I began to think about heaven. The longer we walk on our journey with the Lord, the more glimpses of heaven we see. The more familiar heaven becomes to us. I often think about what heaven might be like, pearly gates, golden paths, singing praises to our Lord, healing, perfection, and many more things. But until this moment in the car ride home, I never thought of heaven being comforting. This brings about a whole new perspective of heaven for me. When I’ve fulfilled my calling here on earth and my time is up, I look forward to all the wonders that heaven has in store. I look forward to all the promises the Bible holds for us when we arrive. Now though, more than anything, I look forward to feeling that comfort of my eternal home. I know how comforting it is to be back to my earthly home, I can hardly imagine the comfort we will all feel as we enter our kingdom home! I hope this brings for you a new way of looking at things. I truly believe that heaven is our home, the place where we were made for, where nothing will hold us back and where the longings of the deepest part of our souls can live freely. This journey we are all on is leading us home. Stay the course, follow the path, and head home!
Monday, January 13, 2014
OBX 2011: Home
As much as we enjoyed the beach, after the week was up, we were ready to come back home. There is such comfort in coming home when you’ve been away for an extended time. As we were driving along, the scenery gradually began to change. We were getting close when Randy said “you can see hills!” The closer to home we got, the more hills we saw. As we drove along things just kept getting more familiar. Then the smell of the country air! People who live in the city usually hate the smell (and they may not even know what I’m talking about!) but for those of us who live in the country, it means we’re close to home! After a long day in the car, we finally made it! Home welcomed us with a beautiful garden and a wagging tail! It was good to be there.
I began to think about heaven. The longer we walk on our journey with the Lord, the more glimpses of heaven we see. The more familiar heaven becomes to us. I often think about what heaven might be like, pearly gates, golden paths, singing praises to our Lord, healing, perfection, and many more things. But until this moment in the car ride home, I never thought of heaven being comforting. This brings about a whole new perspective of heaven for me. When I’ve fulfilled my calling here on earth and my time is up, I look forward to all the wonders that heaven has in store. I look forward to all the promises the Bible holds for us when we arrive. Now though, more than anything, I look forward to feeling that comfort of my eternal home. I know how comforting it is to be back to my earthly home, I can hardly imagine the comfort we will all feel as we enter our kingdom home! I hope this brings for you a new way of looking at things. I truly believe that heaven is our home, the place where we were made for, where nothing will hold us back and where the longings of the deepest part of our souls can live freely. This journey we are all on is leading us home. Stay the course, follow the path, and head home!
I began to think about heaven. The longer we walk on our journey with the Lord, the more glimpses of heaven we see. The more familiar heaven becomes to us. I often think about what heaven might be like, pearly gates, golden paths, singing praises to our Lord, healing, perfection, and many more things. But until this moment in the car ride home, I never thought of heaven being comforting. This brings about a whole new perspective of heaven for me. When I’ve fulfilled my calling here on earth and my time is up, I look forward to all the wonders that heaven has in store. I look forward to all the promises the Bible holds for us when we arrive. Now though, more than anything, I look forward to feeling that comfort of my eternal home. I know how comforting it is to be back to my earthly home, I can hardly imagine the comfort we will all feel as we enter our kingdom home! I hope this brings for you a new way of looking at things. I truly believe that heaven is our home, the place where we were made for, where nothing will hold us back and where the longings of the deepest part of our souls can live freely. This journey we are all on is leading us home. Stay the course, follow the path, and head home!
OBX 2011: Gods Gifts and Blessings
One of my favorite things to do at the beach was to watch the sunrise. Each morning Randy and I would head to the beach, I would pick shells and read my Bible while Randy would fish. It was when I could listen and hear God clearly. The birds were singing, the deer were grazing in the dunes, and the beach was empty of people. The dolphins were swimming close to shore and the pelicans were busy surfing the waves. His creation was pure and unaltered. I truly believe the mornings are God’s gift to those who seek Him. The mornings are when the earthly things (people, their busyness, traffic, distractions) are quiet and the beauty of God’s natural creation is most prevalent.
At the beginning of the week the sky was filled with haze, which hid the rising sun. Nevertheless it was a beautiful and quiet time. One morning, Randy told me to hurry and get ready because the sky was clear. We got to the beach just in time to see a beautiful, magnificent sunrise! I almost missed it because I didn’t want to wake up.
