Turning Hearts (1 Kings 11:4) by Joshua Bachman

13 Feb Turning Hearts (1 Kings 11:4) by Joshua Bachman

“When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart was not entirely with the LORD, his God, as the heart of his father David had been.” ~ 1 Kings 11:4 (full readings)

Joshua’s Reflections:  Solomon’s wives turned his heart to strange gods.  Solomon’s affections for those who did not uphold God’s law deformed his conscience.  Who are we most eager to please and what false gods do they turn our hearts towards?  Who or what do we allow to influence our conscience most strongly?  These influences form our conscience, for good or bad.   Subtle influences may not immediately turn us away from remembering the unborn, but they can color our conscience gradually.  Perhaps we may find ourselves a bit hesitant to offer information about the local pro-life crisis pregnancy center because of who is present.  Or perhaps we find it harder and harder to disagree when abortion is offered as the “best solution” to a difficult crisis pregnancy situation played out on television or in the life of a loved one.  Who are we trying to please?  To who or what have we lost our heart?  Seek God and be wary of affections and influences that could gradually undermine a well-formed conscience.
* Joshua Bachman and his wife, Lindsey, practice law in St. Joseph, Missouri. They are regular joggers who can often be seen in area races sporting their LIFE Runners gear.

Faith Challenge:  Properly form your conscience every day through at least a few pages of reading and a few minutes of prayer so as to keep your heart turned toward God and away from the “strange gods” you encounter every day.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Saint Catherine de Ricci

Faith Quote:  “In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice.” ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1785

Through Christ our Lord,
Joshua Bachman
Jer 1:5