We Are Hardest on Ourselves

Encouragement came when I needed it and I didn't even know that is what I needed. As I was reading the chapter about Prayer of Tears in Richard J Foster's book Prayer-Finding the Heart's True Home, I found  myself in tears from the words he wrote. Here is a little excerpt:
Be encouraged by the observation of Thomas a Kempis that "habit overcomes habit." You are building new habits of prayer, and patient, kind, firm persistence is what you need with yourself.
Tears came as I read these words. I had been disillusioned and down on myself for my seeming inability to stop and prayer, to go to Him, to rely completely on Him. I was being too critical of myself, not forgiving myself for my humanity but these words brought a peace to my soul. It's okay. I am a sinner, I am human, I am not perfect but I can overcome because I have Jesus on my side. But, that is a life-long pursuit that will not be fully achieved. I can only keep striving to overcome the bad habits with the good ones, to rely and trust in my Father. It is with patience and kindness towards myself that I can continue to be persistent and keep moving forward and growing into being more Christ-like.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 260

A car doesn’t just go into a car wash on its own. The driver has to acknowledge that the car is dirty and needs to be washed. Like the car, we have to acknowledge we are dirty, we are sinners then we have to make the choice to go to the car wash, go to the Lord or do we keep on driving our car and hope the rain will come and wash it clean or that our good deeds will make up for our sins. When we take our cars to the car wash, we are letting the light of God shine fully upon us which shows us completely. All the dirt, mud, bird poop that has accumulated on our car is exposed. But Jesus will wash all that away. So our car goes through the car wash and comes out clean but not perfect. For us that is done with prayer, study, worship and fellowship. These things are polishing the car, vacuuming the interior and dusting the inside so it can be like new. And like our cars, our souls will need to be taken to Jesus to keep us clean. Are you driving around with a dirty car that now has the words written in the dirt “wash me”? Let the love of God shine upon your soul without fear or shame and be cleansed of your sin so you can fully enjoy the blessing of freedom and fellowship with our Holy God.

1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another , and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 17

The next part of the phrase in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13 is “it (love) keeps no record of wrongs”. I keep thinking of a judge looking at a list of crimes with the defendant standing before him. I hope that there aren’t people out there like that who hold our sins over us but we are only human. I don’t necessarily think that it’s that you remember the sins but that those wrongs are still affecting you in a negative way especially towards the sinner. Sins aren’t going to be erased from our memories but with the Holy Spirit we can erase the negative affects through grace and mercy.

If you harbor any memories of sins against you that bring a bad taste to your mouth, perhaps it is time for some Holy Spirit mouthwash. Let the Holy Spirit help you to have mercy and grace for those who have sinned against you. And as Jesus tells us, it is not about the number of times we forgive someone but that we do.

Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 39

Have you read the parables of the lost lately. They are in Matthew chapter 15. Jesus gave us the parables of the lost sheep, the woman with the lost coin and the more well known one the parable of the lost son. His point in all of these is how joyful God is over just ONE sinner repenting. According to what I found on the internet at there are over 7 billion people on the earth and that number will by their estimates double in this century we are in. God wants all of us and will rejoice even if it were just one. I lost my first two letter pins and was very sad when I found one pin backing found on a clothing item that had been washed. I didn't yet know which pin it was until I started really looking for the other pin and found it on another piece of clothing I had thankfully hung back up and not thrown in the laundry. My "C" pin was saved from the washing machine but my "A" pin is lost forever. I can replace it but it won't be the same. I was totally thrilled to find my "C" pin and wore it that day even though it was in my "P" month.

I am praising God for helping me find something I lost and although the first "A" pin is lost forever I know that God will help me to find something good within the loss.
Matthew 15:6 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.