I absolutely love the fact that, as I spend time reading the Bible, God speaks to me in some form or fashion. Whether it's to thump me on the head and remind me of what I should be doing (but often times, have not been doing), or to remind me of God's riches (His love, mercy, and grace), I get some sort of message sent directly from heaven to my heart.
Today, it's a little of both. I read through Hosea 14 this morning. This chapter is all about returning to God - the very story for the backslidden Christian. Unfortunately, I've been there. I knew what God wanted from me when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. For a while, I was on fire for God. However, it's remarkably easy for sin to creep back into your life - and for pride to keep you from acknowledging that sin. Having that sin, as one writer puts it, allows us to gradually drift away from God. It causes us to lose our desire to spend time in the Bible or in prayer, and in doing so, we forget our purpose: to glorify Him in all we do and say.
Hindsight, unfortunately, is 20/20. I can see clearly now (and yes, now, I'm humming that tune in my head! LOL) the things that I did that drove me farther from God. It's the small decisions that made a big (NEGATIVE) impact on my relationship with Christ. In fact, it drove me away from Him. I am also reminded of sin I still struggle with daily - my attitude and words, my temper. However (I am glad that there's a "however" here), God is always willing to forgive and He accepts me back with open arms when I asked Him for forgiveness. He loves us even when we don't love ourselves that much. Our unworthiness makes His grace and mercy that much more precious - and we don't have to do anything to earn it. When our load is to heavy or the guilt of our sin too much to bear, God is there to relieve us. His word reminds us that He loves us anyway, just as we are.
God, thank you so much for loving me freely. I don't have to do anything to make you love me - you just do. You know my imperfections and my struggles and yet your arms are still open to me. Thank you for the mercy and grace you show me daily. Father, please forgive me for my sin and help me as I go throughout this day to remember the love you offer and to show that to others. Help me to not sin in anger and to keep my tongue in check. Help me teach my children daily about your love and guide them to you. Grant me patience, Lord, as I go through our daily routine - I get tired and snap sometimes. Let me be mindful in what I do and say so that I set a good example for them to follow. Help me support my husband and build him up. Guide him, Lord, as the head of our family. Thank you for giving me him as my mate in life - I can see in the little things of our relationship that you had him planned for me from the start.
Heavenly Father, please be with my friend who is battling cancer and thank you for already watching over her as she recovers from surgery. Lord, I ask that you also be with another friend who has a daughter undergoing tests for a tumor they found on her kidney. I pray that it's benign, but if not, I pray for healing for that little girl and for peace for her parents as they undergo this scary journey.
I pray for my church, that you continue to guide me in what I need to do as a member and that you be with those who lead us. I pray that you allow our church to grow and that we reach others for you. Thank you for leading us to West Ridge and for the people we have met so far.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Well, my children are up and at 'em, so I need to go and tend to them before they tear the house down! There's already some sort of emergency involving a spider that I must go squish with a shoe!
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