How often do we nearly miss God’s blessings and gifts to us because we aren’t spiritually awake? I wish everyone, even myself, could understand and see that there are blessings every day. In those hard days when trials lie among us, we have to allow God to guide us and put our trust in Him. On the good days, we must also make sure we are not losing sight of Him and His will for us. God has so much in store for us if our eyes and hearts remain open to Him!
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.”
Proverbs 8:17
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
At the beginning of the week the sky was filled with haze, which hid the rising sun. Nevertheless it was a beautiful and quiet time. One morning, Randy told me to hurry and get ready because the sky was clear. We got to the beach just in time to see a beautiful, magnificent sunrise! I almost missed it because I didn’t want to wake up.
How often do we nearly miss God’s blessings and gifts to us because we aren’t spiritually awake? I wish everyone, even myself, could understand and see that there are blessings every day. In those hard days when trials lie among us, we have to allow God to guide us and put our trust in Him. On the good days, we must also make sure we are not losing sight of Him and His will for us. God has so much in store for us if our eyes and hearts remain open to Him!
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.”
Proverbs 8:17
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
OBX 2011: Confident Obedience
After an 8 hour drive through the night, we finally arrived at the Outer Banks! This was the first time our kids had seen the ocean. Just like I do anytime a new experience lies ahead, I tried to prepare the kids. I told them what the ocean would look like. I also explained to them that although the water could and would be an exciting thing, it could also be very dangerous. Randy and I set rules for the kids to follow. One of the most important rules being to listen to Mommy and Daddy no matter what. I told Peyton “you are only allowed in the water with Mom or Dad, you may not go out with anyone else, no matter who they are.”
We arrived at the beach and changed into our swim suits. Peyton was ready first so his uncle Mike took him down. At the beach with them was Randy’s uncle Chris and aunt Sharon. Sharon and her girls, unaware of the rules we gave to Peyton, tried to coax him out into the water. Peyton kept telling them no so Sharon asked Chris to give it a try. Chris thought maybe Peyton was scared and that’s why he continually was saying no. Chris went to Peyton and assured him he would hold on to him and keep him safe. Then Peyton look at Chris and said “My Mommy told me not to listen to what anyone said but her and Dad.” At that point Chris new Peyton’s refusal wasn’t out of fear but instead from obedience! He told him he was doing the right thing and to go ahead and wait for his mom and dad.
When Chris and Sharon shared this story with Randy and I, I could not have been more proud of our little guy! Although I would have been perfectly fine with Chris and Sharon taking him out into the water, it amazes me that he stuck his ground and remembered exactly what I said. How easily he could have made the decision for himself, knowing they were adults, and listening to Chris assure his safety.
I began to wonder how we obey our Father. When He lays the ground rules, do we crack under pressure and decide for ourselves? This is the trap that Satan lays for us. He coaxes us along, if one method doesn’t work, he tries another. He assures us of our safety and comforts us. He tries to boost our confidence little by little until we feel safe to follow him, just like Uncle Chris did with Peyton. But Peyton knew what his confidence was set upon and it was upon his parents word.
My prayer for you, as well as myself, is that in those times when Satan is coaxing us along we remain strong. That we have great confidence and know exactly where it is set - upon the Rock, our Father‘s Word! When we stand our ground, our Father will come and take us under His wing. Just as Randy and I did to Peyton when we heard of his obedience, our Father will also praise us. Nothing makes a parent prouder than when their child stands his/her ground in confident obedience and I know our Father in Heaven feels the same way.
“If you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” Deuteronomy 28:1
OBX 2011: Walking Hand in Hand
It only lasted a few minutes but it was one of my favorite times on our vacation - Peyton and I were heading to the pool. It was a time when it was just me and my boy, walking hand in hand and simply talking. He was telling me all about some of his favorite times he had so far. We also talked a little about what the days ahead of us had in store. I said to him “you know Mommy loves you buddy?!” and he answered “Yes Mom! I love you too…Mommy, I love you more than God loves you!” I just smiled and told him that God loves us all very much. I believe children are the closest earthly examples of God. The Bible consistently reminds us to have a “child-like” faith. Think of how easily children forgive, love, trust and get along with one another. But even Peyton’s four year old heart can’t fathom God’s love.
“May Christ through your faith dwell in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God”
Ephesians 3:17-19
It was Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians that they would understand the width and length and height and depth of God’s love. It also tells us in these above verses that the way to come to know this is “through experience”. Are you allowing the experiences of your life reveal God’s love for you? It’s so easy for us to grumble as circumstances arise but I encourage you to look past the negative and seek God’s love. It is there if we are willing to look!
