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Want to make a fortune?

One way that seems to work is to come up with the next diet craze. Then you can write a book, get some tv spots, and sit back counting your money from people that are willing to try anything to eat and still lose weight!

Years ago, I saw one eye-catching diet plan. It went like this:

If you are interested in losing weight, I present to you the incredible new “Loser’s Diet”. Just follow this diet and you are sure to lose.

Breakfast

1/2 grapefruit
1 slice whole-wheat toast
8 oz. skim milk

Lunch

4 oz. lean broiled chicken breast
1 cup steamed zucchini
1 Oreo cookie
Herbal tea

Mid-Afternoon Snack

Rest of the package of Oreos
1-quart rocky-road ice cream
1 jar hot fudge

Dinner

2 loaves garlic bread
Large pepperoni and mushroom pizza
Large pitcher of root beer
2 Snickers bars
Entire frozen cheesecake, eaten directly from the freezer

I assume you would say “sounds good but how can it ever work?” Well, there are a few Diet Tips:

• If no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.
• If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out.
• When eating with someone else, calories don’t count if you both eat.
• Food used for medical purposes never counts, such as hot chocolate, toast, and Sara Lee cheesecake.
• If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.
• Movie-related foods don’t count because they are simply part of the entire entertainment experience and not a part of one’s personal fuel.
• Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breakage causes calorie leakage.

2020 has been like no other year, and yet some things never change. Wayne Rice wrote about this diet 25 years ago. It was a great conversation starter then…and it certainly makes us think about our Christian walk today. Many of us follow the above diet plan in regards to living for the Lord.

I think it’s fair to say that most of us try to live a Christ-centered life. We want to live for the Lord and to cut down on our sins.

I think that many of us start our day well with prayer, maybe a devotion or a Bible reading.

But then life happens! Bills to pay, people to interact with, temptations all around us, and things start to go downhill (we have blown our Christian diet).

So, when we mess up and fall short…now what do we do? Do we confess and start over, and get back on track? Maybe, but more likely, we start to rationalize our behavior. We say things like… “Well, if no one sees my sin, then it’s really no big deal.” Or, “If I sin with my friends then it’s okay because everyone else is doing it.”

That kind of Christianity, of course, is just as ridiculous as the “diet for losers.”

If you have ever been on a diet, odds are that you messed up from time to time. Let’s face it chocolate cream pie can tempt you to break your diet.

Well, the same is true in our spiritual walk. Temptations are all around you. When you mess up and get off track, do you own it or do you try to change the rules or rationalize why it was ok?

Before you sin Satan will say, “Go ahead it’s just a small sin.” After you sin he will say “you did that, God can never forgive that, you might as well keep doing it.”

I suggest that you need to identify your weaknesses, to confess your sin, to ask God to forgive you, and then ask God to help you to get back on track, to make healthy choices so you can accomplish His plans for you.

If you were on a low sugar diet, I don’t think it would be wise to window-shop at a bakery. If you were on an alcohol-free diet, I don’t think it would be wise to watch the OSU game at a sports bar…If you were on a vegan diet, I don’t think it would be wise to eat at a Brazilian Steak restaurant. It only makes sense to avoid temptations when you can.

So, I hope you realize…this devotion is not really about your diet, carbs, or calories. It is about living the best life that God created you to live. To follow His rules, not yours. To have a steady diet of God’s Word…prayer…worship…and a solid small group to have accountability in.

Adam and Eve had one rule to follow. That rule was there to please God, as well as to protect them from evil. God said: Genesis 2:15-17… The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Sounds simple enough, right? I mean God said to enjoy all of paradise but stay away from the tree of evil…it will harm you!

Well…we know that the story did not end well…. Their spiritual diet was broken so to speak. Genesis 3:6… When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

I don’t want to focus on the temptation to sin…but I want us to focus on their response when they sinned. Genesis 3:12-13…  The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Sounds like the silly rules for our “diet for losers” story doesn’t it. Adam blames Eve and God for making Eve…Eve blames Satan.

So, what do I hope you will glean from this devotion today? Sin is crouching at your feet! Satan will tempt you to question God’s rules and to make your own rules!

Once we break the rules, we will be tempted to blame others, rationalize why it was no big deal, compare yourself to others who you consider worse sinners.

1. My goal for you is to take the time to sit alone with the Lord. Ask Him to guide you to accomplish His plans for you.
2. Ask Him to help you assess those areas that you tend to bend and break His commandments to accomplish your will.
3. Fill yourself with a steady diet of God’s Word. Exercise your mind with prayer, worship, devotions. Strengthen your heart with quiet time with the Lord.

Psalm 51:10-12… Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

I assume that most of you have heard the good news found in the gospel. We sin, God forgives!

I assume that while most of you are thankful… I wonder how many really understand what that means and to cherish your renewed relationship with the Lord.

Does it feel like you just won the Mega-Lotto? And if you won the Lotto, would it change the way you live your life?

Truly believing that you have God’s gift of forgiveness makes the Lotto seem like chump-change. Knowing that you have already been given the priceless prize of the sweet gospel, raises the all-important question “now what?” Does it change your life?

Once there were 2 identical twins named Martin and Morgan. They looked so alike that even their closest friends could not tell them apart by their looks. But looks were the only way they were alike. They certainly didn’t act alike. Martin was the perfect child. He always obeyed his parents, and he was kind to other people. He studied hard in school and he had high moral standards and values.

