a shout out to God

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”  I love how the Scripture encourages me each and every day. But maybe not as popular is how the Scriptures correct us each and every day, as well.  I have needed a lot of correction lately.  It seems the more we draw near to God, the brighter His light becomes, and the more our own ‘dark spots’ are seen.  I have taught teens the following truth many times, including my own children.  Confession is a privilege, it is a joy, it is an honor.  God brings to mind our sins, so we can confess them, be forgiven, freed, and walk away clean.  God is not out to make us feel horrible about ourselves, or to condemn us, quite the opposite, actually.   “Therefore, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Romans 8:1).  God’s desire is to forgive us and cleanse us, not condemn us.  He wants to free us from “the sin which so easily entangles us, so that we can run the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)  Now I have had to be corrected a lot lately, by God, like I said.  Gunk just seems to keep coming up to the surface.  I used to run from these things, or try to rationalize them, or cover them up.  But after years of walking with the Lord, I have learned to say, “Father-God, where are these bad thoughts coming from?  What is the root inside, that is causing me to be envious, or resentful or bitter or judgmental or ___________?  You fill in the blank for yourself.

I am telling you right now, that this happens to me virtually everyday.  Just last Sunday at church, right before service, I was shut down.  Full of fear and self-protection.  Here I was, about to go up there, and share a special song that God had given me to write with my husband, Bruce, and the “gunk” was rising to the surface inside me, again.  I immediately bowed my head and asked God to bring it out and show me where it was coming from.  He did, immediately, reveal where my attitude was wrong, and I was able to confess my sin, ask His forgiveness, right then and there.  I sensed His cleansing of my soul, His forgiveness, and I was able to sing to God with a clean heart, instead of a divided one.

So Here’s a shout out to God for the privilege of Confession, of Repentance, and restoration.  Thank You, God, for loving me too much, to let me remain in the “sin which so easily trips me up.”

Thank You, Jesus, for the price you paid, the road you walked, the love you gave, to make this forgiveness possible.

Thank You Holy Spirit for revealing the ways I need to grow, daily, Moment by moment, making me more and more like Christ.  Mmmmmmmmm, to breathe the sweet air of forgiveness and freedom from sin.

We praise you, Dearest God, and Give you our all.  Amen