Someone recently shared with me a breakthrough in their own journey. God was speaking to this person loud and clear the words “I am special and God loves me.” He told me how much it had meant for him to realize that someone loved him no matter what. It meant so much to me to hear this. It was such an excellent reminder that we all need to know and experience the love God has for us. Too often we seek to fill this place in our hearts with earthly things. If you feel like God doesn’t love you or if you haven’t had a moment when you realize that His love for you is unfathomable, I encourage you to pray and seek His love and mercy.
One of the most important things we can do to better understand God’s love is, just like Peyton and I had with each other, to have those walks daily with our Father. Take time to walk hand in hand with Him. Tell Him of how your feeling, the good and the bad. Listen and allow Him to speak to your heart. Tell Him of how much you love Him and as you do, He will fill you with His love for you!
OBX 2011: Out Into the Deep
It was such a sweet moment to watch Pap and Gram make their way out into the ocean each day. They’d go hand in hand and work together to get a little farther than the time before. Gram was hesitant and a bit fearful of going too far but Pap was always right beside her encouraging her but allowing her to go at her own pace. Often times the waves would push them back a few steps and the waters would crash over them. Time and again they would stop and enjoy the scene around them: the waters, the sky and almost all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around them. I can’t imagine the love and gratitude they felt toward the Lord Who has blessed them so abundantly!
This is so much like our journey. As we go out into the deep and go farther on our walk with the Lord, He will always be there to hold our hands. It’s helpful to have a friend or group of friends as well to encourage us and make sure we don’t get stuck inside our comfort zone. We have to remember that when we step into the water, we are no longer bystanders on the shoreline. Once we’re in, we’re going to get hit by the waves (circumstances of this life) and some waves will be bigger than others. But we must keep moving forward and pushing ahead. We also have to take time to find the enjoyment in all of it. To stop and simply look around us to see all that God has blessed us with and thank and praise Him for it!
“It is God who sits above the circle (the horizon) of the earth. Life up your eyes on high and see!”
Isaiah 40: 22, 26
This is so much like our journey. As we go out into the deep and go farther on our walk with the Lord, He will always be there to hold our hands. It’s helpful to have a friend or group of friends as well to encourage us and make sure we don’t get stuck inside our comfort zone. We have to remember that when we step into the water, we are no longer bystanders on the shoreline. Once we’re in, we’re going to get hit by the waves (circumstances of this life) and some waves will be bigger than others. But we must keep moving forward and pushing ahead. We also have to take time to find the enjoyment in all of it. To stop and simply look around us to see all that God has blessed us with and thank and praise Him for it!
“It is God who sits above the circle (the horizon) of the earth. Life up your eyes on high and see!”
Isaiah 40: 22, 26
A Snake and a Rainbow
About a week ago my boys were outside in the evening. A snake slithered up our front walkway. We very rarely see a snake and the few times we have it has been a small gardener snake. This was not a garden snake, we’re unsure of what kind it was. Randy and the neighbor boy caught it and Randy chopped the head off of it. As a mother, of course I began the “mother process” of thinking: “is there any more snakes where that one came from?!” and on and on (mother’s will know exactly what I mean!). The next day Randy and I were talking about that experience. In the Bible, Satan takes on the form of a serpent. The serpent is the one who convinces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit which was the beginning of sin. “And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all animals and above every living thing of the field; upon your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel” Genesis 3:14-15 There is a lot to these verses because this is the beginning of the Promise of Christ’s victory over Satan.
Randy and I have been faithfully waiting for God to reveal to us and lead us into our “new normal” and the new thing He has planned. The ministry is doing a Beth Moore study on believing God. We believe there is something great in store just around the corner. This is a red flag for Satan to get to work. When he knows the Lord will be blessing someone, he goes directly to work to stop it before it happens. As Randy and I talked about that snake beside our doorstep. We truly believe it was a sign that the enemy is lurking and trying to get in the front door. He absolutely has been putting up a good fight but our hearts know that our God already has the victory! I am believing that God’s promises are true for our family and that we will have victory!