Morgan on the other hand was a different story. He was constantly being disobedient to his parents. He mistreated other kids. He lied. He took things that didn’t belong to him. He was always in trouble. He was continually breaking his parent’s hearts.  As Martin and Morgan grew older the differences between them also grew. Martin continued to be the model student applying himself and excelling in everything he did.

Morgan however got into deeper and deeper trouble. He began to have run-ins with the law. First, it was for minor offenses like traffic violations and truancy. But the older he got the more serious the trouble became. He was in-and-out of jail as a teenager. Then as a young adult, he committed the ultimate crime. He killed someone and was found guilty of 1st-degree murder. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair. He was placed on death row. Finally, after he exhausted all the appeals… The execution date was set.

The day before he was to die, Martin came to visit him on death row. The guard opened Morgan’s cell and let Martin in and then walked away. Immediately Martin began taking off his clothes and told Morgan to do the same. Martin then put on Morgan’s clothes and had Morgan put on his.

A few minutes later the guard came back to let Martin out of the cell but instead it was Morgan who walked out down the Hall and out the door to freedom. The next day they came to take Morgan to the electric chair. Without realizing he was actually Martin, they walked him down the Hall to the electric chair, strapped him in, and ended his life.

Morgan was free. But he had a decision to make. He could either continue to live his life as he had always lived it (chances are he would be discovered and end up back on death row) or he could take on Martin’s lifestyle and try to imitate his life.

That’s an interesting story but “so what?” How does that impact you and me? You are not a murderer like Morgan was most likely not going to the electric chair.

And yet you have sinned. Romans 3:23… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

And the fact is that the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23…For the wages of sin is death… It won’t be the electric chair, but you will die, and the cause of death is sin!

Has that reality sunk in? On your own, you are doomed! You are on death row!

That’s where the gospel comes in. Romans 6:23 continues by saying, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You were booked for eternity in a very hot (and not nice) place…and someone (Jesus) has made your reservation and paid the price for you to join him in paradise instead.

God gives you His mercy (does not give you what you deserve) and then He gives you His Grace (He gives you what you do not deserve)!

Based on Martin’s sacrifice in my opening story, Morgan is free! But now what? Does he go back to a life of deliberate crime…or does he change? He took on Martin’s identity to be freed, will he continue to follow Martin’s example and aspire to live as Martin did?

The good news is that Christ willingly took your place on the cross, willingly died in your place, to free you! Like Morgan, you now have a decision to make. Will you live for Him, trying to live a Christ-centered life…or continue to live for yourself? Ephesians 4:22-24…You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Sound good? Of course, it does! So now what?

Well…on your own, you will fall short, live in sin, and follow your sinful nature. But there is Hope!

Ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. Don’t just nod your head and say ok. STOP RIGHT NOW and say: “Jesus, I am a sinner. On my own, I am helpless and sitting on death row. My thoughts, words, and deeds convict me. Help me to assess, confess, repent, and turn my life over to you. Take me by the hand and lead me to accomplish your will in my life. Help me to avoid sinful temptations…and to resist the ones I can not avoid. Thank you in advance for your promise to forgive me, and to renew me, and to set me free from the wages of my sins.”

Then, seek His will! Pray to Him throughout the day, especially when temptations are knocking at your door! Read and memorize His Word. Assess who you are hanging around with! Join a Christian group. Worship weekly (online or in-person)! Ask the age-old question: “What Would Jesus Do” in this situation?

To you be the glory Lord!

Have you found yourself confused about what to believe? What is true and what is fabricated. The news seems to be opinionated instead of factual. Each side telling you what they want you to hear. We tend to look to social media to find folks that will say what we want to hear to support our point of view. We search to hear what will justify our worldview and actions. We begin to create our own truth just like Eve did in the garden. She listened to a voice in her ear that was not from God. The consequences still impact us today.

There is an old illustration that I find helpful:

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening.

Suddenly, the Native American said, “I hear a cricket.”

His friend said, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!”

“No, I’m sure of it,” the Native American said. “I heard a cricket.”

“That’s crazy,” said the friend.

The Native Americans listened carefully for a moment and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. “That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have super-human ears!”

“No,” said the Native American. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.”

“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”

“Yes, that’s true,” came the reply. “It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you.”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and looked to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

“See what I mean?” asked the Native American. “It all depends on what’s important to you…. what you are listening for!!!”

So… That story may hit a little too close to home!

What’s important to you? What do you listen for?

Who or what has your ear?

Do you listen to God’s truth and direction in your life?

Or…Do you listen and follow the latest Twitter or Facebook postings to see what others think is important…or do you seek your friends and co-workers’ values and opinions… Sports figures political, social, moral, and even spiritual views?

There is a lot of noise and distractions out there vying for your attention.

Maybe you feel that God does not talk to you? Perhaps you can’t see or hear him because you aren’t listening to him. Too many distractions. Too many other voices that we seek out. Who are you really listening to?

Matthew 13:15-16… Jesus said, “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them…But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear”

This verse comes from the parable of the sower section in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The seed (God’s Word) is sowed and yet life distracts some from receiving it and producing fruit. And yet verse 23 says…. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

What is God saying to you…what is He calling you to accomplish? What changes is He whispering in your ear to make? What life situations is He talking to you about? Whose name is He speaking to you about…wanting you to reach out to and minister to?

