Purify and refine my heart, O God . ..

Malachi 3:1-6 & Luke 1:57-66
 
When Zechariah’s protests to the Lord’s way for his life were silenced for nine months while his son John the Baptist was in the womb,  his heart was purified and refined to desire only God’s will for himself, his wife Elizabeth and their child. When he named his son, he proclaimed the prophecy given him by the angel, set straight all the family, friends and neighbors, who wanted to follow other ideas,and pronounced the truth “God is gracious!” (the meaning of  John). Am I open to having my heart so purified and refined that I like Zechariah rejoice in God’s will alone? Purify and refine my heart, O God.  

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (Psalm 25)
 
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