Today's Influence:
Hosea 14 (NLT):
1-2: Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises."
4: The Lord says, "Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever."
9: Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
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Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord, I confess that my walk with you has wandered and I have found myself too often in the wilderness from my own sin. I know now that even there, in the midst of my own exile, you were my comfort and my salvation. Lord, I thank you for forgiving my sins and I beg you to open my eyes to your acts of graciousness within my life. Heal me of my faithlessness in times of doubt, and remind me of your unfailing love, that I may walk in the paths you set before me as your daughter, full of the righteousness placed within me through your son Jesus Christ. Give me wisdom and discernment to follow your calling for my life. I praise you, Lord, for your righteousness, justice, unfailing love, and compassion.
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My Story:
I spent the first part of my adult life believing in a distant, disciplining God, rather than a personal, loving God. While I did not purposefully place myself in a sinful exile, I was unaware that there could truly be a personal communion with God outside of following the traditional Christian checklist of things to do or not to do. This personal legalism quickly grew tiring and I had no connection with God beneath the surface of praying when things got really bad - while not actually having any faith that the prayers would change anything. Doubt in His love and personal affection for me, as His daughter.
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Your Turn:
In times of weakness, the devil loves to play off of our insecurities, quickly reminding us that we have sinned and convincing us that God will lose patience with us for our failures or our own faithlessness. The truth is, God never loses faith for us. He never lacks compassion or gives up on chasing after us with His unfailing love and ultimate grace. Nothing we ever have done - or could ever do - will ever be enough to separate us from Him.
Have there been times in your own life when you placed yourself in exile from God, believing that somehow your sins were greater than His forgiveness? Or maybe that He was too distant to truly love you and show you the grace and mercy you so desperately needed? What trials have you endured during wilderness periods that have ultimately brought you closer to God or revealed His plans for your life? Share in the comments.
Today's Influence:
Ezekiel 33:11, 18-20 (NLT excerpts):
(11) ...I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
(18-20) For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die. But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live... ...I judge each of you according to your deeds.
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Today's Prayer:
Lord, your Holy Word says time and time again that if we repent and turn from our sins then you will show us mercy and we will live. That our past sins will be forgotten so long as we repent and do what is just and right. I pray to you now that you help me and those around me to see our wicked ways and to turn from them. Help us to be righteous and do what is just and good according to your laws, not those of man. Help us to show others mercy and forgiveness so they may learn of your grace through our actions toward them. Help keep us from slipping into ignorance, arrogance, and pride - so that we may continue to heed your warnings and follow your commands, acting in ways that honor and please you.
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My Story:
We all have problems keeping away from sin, due to our sinful nature since the fall. I find that the more I try to follow God's commands for actions that are just and right, the more I fight that part of me that wants "fairness" rather than "justice". While God demands that the wicked be punished, He also commands us to be the watchmen and warn them of their wicked ways, so they might turn back toward Him. God's Word is full of reminders of His unending pursuit of our hearts. On the days I seek fairness, I find my own pride getting in the way of God's quest to win my souls. How unfortunate that I'm fighting against God and getting in His way!
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Your Turn:
Do you find your own quest for fairness blocking the path to justice? How do you heed God's commands for us to help lead the wicked away from their evil ways and back towards God's open arms? Share in the comments.
Today's Influence:
Ezekiel 18:19-32 (NLT excerpts):
(20-22) ...The child will not be punished for the parent's sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
(24) However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.
(27-28) And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins...
(30-32) Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn away from your sins. Don't let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!
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Today's Prayer:
Lord, I pray that you help me to become righteous in your eyes. Give me the courage to turn away from my sins, and the wisdom and strength to obey your decrees and do what is just and right. Forgive me of my sins and show me how to live so I may honor lead.
Lead me away from my rebellious nature so I may have a new heart and a new spirit through you, dear God. Lord, I praise you for your mercy, and I repent of my wrongdoings. Show me the path you have laid out before me, that I might follow it and honor you, Lord.
God, how grateful I am that my children will not be punished for my sins. Please help me to guide them to follow your ways, so that they may do what is just and live in honor of your righteousness. I ask you to show them their rebellion and their sins, so they may repent and turn back to you if they stray. Thank you, God.
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My Story:
The sins I committed in my wilderness years are far too many to count. Thank God that those things are no longer held against me. Nor are they held against my children, who are given a fresh slate upon which to write their own behaviors. While I can not keep them from rebelling and choosing the same sins that I have given in to, I can encourage them to pursue a state of righteousness and to show repentance, asking God for forgiveness when they do fall short of His teachings.
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Your Turn:
When was the last time you thanked God that our sins are not passed on to our children, or that we don't inherit the sins of our parents? Are you struggling with rebellion when it comes to following God in some area of your life? Share in the comments.
