Still in the afterglow of Care group last night, I awoke to my quiet time with the Lord. And the words "perserverance, race" were circling in my mind. That is often how the Lord prompts me to search out His specific words to me for that day. Because of certain trials and decisions we are in the midst of right now, these words were so appropriate...I knew at once Hebrews 12 was where I needed to go this morning. And I was struck anew by the challenge to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Our race to you, Lord, may have some temptation to be ashamed, as you bring greater refining to us. You say "no one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame." Humbled yes, shamed, no. None of us knows what You may deem necessary for us to endure. But we can "despise the shame" knowing You, our God, are the lifter of our heads and You turn even what Satan would intend to harm us with to become good and a useful means of grace for us. Yes, even our own sin, you will turn for good. We can know You have covered it--and despise the shame while still being humbled by it and accepting your discipline (vs. 5-11) and consequences for it. For the amazing news is that all ETERNAL consequences were already spent on Jesus! Amazing Love! Thank you for your truth, Lord. "It is for discipline that you have to endure--God is treating you as sons." Lord, please keep me close in Spirit to you as I go throughout this day. I never want to end my quiet time with you, but physically, I must get up and take care of my children and home. Help me to know your presence this day.
"My sin-soiled conscience, my private and public life, my neighbors, myself--all write dark things against me. I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess, 'Father, I have sinned.' Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms,
Thou wilt not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near,
Thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in my stead,
Thou wilt not mark my mountains of sin, for he levelled all,
And his beauty covers my deformities.
Oh my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross,
hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side." from "Divine Mercies" The Valley of Vision
2 comments:
I long for the passion that you have found in your time with the Lord, Friend. What a great example you are, not just to your family, but to me! Thank you for your honesty on this blog and for being such a continual source of encouragement in my life!
I love you!
Me
welcome to the blogosphere! :) Thank you for having such Heavenward-pointing [okay, there has to be a better way of writing that!], purposeful posts. Looking forward to hearing what God is doing in your life. ;)
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