My friends,
Can I just thank you? Last Friday I asked all of you to
share about some sensitive and very private concerns in your lives. When I was
writing that post I re-wrote it five different times and nearly deleted the
entire thing twice because I didn’t believe anyone would leave a comment. I’m
overwhelmed by your honest responses and moved by your courage to be
transparent.
Your comments and the emails I received were at times gut wrenching
in that some of you are struggling with some BIG stuff. Please know I prayed
for you. I prayed with tears. I am going to pray about how to reply and address
some of these issues. And I’m waiting for God to show me what issue to write
about for the magazine. So thank you.
Today I actually am compelled to write about something that
all of us deal with. Failure
Wednesday I joined a Bible study group at my church. This
study is unlike any other I’ve been a part of since I started Bible study years
ago. It’s completely simplistic and has already rocked my world. God is kinda
like that you know.
Wednesday we spent some time contemplating: My Identity in
Christ. Did you know that God’s Holy Word is filled with attribute and
attribute of who we are as believers? I read down the list and underlined those
attributes that I related to and there were many. When I went back to read the
list I was surprised by one that I did not think described me. And as
discussion moved along I came to realize that many others also struggle with
this: HOLY.. I don’t feel holy.
And reading your comments from Friday, I’m finding there’s a
vast number of us in the same boat.
I’m bringing this up because many of the comments from
Friday are about the same thing as well. For example this was a common issue
from Friday that a reader shared: Something that I have struggled with is that
my intimate relationship with my husband started prior to marriage, sometimes
it hard to see that God wants to bless a relationship that was started in sin.
Boy howdy do I understand this. And just so you know, I met
my husband in a bar in Vegas. He was supposed to be a one night stand. Ahem,
yep, I understand you completely.
How can a Holy God bless a marriage that started out as a
night of sex and was intended only to be that?
As I sat in our study on Wednesday I heard women pour out
the same question? How can God love me when I sin and do the same thing over
and over again? And just so you know, I’m in that boat as well. I’ve begged God
to heal me. Save me. Keep me from sinning. But over and over I choose to do
something I know God doesn’t want for me.
Okay, just keepin it real here.
One wise woman in our group spoke up. It was like watching
Titus 2 come to life in front of my very eyes. She shared with me a picture
from her years of teaching school.
“Lynn, you’ve seen a globe haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Now picture this in your mind. You are at the equator and
you start to travel north over this globe. You keep going north until you
arrive at the North Pole. Keep traveling and you start to move southward,
crossing the equator again, still traveling until you reach the South Pole. And
if you keep traveling you will again be heading north. Is that correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Now think about this. If you are on the globe once again at
the equator and you begin to circle the globe traveling east, you know what
happens?”
“No.”
“You will always be traveling east. You will never circle
around and travel west. NEVER.”
“What does God say about forgiveness? Our sins are as far as
the east is from the west. Is it any wonder that God used this analogy in His
Holy Word?”
I know I’ve heard this passage a million time but for some
reason the “school girl globe visual” allowed this truth to fall upon me with
fresh power.
God does not condemn us even if we struggle over and over
with the same thing. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great
is his love for those who fear him. God has forgiven me for starting my
marriage out in defiance of His will. In spite of the fact that we had sex,
lived together for a few months, married an atheist and a slew of other things
I can’t even remember.
But God…..
But our God is in the business for redemption. I’m living
proof that God can love a stupid blonde girl whose stood up to Him with fist
raised in defiance. I think I’m still living in defiance in areas of my life,
just like you. But God is gently loving me through my struggles and I know one
day I will find victory.
You are not a failure my friends. You were created the way
you are, imperfect, on purpose. And do you know why? Let God tell you Himself.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
Let us say: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Oh how I want Christ’s power in my life. I know you do too.
Forgive yourself and live in His promises. They aren’t for
someone else who is better than you or never sinned or started out their
marriage the right way. His promises are EXACTLY for us, sinners who are living
proof of redemption.
And now do me a favor, read these truths to yourself. Print
them out, memorize them and let them be the TRUTH that sets you free.
Repeat out loud and slowly: I AM …..
….Able to do all things -Philippians 4:13
…Accepted -Romans 15:7
..Adequate -2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB
.Beautiful -Song of Songs 1:15
Beloved -Deuteronomy 33:12
Bride -Revelation 21:9
Bold & Confident -Ephesians 3:12 NKJV
Chosen -Colossians 3:12
Dead to sin, alive to God -Romans 6:11
Delivered -2 Corinthians 1:9-10
Encouraged -2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Equipped -2 Timothy 3:17
Favored -Psalm 84:11
Friend of God -John 15:14-15
Hidden with Christ in God -Colossians 3:3
Holy – Hebrews 10:10
Inscribed on His palm -Isaiah 49:16 NKJV
Inseparable from His love -Romans 8:35
Joint heir with Christ -Romans 8:17 NKJV
Justified -1 Corinthians 6:11
Known -Psalm 139:1
Light of the world -Matthew 5:14
Made by Him -Psalm 100:3
New creation -2 Corinthians 5:17
Never forsaken -Hebrews 13:5
One with Him -John 17:23 NKJV
Overcomer -1 John 5:4-5
Perfect & complete -James 1:2-4 NKJV
Prayed for -Romans 8:27
Qualified to share His inheritance -Colossians 1:12
Redeemed -Galatians 3:13
Renewed -2 Corinthians 4:16
Salt of the earth -Matthew 5:13
Soldier -2 Timothy 2:3-4
Spiritually minded -Romans 8:6
Temple of the Holy Spirit -1 Corinthians 6:19
Treasured -Psalm 83:3
Under no condemnation -Romans 6:5
Valued -Matthew 6:26
Victorious -1 Corinthians 15:57
Washed, sanctified, justified -1 Corinthians 6:11
His witness -Acts 1:8
Yielded to God -Romans 6:13
Which one, two or more of these do you need to make real in
your soul today. Tell me and I will pray these promises over you. Hugs, Lynn
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