometimes I feel that I have risen above.  Me and double me and then again me.  Teach me Father, it is obvious this is one I will not get by myself.  Left alone to my own direction and desires I am doomed to continuous, self-interest.  In panic I look around for Your face and all I behold is my own.  My thoughts, my lips and my hands are unclean.  Maybe some day I will be worthy of being in Your presence, but this is not that day.  Today, like many others I am saddened to say, I was not ready to meet the Lord in the air.  Praise Your Holy name, My God, My Savior, My Teacher, My Friend, My King.  I am reminded once again of the immeasurable gift of Your forgiveness for my sin and the price that You personally paid for my salvation.  I once again ask for mercy that I don’t deserve and grace that I should not possess and ask Your patience and understanding of my weakness.  Please grant me a day when I don’t think of myself but rather serve Your children, unselfishly, out of love for You.  In Jesus’ name.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/hottest-christian-book-in-the-land-gets-hotter/  Read this article, America’s greatest need is to have that 2Chronicles 7:14 moment and our leaders don’t even have the Biblical understanding to comprehend Isaiah’s warning.