Be Faithful

The world is a beautifully ugly place sometimes. It’s full of wonderful people, places and things but also runs rampant with a darkness that only Christ can light back up!

I don’t expect everyone to understand because each of us walk a different path on this earth. For the believer, I suppose they have a better understanding of the difference between a dark heart and one filled with the love & mercy of Christ.

This morning, I felt the strong pull to clear out my heart of smushed down hidden sin. That’s how the Holy Spirit works. Sadly, many of us are professional stuffers. We learn how to compartmentalize “junk” that doesn’t belong into cubbies of our heart and therefore….stack up unconfessed sin and yuck. For me, I had smoothed over a few things and tried really hard to move forward.

Not happening, folks.

God doesn’t let sin slide by. He holds it in high regard (not that He wants to punish us – but that He wants a RIGHT relationship with us!) and just like every sinner on this earth….He expects us to repent and receive the grace He longs to lavish upon us when we turn over what threatens to hold us hostage!

I confess:

I’m not okay. I’m broken. Ugly. Mean-spirited. UNFORGIVING. Full of jealousy. Resentful. Cruel. Vengeful. A jerk. Sad. Untrusting. Blind to my own sin. Gifted at pretending.

And I could go on.

Let me tell you what God says about me.

I am redeemed and forgiven by God’s grace. (Ephesians 1:7)

I am a child of God. (John 1:12)

I am greatly loved. (Romans 5:8)

I am called to be light. (Matthew 5:14a)

I am an over-comer. (Revelation 12:11)

I am rooted. (Colossians 2:7)

I am not my own. (1 Cor. 6:19)

I am a child of the MOST HIGH GOD and He loves me even when I fall short. How grateful I am that He doesn’t leave me as I am (or can be) stuck in a hole of unrepentant sin. He moves me, pierces my heart and opens my eyes to every ugly thing that doesn’t belong.

I won’t sugar-coat it though…. admitting sin is hard.

My prayer for you and for me is that the Holy Spirit would NOT leave us alone. It’s painful to say it, but I hope and pray that every ugly part of you and me would be brought right up to the surface of our lives. Giving us no choice but to RIGHT IT and right it NOW!

Repentance offers peace. Forgiveness frees us. Both giving it and asking for it.

I’ve had to face an ugly hurt with a friend today. I felt God whisper to me to get it right this morning and I did. The yuck between us was hindering my joy. Even knowing what I know about the situation, the Holy Spirit held me to a higher standard and I deserved it. I knew if I didn’t get it right (at least on my part) that I would never be at peace.

I apologized. I owned any part in the ugliness between us. Peace came over me almost instantly. Then, she responded. No grace offered, no acceptance of my apology. So, I learn a great lesson. Forgiveness isn’t for the other person (really) it’s for you/me.

God,

What a gift forgiveness is to me. Thank you for offering such grace to me over & over. Forgive me for the many ways I mishandle people and more in my life. Your mercy….is new every day.

Amen

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