Have you ever been sitting in a chair or laying in bed and then your mind starts to wander? Not just random like a pinball, but it seems to focus in on events or circumstances of your past. Just this morning as I was praying and trying to prepare my mind and heart for my time alone with God, off it (my mind) went to the past. It focused in on failures of my past when I behaved and spoke in a way that brought disrespect to the name of Christ. I almost started replaying scenarios when suddenly God’s Spirit intervened and said, “No! Not now! That’s forgiven.”
Then I read about Abraham, God’s chosen man to be the father of the Jewish people. In Romans 4 Paul uses Abraham as an example of faith. In protest we might say, “Yeah. Some example of faith he was. He failed to believe God’s promise and wait, and now we have the Arab people as a result of his tryst with Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid.” Abraham even laughed in unbelief when told he would have a child in his old age (Gen. 17:17). What gives?
To borrow a phrase: “This is not a ‘spin job’ on Abraham’s life.” It’s not a whitewash as if Abraham never sinned, never failed, or never doubted. What it is strikes us: we get to see God’s final gracious perspective of Abraham’s life. Beyond the failure. Beyond the tragic impatience. Beyond the tragic “I’m going to take this whole matter into my own hands.” Beyond the tragic “God is taking too long.”
Then it hit me. If God could take this huge act of impatience, disobedience, i.e. sin in Abraham’s life, forgive him and bring about His purpose, surely God could do that for me. That is not excusing sin-misspeaking, wrong actions, hurt feelings, totally degrading His Name, etc.- but it does show the real magnitude of His grace. The enemy’s plan is for me to wallow in shame and humiliation. God’s plan is for me to know and experience His love and grace.
I learned a good lesson today: when Satan knocks on the door, send the Holy Spirit to answer it.
Have I had those moments when my mind goes wandering? Of course! Remembering how God’s infinite grace has saved me in the past, I can’t afford to open that door of mistakes and missteps. Thanks so much for this powerful message today, Bill.
Blessings!
Glad I was able to be an encouragement today Martha. You are right about not opening that door.
Good lesson to keep in mind all the time. The enemy wants to create doubt, create division in our hearts, create turmoil in our lives. No better defender than the Holy Spirit to answer those calls.
You are right, Ryan, about what the enemy wants to create. No better defender than the Holy Spirit.
Totally agree Bill. This morning in my pray time, I just felt overwhelmed with all of the devastation going on, the hurricanes, fires, wars, it felt so heavy. How God, do we pray to keep people focused on You when it seems like everything is stacked against them. When my own prayers seem to be a lost for words. I was reminded that only I can invite the enemy to the table that God prepared for just He and I. The deceiver wants to feed fear, doubt, uncertainly, and keep my focus away from pray. God needs His kingdom people to pray, He does not need us to cower under the bench, pray is powerful. I was reminded how Jesus prayed, and I needed to pray with purpose, and confidence. 1Tim:17
it is overwhelming Gail. You said what Ryan said about the goal of the deceiver-to feed fear, doubt and uncertainty. I Tim. 1:7 is a great verse!
Oh this is perfect or at least very close. Thank you! I have gone through this so many times and I keep coming back to the reality that God will forgive if you sincerely go to him and ask. I do wonder at times how I could possibly be qualified for his forgiveness, then I think of the “Cross”.
The good thing, Dexter, is I’m never qualified. And I’m always thankful for the cross.