Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3

God has opened the door for me to have some of the best conversations lately.  I was talking to a guy that had been saved and baptized two years ago.  Since then, he has really struggled with his faith in God and struggled with sin.  He has straight up told me that sex and drugs are his biggest deterrents.  I asked him if he believed those things were wrong, he said, “no.”  I asked him if God would want him doing those things, he said, “no.”  Then, we talked about how if Jesus is Lord of our lives, then He calls the shots and they are wrong.

Our conversation shifted into how anybody actually changes.  He showed me a picture of some popular half clothed celebrity and asked me if I would cheat on my wife with this woman given the opportunity.  I told him, “no.”  He was incredulous.  “There is no way that you could resist.”  I said, “if I was all about myself, I couldn’t.  But I would have to hurt God, my wife, and my children to sin in this way.   I just couldn’t do it.”  He went on to say, “Nothing like that is going to happen anyway.”  I said, “It has happened before, and it is recorded in the Bible.”  “No way,” he said.  I went on to read for him Genesis 39:1-20.

It all came down to one simple truth.  He had his sins to deal with, and I certainly had mine.  I asked him, “Could you pray this prayer?”

Lord, I don’t even come close to living by Your standards.  The truth is, I want to sin.  I even like sin.  Would You change my heart over time so that I don’t even want to sin anymore?  Could You make it so that I change to look more and more like You as the years go by?  

He said, “I haven’t prayed in a long time . . . but I could pray that.”  

Then I showed him one last verse, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  We talked for just a little more about how God gives us access to His Kingdom simply by admitting that there is no way we could do it on our own.

Generally, I’m not in the business of airing conversations that are between me and someone else.  But I believe this is a real key to unlocking some real power.  This is a prayer that I wish I had been taught as a young Christian.  Instead of hiding from God all the time and thinking He was mad at me because I sinned, I might have run to Him and asked for help. 

Lord, let this little devotional be read by the right people.  I pray that anyone who reads this will bring their sin to You and not hide it from You.  Search our hearts, Lord and help us eliminate any wicked way.  Make us a pure and spotless bride.  Make us ready to meet You.  Amen