178 - "Put Some Iron in my Soul" 2 Chronicles 1-2

Huram-abi knew how to work with iron, stone, gold, silver, bronze, wood.  He could do it all---engravings.  But all I can think of this day is that I want some iron in my soul.  I'm far too flappable, malleable, slippery, flacid.  The Holy Spirit knows how to put that iron in my soul.  

PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 119: 175 
Invigorate my soul , O God, 
so I can praise You well, 
use Your Decrees to put iron in my soul.  Chronicles 2:2 - Solomon assigned seventy thousand common laborers, eighty thousand to work the quarries in the mountains, and thirty-six hundred foremen to manage the workforce, plus he fed them all.  153,000 workers to lead.  Unbelievable.  A stunning spectacular structure, a showcase for Sheer Wonder!  And even in Solomon's splendor like never seen before, there still is a satisfaction only God can provide.    "God was awakening their appetite for the glory yet to come." 66 LL. 

I love Solomon's humility in 2 Chronicles 2:6 - "And me, who am I to think I can build a house adequate for God... .  Yet, Solomon embraced the command.  I'm still wrestling through the what is God's part, what is our part thing.  I think I don't think deeply enough, though.  I'm seeing that my selfishness is where I need to look more deeply, my motives for doing 'my part.'  Why am  I so driven to do the work of the ministry?  Why am I so frenetic in my goals to live right?  

The opening paragraph of the 2 Chronicles chapter in 66 LL speaks to me: 
"No matter what happens in our lives---- tornadoes, divorce, cancer, whatever----You want me to think more about how I'm relating to You and others than about how to get my life together.  And you want me to look deep inside, into my motives, to see if I'm really looking out for myself when I think I'm living for You."  I wonder if when I'm stuck on considering what is my part, if I'm really saying--- I'm concerned about getting my life together.  I've had a few too many people step on my toes in my lifetime.  Am I more concerned about what's happened to me than my own selfishness?  May we all deal with the deep issues God graciously brings to our minds this day, this week.  Romans 2:4 says it's the Kindness of our God that brings us to repentance.  Repentant Worship in the Temple.