(msg)… “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”

We have many options on who / what to listen to. God challenges us to focus on His Words and His plans. A simple way to test if it is from God:

Philippians 4:8… Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things

So…now what?

Take time throughout the day to stop and listen to what God is telling you. Ask Him to speak to you. Pick a time and place that limits the other distractions and noise.

Be aware of other voices that you hear, and test them against Philippians 4:8 (above).

Limit you’re seeking out other distracting voices, opinions, and gossip masquerading as truth. (Jesus says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”)

Jesus knew the importance of doing this regularly….Mark 1:35… Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Ever feel God nudging you to do something? Do you try to ignore it or say the infamous phrase “I will do it later?”

Well…God nudged me to write a devotion today…so here it goes!

Tuesdays seem to be my busiest workdays. A few morning meetings at church starting at 8:30, catch up with staff, work on emails and messages, counseling appointments and then Life Hurts God Heals group ending at 8:30 pm. Yesterday was no different.

I had just let in a lady who I was to meet with before my evening group when I received a voicemail. It was from a local hospice asking if I could come over and pray with a lady named Wilma. The lady was Lutheran but had no church. The pastor from a church she attended in the past church was no longer serving (in his 90s now).

My first instinct was to say…I’m too busy doing God’s work to go and do God’s work. It’s funny the way we rationalize doing what we want or justifying not doing something. Well my appointment overheard my conversation and graciously said “go…we can meet at another time.” We touched base for a few minutes, rescheduled, and I went to the hospice center.

I must admit it’s always a privilege to be able to pray with those who are facing major issues in life and especially as death draws near. To assure them of the Love of God and the Joy of the Gospel!

I prayed and got back to church in time for my 7:00 Life Hurts God Heals group.

I later got a text thanking me for visiting with Wilma…who passed a few hours later. Her husband (very frail) called this morning wanting to know if I got there in time, before she passed. He took great comfort in the fact that we prayed in her last hours.

What if I had said “thanks for nudging Lord, me but I’m too busy?” What if I said “ok I’ll see if I can fit her in tomorrow…or next week?”

God’s timing is always critical…His purpose for you is urgent!

So….How about you?????

What is God nudging you to do? What is He whispering in your ear…or perhaps yelling to you? Do you say “yes Lord, I will get to it later”

There is always an urgency to do what God is nudging you to do. Don’t ignore it or put it on the back burner for later.

You don’t have to be a pastor to serve the Lord. As a matter of fact, you can reach people that I will never reach.

Who do you know that needs you to reach out to them? Perhaps someone lonely, neglected, abused, depressed, isolated, hurting, someone who is sick, in fear, pain, grief, despair. Maybe a visit, phone call, a card, a prayer.

Act on God’s nudges to you. You may be the answer to someone else’s prayer.

Now…If you say “nice devotion Dave but God never nudges me”…then I would say for you to do a better job of listening. God has a plan for every one of us…that includes you! Spend more time in His Word and prayer…keep your eyes open to the needs of others that God has placed in your path. His plans for you.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7…Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

You are blessed to be a blessing to others!

The children of a well-to-do family decided to give their father a book containing their family’s history for a birthday present. They commissioned a professional biographer to write the book, carefully cautioning him about the family’s “black sheep” – their Uncle George had been executed in the electric chair for murder, and they felt it would be best if the biographer left Uncle George out of the book.

“No need to do that,” said the biographer. “I can report the situation in such a way that there will be no embarrassment to your father or to you. I’ll merely write that Uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution. He was attached to his position by the strongest ties and his death came as a real shock.”

The Bible teaches us that when you die, there’s nothing else you can do to get ready to meet God. It won’t matter what people write about you or say about you to make you look good. It’s about faith in Jesus.

So in case you don’t know or haven’t thought about it lately:

• God handmade YOU wanting to spend eternity with you.
• But there is a problem you are a sinner! We all are! Romans 3:23…  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
• And yet God still loves you! Romans 5:8… But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Our sin separates us from God (not His Love). Romans 6:23… For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• You are saved…and God then wants you to share the Gospel with others. 1 Peter 3:15…  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Do you believe this? I mean really believe this? The truth is that you were on your way (and deserve) to spend eternity in hell but Jesus saved you so that you now will spend eternity in heaven!

Do you believe that there is a heaven or hell in your future?

Now we hear phrases about heaven and hell in our daily conversations. Things like “these cookies taste heavenly”, “that guy irritates the hell out me”, “this campground is heaven on earth”, and “it will be a cold day in hell before I vote for him”.

Those phrases can make us minimize an important fact.

Here is my point HEAVEN AND HELL ARE REAL and therefore it follows that real people like you and I are going there! How’s that for a heavy statement?

Matthew 25 talks about it (verse 34)…”Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (verse 41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (verse 46) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

So why is it so awkward to talk about it to friends and family? Did you know Satan hopes you don’t talk about it?

It is said that a long time ago there was a conference in hell, and  Lucifer was plotting and scheming how he might catch the human race and keep them from God and heaven.

One fiendish lieutenant came to the master of evil and said, “If you will send me to earth… I will tell the people that there is no heaven to be gained.”

Lucifer said to him, “No, no! They’ll never believe it because there is a little bit of heaven in every heart.”

Another fiend came forward, darker and fowler than the first, and he said to Lucifer, “If you would send me to earth, I would convince the people that they can sin with immunity. That God would continue to love and forgive. He would never, ever, ever judge anyone – even if they didn’t repent. I will convince them of that.”