God speaks so often speaks clearly through the purity of a child. Peyton has been drawing rainbows consistently for days. They were beautiful in my mama eyes but I didn’t see or appreciate them for anything beyond that. A rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant and promise. “I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13. God was trying to get my attention and to speak over my struggles but I wasn’t listening. A few days ago, while struggling myself, I was emailing a friend who confided in me with troubles of her own. The kids were coloring behind me at their desk. I was praying for strength and victory for both of our families. God reminded me of a verse I read in my quiet time that morning, “I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state]. Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul…” Acts 2:25-26. As I typed those words to my friend Peyton came over and said “Mommy I want to hang this up…”. I turned to see what picture he had drawn and God got my attention this time. There he stood, my boy who God so often speaks to me through, holding his newest rainbow, a hole punched in the top of the paper and his toy snake’s tail tied through the hole.
The enemy’s been defeated, he was defeated through the death and resurrection of Christ! We can hold on to the promises of God. What is God promising you? What is God promising for your family? If you aren’t sure, pray about it. God promises many things throughout His Word. Pray for specific promises over yourself and your family. Then live in expectancy because the enemy has already been defeated! He has no ground over any area of your life. Declare your victory and step forward into your Promised Land!
“The thief come only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.
Randy and I have been faithfully waiting for God to reveal to us and lead us into our “new normal” and the new thing He has planned. The ministry is doing a Beth Moore study on believing God. We believe there is something great in store just around the corner. This is a red flag for Satan to get to work. When he knows the Lord will be blessing someone, he goes directly to work to stop it before it happens. As Randy and I talked about that snake beside our doorstep. We truly believe it was a sign that the enemy is lurking and trying to get in the front door. He absolutely has been putting up a good fight but our hearts know that our God already has the victory! I am believing that God’s promises are true for our family and that we will have victory!
God speaks so often speaks clearly through the purity of a child. Peyton has been drawing rainbows consistently for days. They were beautiful in my mama eyes but I didn’t see or appreciate them for anything beyond that. A rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant and promise. “I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13. God was trying to get my attention and to speak over my struggles but I wasn’t listening. A few days ago, while struggling myself, I was emailing a friend who confided in me with troubles of her own. The kids were coloring behind me at their desk. I was praying for strength and victory for both of our families. God reminded me of a verse I read in my quiet time that morning, “I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state]. Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul…” Acts 2:25-26. As I typed those words to my friend Peyton came over and said “Mommy I want to hang this up…”. I turned to see what picture he had drawn and God got my attention this time. There he stood, my boy who God so often speaks to me through, holding his newest rainbow, a hole punched in the top of the paper and his toy snake’s tail tied through the hole.
The enemy’s been defeated, he was defeated through the death and resurrection of Christ! We can hold on to the promises of God. What is God promising you? What is God promising for your family? If you aren’t sure, pray about it. God promises many things throughout His Word. Pray for specific promises over yourself and your family. Then live in expectancy because the enemy has already been defeated! He has no ground over any area of your life. Declare your victory and step forward into your Promised Land!
“The thief come only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.
Psalm 51: Forgiveness
This morning I found a beautiful Psalm. In Psalm 51, David finds himself at his “wits end” with his sin. He wrote this Psalm about a year after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Up until this point, David never really acknowledged his sins - adultery, murder, lying. Having never faced them meant he had never repented. Having never repented, he could not receive forgiveness.
What I love in this Psalm is that David not only faces the depth of his sins, but David knows the depth of God’s love and His compassion. Take time to read Psalm 51 and then join me to take a deeper look into a few of the verses.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Do you ever feel as though your sins are too much to be forgiven? It tells us here that God’s mercy is according to His unfailing love and according to His great compassion! This is what I love about David, he knew if it was according to himself that he was not worthy for such mercy, love and compassion. But David more importantly knew God and that his love was the only source of unfailing love and that His compassion was great. If you aren’t feeling worthy, know this - it is not according to you, it’s according to His unfailing love and His great compassion!
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge….You taught me wisdom in that secret place.”
Here David fully acknowledges his sins. He is finally facing the truth. The “secret place” David talks about is that inner being within us, more easily to understand as our “heart and soul”. The place that we can hide from the outside world but never from our God. He desires truth within us. We must be honest with Him and ourselves in order to receive forgiveness.
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity."
“I will be clean…I will be whiter than snow” Is this how you are accepting God’s mercy? Often times we ask for forgiveness from God but fail to forgive ourselves. We have to know that if we repent with honest hearts then we will be clean and whiter than snow. If you’re struggling with this, repeat to yourself “I am clean, I am whiter than snow, I will be joyful and glad.” You must stand on that truth in order to accept his mercy.
