Two men go into the same place of worship and leave very different people; when a heart refuses to defend itself and instead bows in honest humility, guilt is exposed to God’s light and grace, and life is returned — not because of a better performance but because righteousness is received, not earned. [06:08]
Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Reflection: Name one area today where your instinct is to defend or compare; pray, "God, be merciful to me," confess that defensiveness to God, and tell one trusted person what you confessed before the end of the day so they can pray with you and hold you accountable.
The real work of change starts in the heart — not merely in better behavior or more religious activity, but in asking God to renew and clean the control room of life so desires, motives, and decisions are reformed from the inside out. [02:50]
Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Reflection: Set aside ten minutes today to pray Psalm 51:10 aloud; listen for the first conviction or gentle nudge the Spirit brings, write it down, and commit to one concrete step toward that change before tomorrow evening.
The presence of God does not come to shame or expose for condemnation but to break open the closed, messy places, to set people free from shame, to reveal what needs healing, and to restore life as the Spirit displaces the sludge beneath the surface. [02:38]
2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Reflection: Identify one recurring feeling (anger, anxiety, comparison) that rises up in pressure or community; spend five minutes naming it honestly to God and ask the Spirit for one daily habit or small action that would push that feeling back this week, then tell a friend what you will do.
Even when failure feels final, God’s mercy gives a daily get-up moment — the kingdom repeatedly restores those who humble themselves, clothes them in righteousness, and sends them back into relationship and community renewed and able to live again. [29:38]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Reflection: Tomorrow morning, speak aloud "His mercies are new every morning," forgive yourself for yesterday's failure, and take one symbolic step to release it (write it down and tear it up or burn it safely) so you can move into the day free to act in grace.
Healing of the heart usually moves in four rhythms: courage to name what’s wrong, humility to take it seriously, wisdom to bring it into the right place (the presence of God and wise counsel), and faith to get up and live differently; these are practical, repeatable steps toward restoration. [14:37]
James 4:6-10 (ESV)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Reflection: Choose one of the four movements now — courage, humility, wisdom, or faith — and take a single concrete action today: courage — ask one person for honest feedback; humility — confess one failing to God and one trusted friend; wisdom — seek counsel or prayer from a wise believer about one issue; faith — act on one step you’ve been avoiding; decide which you will do and when, then do it.
“How’s your heart?” That old question from my grandad still cuts through the noise. We’ve been talking about being a people of God’s presence, and today I pressed into the heart as Scripture defines it—not just emotions, but the control room of our lives. That’s the place where our desires, decisions, motives, and imagination live—but also where the sludge collects: anger, insecurity, anxiety, comparison. Those things aren’t the enemy; they’re signals, invitations for Jesus to meet us where it’s tender or tangled. God’s presence doesn’t just change the atmosphere; it changes us, breaking open what has grown hard so we can be free.
We sat with Jesus’ parable in Luke 18. Two people walked into the temple. One left exactly the same; the other walked home justified and exalted. The difference wasn’t location or liturgy; it was posture. The Pharisee presented his résumé; the tax collector brought his reality. He didn’t try to achieve righteousness; he received it. Grace lifts the one who drops the act. This is why we pray, “Create in me a clean heart,” and why we expect to leave different: the presence of God restores what sin, shame, and pride have strangled.
I spoke about the ways the sludge rises: feelings, feedback, and fallout. Under pressure or in close community, our reactions expose what still needs healing. We can ignore it, defend ourselves, and manage appearances—or we can walk the path of transformation. I outlined four movements that keep us honest and healthy: courage to admit what’s wrong, humility to take it seriously (without hiding behind comparison), wisdom to bring it into God’s presence rather than echo chambers, and faith to get up and go home different.
I told some of my own stories—apologising when I didn’t want to, being called out for entitlement, confessing double life as a 21-year-old—and how each time, the Lord met me, humbled me, and gave me rest and restoration. The enemy tempts us with two lies: “You’ve done nothing wrong” and “You’ve done too much wrong.” Jesus charts a narrow path between denial and despair. In him, mercy is new every morning. So come home. Come honest. Come undefended. The one who justified the tax collector still clothes people in righteousness and lifts those who bow low. Freedom from the past, purpose in the present, and hope for the future—that’s what his presence does.
- Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) — 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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