The father of darkness said, “No! These humans must not be underestimated. They have a conscience ……and deep within the heart of every human is this sense of righteousness. They know that evil will be punished……. They know that good will triumph over evil.”

A third lieutenant, from the very darkest pit, emerged into the shadow of Lucifer and said, “Master, if you would send me, I would tell them this:

There is no hurry. YOU CAN TELL OTHERS TOMORROW.

And Lucifer said, “Yes, go tell them that!”

Many people think “let someone else tell them!”. Many people consider themselves too sophisticated to believe in the devil and hell. That’s dangerous because they are real. I doubt that the Hollywood version of a guy in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork is what we will find…but the bible speaks of the devil from Genesis 3 through Revelation!

And hell is the end result of not trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior…and living a life that shows that disrespect for His Word. Revelation 21:8… But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars ….(and have not trusted in Jesus’ for the forgiveness of these sinful actions)– their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

The worst part of hell is eternally separated from God and good.

Heaven on the other hand is Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death ‘or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

And the best part of this is that it is prepared for and purchased for you…John 3:16…”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is where other religions differ from Christianity.

Hindus believe that they need to reach salvation through their own efforts. (following 1 of 4 paths…love, work, knowledge, psychology)

Muslims need to earn favor with God through laws and works. (5 pillars)

Buddhist reach peace through right thinking and living following the 8 fold path to Nirvana.

The bible is very clear that salvation is a free gift from God to you through faith…Ephesians 2:8-9… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.

So…if we are saved by faith…where does faith come from? Romans 10:17… Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

So…stop and think about…who shared Jesus with you? How did they do it? Why did they do it? Who is God wanting you to share Him with?

I get a disturbing image in my head from time to time.

It can’t happen since there is no sorrow in heaven…

But…What would it be like to get to heaven…start looking for “old so and so”. You cannot find them, so you ask. You are told..  “They are not here. No one took the time to tell them about Jesus!”

So…since heaven and hell are real…let’s get real!

Who do you know that you are not sure of their relationship with Jesus? Who is God nudging you to reach out to?

Fill in the blanks:

• Who in your immediate family_________________
• Who in your extended family__________________
• Which of your friends________________________
• Who at work or school________________________
• Who at businesses you frequent_________________

What is the first step…be ready…Share your Hope…Let the Holy Spirit do the rest!

1 Peter 3:15-17… Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.

Find Joy and Peace in the fact that you are saved…then share it!

So, here we are at the end of this 8-day devotional on dealing with the hurts, habits, and hang-ups that steal our joy, and make life seem unmanageable. Hopefully, you are working through each of these devotionals. I pray that you are identifying your issue, acknowledging who your Lord is, turning your issue and life over to Him, assessing and confessing your faults, making changes, repairing relationships, and getting into a time in God’s Word and of prayer.

Today we will look at The Sharing Choice… Recycling Plan. This is when you yield yourself to God to be used to bring the Good news to others by example and by your words.

A key fact is that God never wastes a hurt! What does that mean? Well, we have seen that in this world we will have trouble, pain, hurt, disappointment, etc. God knows about your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.

He will respond to them in 3 ways:

• He will help you find healing and to make healthy choices.
• He will use them to draw you closer to Him.
• He will use you to help others going through similar issues.

GOD NEVER WASTES A HURT!

I see it all the time. An alcoholic with time in sobriety sponsors a newer alcoholic, a divorced person walks alongside of someone facing divorce, a cancer survivor sits with someone getting chemo for the first time, a person loses a loved one and a grief support group welcomes them in…and the list is endless.

This is God’s recycling plan! 2 Corinthians 1:4 (nlt)… He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

I envision our life as a Christian like a team of mountain climbers. The climb is difficult but together they can succeed… encouraging each other… watching and learning from the climber ahead of them…avoiding the dangerous hidden crevasses… finding solid ground to walk on. They are led by a map produced by someone that has gone ahead of them… who has given direction and warning. When the leader of the mountain climbing team reached the peak, does he stop to rest and enjoy the view? Of course not, he helps the next person who in turn helps the next.

So…We are all on a journey and at times it seems like we are climbing a steep mountain. Jesus is leading the way; He gives us His Word to guide our steps… as well as His church to walk with us. Our job is to watch out for the person following behind us… to encourage, lead, help them find solid ground. You can help them navigate the rough terrain… point out where you slipped and fell… point them to the map, and the writer of that map (God).

Many times, this begins by “sharing your story” with someone who God has placed in your path. Here are some suggestions for sharing your story with someone:

• Be humble! Remember this is a testimony, not a brag-amony. Your job is to tell the story of what your hurt, habit, or hang-up was (is) and how God has led you to a healthier place. It’s one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. And then share who that bread is! John 6:35…Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Jesus is the bread that gives life…Hope…Joy…direction…strength to face the battles we all face. Your story can give hope and guidance to someone a few steps behind where you are in your journey.
• Be real! Be honest about your hurts and faults. Let them know that you are transparent, vulnerable, and real with them. James 5:16…Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. God wants to recycle your progress for someone behind you in the journey. You might be a lighthouse to someone else’s storm…. leading them to the ultimate Lighthouse (Jesus).
• Don’t lecture! You will never argue or force someone into healing, healthy choices, or into heaven. God wants you to be a witness, not a defense attorney! You have heard it said that you may be the only Bible someone reads…this is true especially if they are going through a tough time where they may feel God is distant, or that He is the cause of their issues. Use “I” sentences. Tell how God helped you move forward and found healing.