God sacrificed His Son so that we could be forgiven from our sins. It was a gift He freely gave us. When we don’t allow ourselves that forgiveness, we deny the cross. God sent His Son to die for us. Jesus carried that cross, was pierced by the thorns, felt the nails, and hung there to die on the cross so that we could be saved from our sins. That was a gift from God to each of us individually. When we don’t allow ourselves to accept His mercy, we aren’t accepting the gift of that precious life who died on Calvary. Allow that to sink in. God loves you, He loves you more than you love yourself. Accept His love, His mercy, His compassion, His forgiveness. It’s a gift freely given, it need not be earned or deserved.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
I know there are times when we feel God has given up on us. We feel we have done too much or not enough. If this is how you feel, you need to know that God will not cast Himself from you. He’s right there waiting for you to take His hand and walk with Him. When we accept His forgiveness, He will do the things mentioned in this verse. Pray these words of Truth over your life. Ask God to open your eyes to them. How does it feel knowing He will create in you a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit with you? How does if feel knowing He will not cast you from His presence? How does it feel knowing your joy will be restored and He will grant you with a willing spirit to sustain you?
I feel it is so important that we speak words of Truth over our lives. I encourage you to take these verses and use them as a prayer.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge…You taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Amen.”
You have no right to say that you’ve sinned too much, you haven’t done enough, you left it go for too long, etc. His mercy isn’t according to you, it is according to His love. His love sent Christ to die to save you from your sins. His mercy is not according to the amount of how worthy you are, it’s according to how worthy Christ is.
What I love in this Psalm is that David not only faces the depth of his sins, but David knows the depth of God’s love and His compassion. Take time to read Psalm 51 and then join me to take a deeper look into a few of the verses.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Do you ever feel as though your sins are too much to be forgiven? It tells us here that God’s mercy is according to His unfailing love and according to His great compassion! This is what I love about David, he knew if it was according to himself that he was not worthy for such mercy, love and compassion. But David more importantly knew God and that his love was the only source of unfailing love and that His compassion was great. If you aren’t feeling worthy, know this - it is not according to you, it’s according to His unfailing love and His great compassion!
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge….You taught me wisdom in that secret place.”
Here David fully acknowledges his sins. He is finally facing the truth. The “secret place” David talks about is that inner being within us, more easily to understand as our “heart and soul”. The place that we can hide from the outside world but never from our God. He desires truth within us. We must be honest with Him and ourselves in order to receive forgiveness.
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity."
“I will be clean…I will be whiter than snow” Is this how you are accepting God’s mercy? Often times we ask for forgiveness from God but fail to forgive ourselves. We have to know that if we repent with honest hearts then we will be clean and whiter than snow. If you’re struggling with this, repeat to yourself “I am clean, I am whiter than snow, I will be joyful and glad.” You must stand on that truth in order to accept his mercy.
God sacrificed His Son so that we could be forgiven from our sins. It was a gift He freely gave us. When we don’t allow ourselves that forgiveness, we deny the cross. God sent His Son to die for us. Jesus carried that cross, was pierced by the thorns, felt the nails, and hung there to die on the cross so that we could be saved from our sins. That was a gift from God to each of us individually. When we don’t allow ourselves to accept His mercy, we aren’t accepting the gift of that precious life who died on Calvary. Allow that to sink in. God loves you, He loves you more than you love yourself. Accept His love, His mercy, His compassion, His forgiveness. It’s a gift freely given, it need not be earned or deserved.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
I know there are times when we feel God has given up on us. We feel we have done too much or not enough. If this is how you feel, you need to know that God will not cast Himself from you. He’s right there waiting for you to take His hand and walk with Him. When we accept His forgiveness, He will do the things mentioned in this verse. Pray these words of Truth over your life. Ask God to open your eyes to them. How does it feel knowing He will create in you a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit with you? How does if feel knowing He will not cast you from His presence? How does it feel knowing your joy will be restored and He will grant you with a willing spirit to sustain you?
I feel it is so important that we speak words of Truth over our lives. I encourage you to take these verses and use them as a prayer.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge…You taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Amen.”
You have no right to say that you’ve sinned too much, you haven’t done enough, you left it go for too long, etc. His mercy isn’t according to you, it is according to His love. His love sent Christ to die to save you from your sins. His mercy is not according to the amount of how worthy you are, it’s according to how worthy Christ is.
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