Do you have an area in your life where you keep messing up? Do you have to say, "Lord, please forgive me, I did it again?"
You didn't want to fail once more. You thought it would never happen another time. Yet, here you are, standing in a pool of self-condemnation.
I have a couple areas that are life-long struggles for me. I am making progress but sometimes I get careless. Life gets busy. I quit paying attention. The result is aggravation with myself for missing the mark.
Of course, the first thing to do is confess to God and TRULY repent. (I'm not talking here about the person who doesn't try to turn from their ways but sins intentionally thinking they can just say, "Oh Lord, forgive me," and everything will be okay. I'm afraid that person may regret his attitude later on.)
Our God is a God of second chances. (or even a thousand chances!) How do I know? Look at this scripture:
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23
In this portion of scripture, the writer feels like life has turned against him and thinks that God led him into a dark place. Yet, in spite of his feelings, he knows the Lord is merciful with new compassions for us each day.
I totally love the idea of new compassions every morning, a daily new beginning. It's so awesome to think every morning He has new compassion for us and the trials and struggles we face. He knows how we are made and our weaknesses yet He has great love for us.
Knowing this, then, should give us strength to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and trudge into the battle again.
Weight-loss. I can't seems to grant myself any grace for making mistakes and having weak moments. One slip and I quit -- that is not the way to lose weight. I need to forgive myself and keep going, but it is easier to embrace defeat.
ReplyDeleteAmen...the God of second chances...if only people would realize this truth...this was at the top of my thankful list at Thanksgiving time...
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your Words to Stand On posts every day but I have to say that I found something EVERY DAY to encourage me. Today's post was especially encouraging in more than one area of my life.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
That should say "and I have to say" not "but I have to say". I started a thought with a "but" in it, but switched it mid-sentence.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jerri. Thanks be to God that he has so much more patience than we do!
ReplyDelete