You may say… “Let someone else do it” or “that’s the pastor’s job.” Truth is that you can reach people that the pastor can’t. God has placed them in your circle of influence “for a moment like this”

This is your calling! Acts 20:24… But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

So…now that we have finished the last 8 devotions dealing with hurts, habits, and hang-ups…now what? Hopefully, you are working through the healthy choices…connecting with the Lord daily…and making progress. Remember it’s a lifelong journey and that I and the church are here for you. Remember God is with you! 2 Corinthians 5:17… This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! God’s hand made you…and saved you…wants you to be the best version of you that you can. He will lead you to make those healthy choices. He never made you go through this world alone! Together you are stronger than alone. There is someone that needs to hear your story…you may be the answer to their prayer!

• If you have received comfort, hope, direction from someone when you went in a tough spot…call them and thank them!
• Do you know someone going through a tough experience that you have already gone through? Look for an opportunity to share your story with them.

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One last note:

Some of you may have read these last devotions and said, “That’s nice but I don’t have any hurts, habits, or hang-ups.” Here is a partial list that the Life Hurts God Heals group put together: issues with pride, stress, gossip, poverty, self-esteem, fear, anger, jealousy, selfish, anxiety, depression, bitterness, worry, guilt, addiction to pornography, food, smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex, money, gambling, tv, shopping, work, the hurt of any loss, grief, disease, all forms of abuse, rejection, criticism, gossip, lies, and betrayal. If any of these sounds close to home…go back and reread these 8 devotions. Call me for help and support. 440-237-7958 ext.118.

Pastor Dave

I hope that you had an awesome weekend!

I pray:

• That you took time to worship with us online at royred.org (the worship services are still there…as well as many other ways to connect with God and with us as a church, as well as devotionals, small group info, children’s ministry)
• That you spent time praying and reading God’s Word… applying it to your life and situation.
• That you processed through what your biggest hurt, habit, hang-up is.
• That you will let God lead you through this day… to accomplish His plans for you… and to know that He loves you.

The last 6 devotions that I have written are part of a series designed to help you deal with the past…trust the Lord with your future…and guide you through each minute of today. So far in this series of devotions, we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care, and control.
• The Coming Clean, House Cleaning Choice… Taking time to examine your past and to confess your faults…first to yourself…and then to God. Many find it very helpful to confess them to a trusted person…to own them and release them.
• The Transformation Choice…making changes. This is when you begin to be who God created you to be! This is when you voluntarily submit to every change that God wants you to make and to humbly ask Him to remove any character defects.
• The relationship Choice…repairing relationships. This is when we evaluate all of our relationships…offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us…and make amends for the harm we have done to others.

I keep repeating these steps because they are great tools for you to use throughout your lifetime. They can be used today, tomorrow, each day of your life until God calls you home to a place where we will not need them. God tells us that “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Life happens…and it can be painful. These tools will work for each hurt, habit, hang-up you will encounter.

Today we will look at The Growth Choice…maintaining momentum. One of the greatest Joy’s we have is that God wants to communicate with us! In this choice you will commit to reserving a daily quiet time with God…for self-examination…Bible reading…and prayer. You do this to know God and His will for your life…and for the power to follow His will!

A middle-aged woman went to New York and up to the 23^rd floor of an apartment building. She knocked on the door and a beautiful young woman opened the door. Incense came wafting out, music was playing, she was wearing a sarong, and she was clapping little bells. The young woman asked “are you here to see the great Bagone? The one who knows all, sees all, tells all, understands everything, and is in ultimate control”? The middle-aged woman said, “Yes, tell Sheldon his mother is here!”

Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are just “Sheldon” or whatever your name is. We need to be reminded we don’t know it all, we are not God, and that on our own we will fail, fall, make poor choices, sin, and “be human”. I hope that you have been working on the previous choices and making some progress with healthy Christ-centered living. Be careful not to slip back to old habits. We all need a regular time to recharge our batteries and update our navigation system. Let’s take a closer look at this growth Choice:

• Commit to reserving a daily quiet time with God. Figure out a time that works for you. Make it the same time each day. Find a place with no distractions. Remember to use the ACTS of prayer: A= adoration…C= confession…T=thanksgiving…S= supplication (requests). Find a quiet place, talk to the Lord, sit and listen to Him whisper in your ear. This works best for me first thing in the morning, asking for direction for my day. Jesus did this often. Mark 1:35…Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Luke 5:16…but Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. If He needed to do that…we should as well!
• For self examination…This works best for me right before bed. I assess how the day went, both where I made poor choices, and who I was able to impact for the Lord. I can reflect on how I am doing with my physical health, my spiritual health, my emotional health, and my spiritual health.
• Bible reading…God knew that life in our sinful world would be complicated and confusing. That we would face many hurts, habits, and hang-ups. That we would face temptations and options. He loved us so much that He wrote you a love letter…A book that tells us who He is and who He created you to be. His promises to you and how we are to live as His children. Some think of it as Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.
• Do this to know God and His will for your life. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for your sins. That’s His part…our part is to follow His lead with our thoughts, words, deeds…so we can accomplish His plans. Jeremiah 29:11(ESV)… For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Have you figured out what His plans are for you yet? Plans using your passions, abilities, interests, and resources. Ask the one who Lovingly made you what His purposes are for you.
• And for the power to follow His will! I hope that you have realized that you cannot be all you were created to be on your own power. The good news is that you do not have to… Ephesians (ESV) 3:20…Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. Ask God to lead you and equip you.

