Category: Devotions

Time to Repent

 

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.  2 Thessalonians 1:6-7

 

Evening!!!  I hope that you had a great day!  My day wasn't bad, just very long.  But I thought about this:  how can you expect to receive the benefits and forgiveness God promises if you don't ask for forgiveness?  Also in turn how can you expect to receive forgiveness without forgiving those who wrong you?

 

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.  2 Timothy 2:25-26

 

Our repentance leads us to a knowledge of the truth–the truth of the possibilities that abound when we follow God's will.(2 Timothy 2:25-26)  Sin holds us captive to the devil's will.  When we continue to succumb to the desires of our flesh, we keep ourselves in bondage. We are the lost sheep that God seeks, the ones He sought to redeem with the gift of Christ.

 

We are also lead to the truth of how our lives will benefit from the guidance of the Holy Spirit.(Acts 2:38)  The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf in prayer and in the forgiveness of our sins.  And because of Jesus, God has given him to us forever when we repent and accept Christ.  The Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 10:17 that "and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless deeds."(GWT)  When we repent, our sins are wiped out and forgotten.  We are refreshed when we repent, and that is promise enough to get me through!(Act 3:19-20)  That refreshing is not just when we repent, but as Christians when the battles get too tough, God promises to carry our burdens.  He gives us breaks to refresh us.  But the best of all these promises is that Jesus Christ will be sent back for us.  Repentance leads us to heaven, the ultimate goal.(Luke 15:7)  I know I wanna go there!  All of the struggles and troubles are worth it when the end gift is salvation!  Be blessed!  Good night!

You Don't Know What I've Been Through

 

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

 

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."  1 Peter 5:10

 

Evening!  I just watched this documentary about child immigrants from Mexico and Central America that are trying to get to the United States.  It just reminds me of how little we know about the person standing next to us.  We don't know their personal struggles and the daily battles they fight.  I'm going to work on not making first impression judgments of people anymore at all. 

 

Has this ever happened to you:  well, I went to get a pedicure one day in one of my funky little summer sundresses that probably showed one of my tattoos.  Awkward stares for several reasons: probably number one, simply because of the large tattoo on my back I may look like I could be classified in a certain demographic.  But the minute I open my mouth to speak with intelligence, the looks begin to reflect bewilderment–because I can speak and express myself with intelligence and articulation.  If the judgmental onlookers would look more closely, they would see that my tattoos are expressions of triumph and all identify a particular period in my life.  All are spiritual expressions of some thing I have overcome.  Even further, the few curiously pursue a conversation and venture to ask the forbidden: "Young lady, why do you have such a thing on you?"  I would love to do nothing but yell, but I decide to kill them with kindness and educate them.  I have the large tattoo of a cross on my back with Psalm 27:1 inscribed in the scroll with African violets adorning it for several reasons–1. I am not afraid because God is my lord.  2. I carry my own cross daily and I am a living example of God's goodness and that He still operates in miracles.  3. I am reminded that I have nothing to fear because He loves me.  4. With the help and beauty of a special group of "violets" I realized this and overcame.  5. Lastly, I love art because I am an artist at heart and this is simply an expression of my love for God.  This earthly body I inhabit will eventually fade away, so I am going to take care of it as I please and "decorate" it as such.  I ended up having a very spirited conversation with one of the few, but it just goes to show we don't know the story of the person in front of us.

 

Long story, but simply, we don't know what other people go through.  The bible tells plenty of times not to judge others.  But when we are the target of harsh and unnecessary judgments, we must remind ourselves that God goes with us, that we are not to be afraid or to even care about the words of others.  Life is not going to afford us the opportunity to prove everyone who judges us wrong, but in the midst of those situations we must turn to the wisdom of God's word to get through.  God's promises do hold true and He will do what He says.  Be encouraged!

 

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me"  John 14:1

 

Marquita