Sometimes when thoughts continue to surface a lot I just have to get them down on paper somewhere and that is one of the reasons for this blog. This topic has been on my mind and I take that as indication that there is someone out there also thinking about these things that may be inspired in some way by reading my thoughts. So here we go again!!
I don't know how many times I have been asked to pray for someone, be there for someone in great distress all the while thinking to myself "if only you would be honest with yourself and God you probably would not be in this place" and yet knowing that if I were to say something like that it would not be received in the spirit I would want to give it. Often these people tell me "I've prayed and prayed and nothing happens. Nothing is going the way it should. Nothing helps!" I have experienced this in my own life too! I have discovered that God requires me to deal with sin in my life if I want to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him.
A devotional I read talked about King David in Psalm 66:18-19 who said...."If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened....." NLT. The article addresses the problem of willful sin in our lives and that a holy God can not disregard that. It is impossible to have a truly intimate relationship with God unless we are willing to be absolutely honest with Him, and pure in our hearts, thoughts, and actions. Sin has to be acknowledged and dealt with if we want God to answer our prayers. He loves us so much and wants to clean us up, forgive us, and enjoy a relationship with us. But as the article stated "God does not wink at sin!" Let us not be deceived into thinking that we can indulge in sin in one area of our life and still have an open honest walk with God.
In order to know what God's standards are we need knowledge which comes from searching the Scriptures..."Rightly dividing the Word of Truth" 2 Tim. 2:15. That means using God's Word as our absolute authority; not what society would like us to believe. God's instructions for us are really straight forward and are not suggestions. He doesn't say "You know people, maybe it's not that nice to commit murder. I wish you wouldn't do it." In Ex. 20:17 He says "You must not murder". God does not say "Aw people, it's probably not that great of an idea to commit adultery unless you just don't get your needs met in your marriage. In that case, well, maybe I could look the other way". He says "You must not commit adultery". That's in Exodus also and of course the Bible is full of God's instructions on how to live and conduct ourselves. I think the amazing thing about God's instructions to us is that He has given them to protect us and to give us the best life possible!
If we are followers of Christ then we have the Holy Spirit in our lives who helps us to understand the Scriptures and apply them to our lives. He will convict us of wrong doing and help us to deal with all of our sin, wipe us clean, and restore us into a clean, pure relationship with God. There is no better place to be than in a right relationship with our Creator!
Be blessed as you allow God to "search me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Ps. 139:23