Hopefully, you can see that this step or choice is an everyday maintenance choice. Just as you refresh and update your computer… you need to refresh and update your walk with the Lord. Tomorrow we will finish this devotional series as we see who you can reach out to.

Jesus’ disciples were confused on how to pray…He taught then the Lord’s prayer. The healthy choices that we have been looking at are found within this prayer:

• Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (The Reality Choice) realize I am not God. (The Hope Choice) Believe God exists. That I can call him Father…Abba!
• thy kingdom come; (The Sharing Choice) Yield yourself to be used by God. (We will cover this tomorrow.)
• Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. (The Transformation Choice) Submit to the changes God wants you to make.
• Give us this day our daily bread. (The Letting Go Choice) Submit to God’s care…He is the provider of all that is good.
• And forgive us our trespasses, (The Coming Clean Choice) Examine and confess your faults. He is dying to remove your sins.
• as we forgive those who trespass against us. (The Relationship Choice) evaluate all of your relationships and repair broken ones.
• And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (The Growth Choice) Reserve a daily time with God. In the name of Jesus, may you flee from all that is evil. Avoid and resist temptation.
• For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Note: The choices that we are talking about are in part found in a book called “Life’s Healing Choices” by John Baker. Know that it is only by God’s choice that we are saved. He has chosen us. We had nothing to do with it. We do not deserve it. And yet, Because we are saved by Grace through faith…we respond by making healthy…Christ-centered…God pleasing choices.

Join us Tuesday nights at 7:00 to focus on living God pleasing, Joy filled, healthy lives.

I hope that I have not lost any of you with this series of devotions. I know it is pretty deep…but it will bring back the joy of the Lord to your life! Today is the last of the 3 devotions (in this series) that tend to be harder, more time consuming, and emotional! That can be a good thing because it can help you deal with past issues and present consequences. Hang in there, honestly working thru the material, and spend quiet time with the Lord.

So far we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care, and control.
• The Coming Clean, House Cleaning Choice. Taking time to examine your past and to confess your faults…first to yourself…and then to God. Many find it very helpful to confess them to a trusted person…to own them and release them.
• The Transformation Choice…making changes. This is when you begin to be who God created you to be! This is when you voluntarily submit to every change that God wants you to make and to humbly ask Him to remove any character defects.

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 “Pacos” showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.

Forgiveness is one of the most common pieces of our hurts, habits, hang-ups. It is at the core of many of our issues.

Today we look at… The relationship Choice…repairing relationships. This is when we evaluate all of our relationships…offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us…and make amends for the harm we have done to others.

Wow…I can almost hear some of you closing this devotion and saying “no thank you!” “I’m not going there” “I will never ask so and so to forgive me, it was their fault anyway” or “I will never forgive them even if they come begging me.”

Let me share 2 verses from the beatitudes with you. Matthew 5:5…Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (those who say they are sorry) and Matthew 5:7… Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (those who forgive others)

My story above about Paco and his father can help us to understand the need to make this next healthy choice.

First of all: many of us are like Paco. We carry around a load of guilt, wanting forgiveness, but not knowing where to find it. The good news is that just as Paco’s father ran an ad in the newspaper…God the Father ran an ad in His Word saying that Jesus died for you. He invites you into His mercy and grace. You are invited to receive His unconditional forgiveness.

Second…we are called to heal relationships with others as well. (forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us). A peace-filled life is centered on asking and giving forgiveness. Now you may ask “Why should we forgive others?”

• Because God has forgiven you! Colossians 3:13 (TLB)…  Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. People who feel forgiven find it easier to forgive others…remind yourself that God forgave you!!! He did make you beg, earn, wait for forgiveness.
• Because resentment doesn’t work! Job 18:4 (GNT)… You are only hurting yourself with your anger. Will the earth be deserted because you are angry? Resentment is unreasonable (you are only hurting yourself)…unhelpful (it won’t change the past, the problem, or the other person)…and unhealthy (resentment is a cancer that will eat you alive).
• Because you will need forgiveness in the future! Mark 11:25 (NLT)… But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Try as you may…you have a sinful nature…you will sin and need forgiveness (many times)

Note…Remember that forgiving someone does not mean that the hurt did not happen, or that the pain is not real, or that it was ok, or they can do it again…..It means that you will no longer carry the pain, releasing it to the Lord to deal with.

How should I ask for forgiveness from others that I have hurt?

• Pray first…ask God to give you wisdom.
• Ask yourself how you would want to be approached if the situation were reversed.
• Do it at the right time! Ecclesiastes 8:6 (ESV)… For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.
• Do it with the right attitude! Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)… Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
• Do it in an appropriate way! Proverbs 12:18 (ESV)… There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Be careful what you say…when you say it… and how you say it…and your motivation behind it.

Remember that your job is to offer forgiveness or ask for forgiveness…you are not responsible for how they respond to you! Reconciliation is the goal, but you are responsible for your half!

