Pride. That five letter word that is the beginning of just about every sin we commit against God. You can be on a mountain top and still fall flat on your face several times every day, falling down the steep grade that leads to God, His grace, His love and His mercy.
But "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23). His mercy is new every day, so why not take advantage of that mercy, love and forgiveness? What is it that holds us back? Why do we keep sliding when we don't have to?
You see I have been the victim of pride many times. The devil uses it in our lives to keep us from the grace, love and mercy of God, sometimes for years at a time. It is hard to remember sometimes just to pray, to ask God's forgiveness, but if we are faithful to Him, requesting that mercy anew every morning, mid day, or evening, or even all three times of the day, we can find peace and healing! All we have to do is humble ourselves and confess our sins! "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).
So what is keeping you from the Lord? What has you mired in despair, hurt, loneliness, selfishness, anger, murmuring and complaining? What is the hurt, or sin that has you sinking like a stone? Peter walked on water, but the moment he looked away from Jesus he sank under the waves! What makes you think you are any different?
Put your eyes back in the right direction! Look to Jesus, the spotless, sinless Lamb who was slain so that we wouldn't have to suffer through our times of sinfulness! He is there all the time and He carries you when you are burdened, in despair, causing destruction in your own life, hurt by others or hurting others with whatever destructive behavior you might be doing to yourself. He has His angels fighting with the devil and his demons that work day and night to keep you from humbling yourself so that you can meet Him right where you are, and those angels are there protecting you from further harm, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12).
So put that five letter word back where it belongs! Humble yourself. Kneel and ask God to forgive you for taking your eyes off of Him. That's always our first mistake, thinking we can do things on our own when the truth is that we can do nothing without Him. The bible says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5). That makes it pretty clear doesn't it? We are human, born into sin and we are going to make mistakes, but even still, sometimes we just don't seem to understand that we are nothing without Him! "As for man, his days are as grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more." (Psalm 103:15-16).
Please come home? He's waiting! He wants to put salve on your wounds, wipe your tears, and hold you in His arms. Let Him. He's there, waiting for you to put your pride behind you and walk with Him in freedom again. He wants you to be full, till your cup runneth over! He has it prepared and waiting for you! All you have to do is reach out to Him, and accept His grace once again, or even for the first time! "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over." (Proverbs 23:5).
I am so deeply in love with the Lord that He is all I need! I am sincerely amazed, humbled, and on my knees in gratitude that He would call my name. Out of all the people on this planet, and I know I am not the only one being drawn close in these last days, for I am not special in any regard. " Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34).
I don't think of myself as better than anyone else, and the bible makes it clear that we should be careful about those kinds of thoughts because the Lord does not play favorites! "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem each other as better than themselves." (Philippians 2:3).
In April, the Lord drew me close once more, and I put my pride away! I still fall flat on my face. I do it every day, but I ask His forgiveness, sometimes several times a day. The Holy Spirit prompts me constantly when I do something God doesn't like! The coolest thing is that I feel free! I feel that I am safe and at home! Finally and forever.
Thank you Jesus. You are my redeemer, the lamp that lights my path, "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." (Psalm 46:1b). Lord Jesus, you are my everything. I am nothing without You, and the joy I feel in my heart outweighs all the pain I am going through, and all the pain I have ever gone through throughout my entire life! It is a never ending joy, full of blessings that will unfold before me throughout eternity! Thank you Lord Jesus! I love you with everything I am, everything I have is yours, even in my poverty, I am full of joy, love, mercy, and peace. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord for your salvation is the greatest gift I have or will ever know or receive! It is a fountain of life that springs forth constantly and I praise you constantly for it!
May God Bless all who read this post and may He grant you a humble spirit so that you might know the joy of His mercy, grace, love and the peace that comes with it!