Questions to ponder this weekend about forgiveness:

• Why is it so hard for you to forgive people that hurt you?
• How many times should you forgive someone? (Hint)…Matthew 18:21-22 says Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
• Who is someone you should forgive?
• Who have you hurt, and you need to seek their forgiveness? What is your first step?

I strongly encourage you to worship with us this weekend at 8:30 and 10:00 on site or live streamed at royred.org. I encourage you to check out the other tools to spiritual growth found there. Also, take time this weekend to work through these last 6 healthy choices. The good news is that the next 2 choices that I will cover on Monday and Tuesday are not so deep. They will be tools to maintain a healthy Christian life.

I pray that you are working your way through these last few devotions. I know it can be tough. I know that many of you are wrestling with hurts, habits and hang-ups. I know that it can be emotionally draining. I also know that there can be a lot of collateral damage that goes along with these issues.

Yesterday’s and these next 2 devotions can be hard, time consuming, and emotional! That’s a good thing because it can help you deal with past issues and present consequences. Hang in there, honestly work thru the material, and spend quiet time with the Lord.

I encourage you to be real and honest. Ask God to guide you through this journey to a healthy, Christ-centered, Joy filled life! If you have missed any of the last 4 devotions, go back and read (or reread) them below.

So far we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s love, care and control.
• The Coming Clean, House cleaning Choice. Taking time to examine your past and to confess your faults…first to yourself…and then to God. Many find it very helpful to confess them to a trusted person…to own them and release them.
• Now today we will look at The Transformation Choice…making changes. This is when you begin to be who God created you to be! This is when you voluntarily submit to every change that God wants you to make and to humbly ask Him to remove any character defects. Sounds simple, right? Of course not! But it will be life-changing!

Imagine that you are dealing with a habit of alcohol…you admit it’s a problem…you trust in a program that can help…you commit your life and addiction to God… now what? Well, you must make some changes. You can not stop at the bar and think, I will just watch others drink and God will protect me. Changes need to happen! Changes to what you fill your mind with, places you go, people you hang out with, and other triggers.

Note…We are all sinners! Jesus died for our sins! We confess and thru faith are forgiven! That’s the beginning and the foundation! But now what? Now we make healthier choices and become more Christ-like…one step at a time!

I am a basketball fan; I love to watch the game. A major truth is that players play and coaches coach. What is the coach’s job? To observe and to make changes for a better outcome. God wants to “coach” you to a better outcome as well!

I read an illustration that works well for today. It’s about being in a boat and the autopilot is set for east, but you want to go west. You push and pull with all your might and finally manage to force the boat west for a while. As long as you hold on with your own strength the boat keeps going west…but soon you tire of fighting against the boat’s pre-programmed direction, and you let go…and the boat goes east as programmed. Every time you try to force the boat west, you are going against its pre-programmed direction. It’s a losing battle.

That’s how it is when we try to go against our own internal autopilot (sinful nature). By our own willpower we try to force a new behavior, but we get tired and let go. On our own we will go…off the diet, get involved in another unhealthy relationship, start smoking again, burst into anger, etc…and inevitably we revert back to unhealthy choices! We can not do it alone! But the good news is that we do not have to do it alone!

Romans 12:1-2…Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This change will not be easy, and it will not be overnight, but it is so important!

It gets summarized in today’s beatitude found in Matthew 5:6 (GNT)… Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!

When I pray for myself each day, I ask God to help me “be the best Dave Timm I can be.” I then envision me playing follow the leader right behind the Lord. I ask Him to lead my thoughts, words, and actions…to keep me close behind Him…to keep me from wandering to the right or the left…and to stay at the pace He has set for me.

So…now what? We know we need to change, but how? Well, first we need to acknowledge that on our own we can’t! The only way to change the direction of our lives is to reset the autopilot. That’s what this Transformation Choice is all about.  Our verse above in Romans says be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Our sinful nature, the world around us, and Satan are all trying to taint our minds! By God’s power your mind can be changed, and your autopilot reset. Sounds good but how do I begin?

So now what?

• Go back and look over the last 4 healthy choices to be focused on your main issue and then on the Lord’s strength.
• Focus on one hurt, habit, hang-up! Proverbs 17:24 (TEV)…An intelligent person aims at a wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions. Just as you cannot clean your room, cut grass, and grocery shop at the same time…you cannot tackle all your life issues at once. Ask God to help you figure out what to tackle first. You may see that many of them are intertwined anyway.
• Focus on God’s power and not your willpower! Philippians 4:13 (NLT)… for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. On your own you will most likely fail (how long do your New Year’s resolutions hold up?) God has great plans for you, and He wants to enable you to make changes…and let Him transform you from the inside out.
• Focus on the good things, not the bad! Philippians 4:8 (NIV)… Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. What you focus on dominates you…where is your attention focused and where is it leading you? Stay focused on all that is good…stay focused on your blessings…and on the giver of those blessings…your Loving Savior.
• Focus on progress, not perfection! Philippians 1:6 (TLB)… And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. Turn this process over to God and be open to every change he wants you to make….one day at a time.

The fact is that we all sin…and have habits and hang-ups. We live in a sinful world and consequently, we all have hurts. The good news is that God loves you unconditionally. In the midst of your biggest battles, He is there. He knows that left on our own power we will fall short. He wants to transform you!

Just like within a chrysalis the old body parts of a caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation called metamorphosis, to become the beautiful parts of a butterfly…. God wants to transform you into the masterpiece that He created you to be!

I told you that this journey to healthy living was going to be challenging! The best advice I can give is to be honest with yourself…and honest with God! The truth is that I am just scratching the surface on these steps or choices. They are all points on a map for a trip you want to take. You need to go through each point to get to the destination. Keep reading the map that I am laying out…but go back and work through each of the stops along the way.

Interested? Join us on Tuesday nights at 7:00 at Royal Redeemer.

I hope that you have been following along and spending time working through these steps to healthy choices, and that you will continue with me on this journey. So far, we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care, and control.

Some of the materials are taken from a great book called Life’s Healing Choices. I encourage you to order a copy. I will be quoting sections for the next few devotions.

Also, I invite you to our Tuesday  “Life Hurts God Heals” group at Royal Redeemer (7:00).

Know that dealing with your hurts, habits, hang-ups is a process. I am giving you daily tools, but it takes weeks or months to truly work through each of these steps. Some may seem easy…others can be more difficult.

(WARNING…the next 3 devotions can be hard, time-consuming, and emotional! That’s a good thing because it can help you deal with past issues and present consequences. Hang in there, honestly working thru the material, and spend quiet time with the Lord.)

Today we will look at a more difficult, but very important choice. John Baker calls this the Coming Clean, Housecleaning Choice. This is when we need to wrestle with our past. We saw in the Letting Go Choice that we have a God of Grace and Mercy… A God that is forgiving when we confess and repent. This Housecleaning Choice is when we get real, examine, and confess our past mistakes to ourselves and to God.

A State trooper pulled behind a speeding truck and turned on his flashers, but the truck kept going.  The trooper got right up on his bumper, but the truck kept going. The trooper then turned on his siren, but the truck sped up! Finally, the truck ran out of gas and rolled to the side of the highway. The truck driver rolled down his window, and the trooper asked, “Did you see my lights?” “Yes sir, I did” responded the driver. “Did you see me following right on your bumper?” “Yes sir, I did.” said the driver. “Did you hear my siren all those miles?” again the driver said, “Yes sir, I did.” Finally, the trooper asked, “Then why didn’t you stop?” The driver answered “To be honest, about 2 years ago my wife ran off with an Ohio State Trooper. I was afraid you were trying to bring her back to me!”

Does that story hit home for you? Are you afraid of your past catching up with you? Do you try to sweep it under the rug…act like it’s no big deal…hope it will just go away?

A beatitude that is helpful is Matthew 5:8…Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. God’s desire for you is a heart that is Christ-centered and free of all the junk that weighs us down…washed clean of all our hurts, habits, hang-ups that plague our lives. One of my favorite sections is Psalm 51:10-12… Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

So, let’s be honest! We have all done things that we wish we could go back and change…but we can’t. And guilt can be overpowering to us. Guilt keeps you from becoming all that God wants you to be. Guilt destroys your confidence; it damages relationships and keeps you stuck in the past. If you want real Joy…you need to let go of guilt. (Just a note…Guilt is the fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime. Shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.) This is key…guilt is about what you did…shame is about who you are. We are all guilty of sin, and yet through faith, we are forgiven children of God! And there is no shame in that!

Most of our struggles come from guilt or regret over past issues that you can not change…or from worry and anxiety about tomorrow’s issues that may never happen. Why not live in today’s choices?

How can you get rid of past guilt?

• Take a personal inventory! Do some personal house cleaning so to speak. Many of you have used this “stay in place” time to do a deep cleaning of your house…finding things that were buried in corners and closets. I encourage you to do the same and look deep into your life. (past and present). Look in all of the so-called closets, basements, attics where you have hidden away stuff…issues that you have hidden hoping to never deal with, repressed, and rationalized away. Many of you hire a “cleaning person” for your house. Ask God to help you “clean your life and heart.” Psalm 139:23-24… Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Dealing with many of your hurts, habits, and hang-ups can get deep and complex, call me if you need help.
• Accept responsibility for your faults! Be honest, don’t rationalize (that’s just “rational lies”), don’t blame others (to blame is to “be lame”)…just own them. Proverbs 20:27 (TLB)… A man’s conscience is the Lord’s searchlight exposing his hidden motives. (A very important note…If your hurt is that you have been abused by someone…know that it was not your fault and do not take responsibility for someone else’s sins). Talk to someone (like me?) about releasing yourself from the pain.

• Ask God’s Forgiveness! No sin is so severe that God can’t (and won’t) forgive. 1 John 1:8-9… If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. God in His Mercy, for the sake of Jesus’ death for you, wants to forgive you!!!! How does God forgive?
• God forgives instantly! Hebrews 4:16 (ncv)… Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it. He already has paid the price and offers you the forgiveness He already procured for you. He never makes you wait or puts conditions on forgiveness.
• God forgives freely! Romans 3:24 (ncv)… and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. Nothing you can do to earn, deserve, or pay for forgiveness.
• God forgives completely! Romans 8:1 (niv)…Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, He has no conditions attached. Nothing you can do to make God not love you…nothing you can do to make Him love you more. HE LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY!

How’s that for freedom from your past and Hope for today!

And when the guilt of past (confessed and forgiven) sins come back…it’s not from God! He promises to remove them as far as the east is from the west! “Any time the devil reminds you of your past…remind him of his future”.

This choice can be very difficult and take a lot of quiet reflective moments. Ask God to guide you through it…. And always know that I am also here to help.