1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
4 Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
5 Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
There are moments in life when the weight of guilt can feel unbearable. The shame of past decisions can leave us feeling worthless, as if we are beyond hope. David, after his sin with Bathsheba, experienced this profound sense of despair. He did not simply face the consequences of his actions; he was crushed under the reality of his moral failure. In Psalm 51, we see him pouring out his heart, pleading for mercy as he confronts the stark truth of his sin.
Imagine the depth of David’s sorrow as he cries out for cleansing, knowing that his actions have not just hurt himself but have reverberated throughout his family and kingdom. The guilt must have felt like a shroud, suffocating and isolating. In our own lives, we may also feel the burden of our mistakes, believing that forgiveness is a distant hope. Yet, within David’s plea, there lies a powerful truth: God’s mercy is deeper than our failures.
This brings us to a critical spiritual issue: the struggle to accept that grace is available even when we feel undeserving. Our tendency is to dwell on our shortcomings and to carry the heavy weight of self-condemnation. We forget that God invites us into a relationship characterized by grace and redemption. It is in our brokenness that we can truly understand the depth of His love.
David’s journey from guilt to grace teaches us about the importance of humility in our own lives. Acknowledging our failures is not a sign of weakness but an act of courageous honesty. It prepares our hearts to receive the forgiveness that God freely offers. In seeking genuine repentance, we open the door for healing—not just for ourselves but for our families as well. This act of vulnerability can foster an environment where grace thrives.
As we navigate the challenges of life, particularly when preparing our families for difficulties ahead, we must remember that our readiness is rooted in understanding and accepting God’s mercy. When we model humility and repentance, we create a safe space for our loved ones to express their own struggles and seek forgiveness. Our failures can become a powerful testament to God’s faithfulness.
In practical terms, this means having honest conversations with those we love. It means inviting them into our process of seeking forgiveness, demonstrating that we are all in need of grace. When we share our struggles, we not only lighten our own load but also encourage our families to embrace their imperfections without fear. In this shared vulnerability, we cultivate resilience.
As you reflect on your own life, consider how accepting God’s forgiveness can transform your relationships. Take time to invite your family into discussions about grace and mercy. It is through these conversations that we can prepare our hearts and homes for whatever challenges lie ahead. Forgiveness is not just a personal journey; it’s a family affair.
Ultimately, as we learn to find forgiveness in our failures, we become equipped to face the future with hope. Our families can stand firm in the knowledge that no failure is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and that through Him, we can rise again, stronger and more united than before.
Faith Actions
Reflect
How can I open up conversations about grace and forgiveness with my family?
Act
Set aside time this week for an honest conversation with your family about forgiveness, sharing your own struggles and inviting them to share theirs.
Let Us Pray
Lord, I come to You feeling the weight of my failures. Help me to accept Your grace and to extend that grace to my family. May we grow together in understanding and forgiveness as we face the challenges ahead.
About twenty five years ago, the Lord layed on my heart the need to prepare. At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was preparing for, but I knew something was coming.
This blog will be about the journey, and things that we need to do to prepare.
It’s a great time to be a called servant of the King Most High. I am actually thankful for the election of Obama as President of the USA. Yep, I said it.
Certainly, and obviously, the other candidate was my choice – but, the day is now here that the Called of Christ have to make a stand. We’ve hidden in our “churches” with smiles and nice programs for our youth, and preached against those who kill babies, and those who wed in same-sex marraiges. Our rally cry has been a battle against the sinful, while we walk in our pride and display our piety by erecting elaborate buildings – and huddle in comfort with fellow “believers” often ignoring the opportunity to share the love of Christ.
When Jesus and His disciples walked on the earth, the State was powerful and feared. The corruption of the Roman empire was expected, and the church of the day played along so they could keep their “hold” on their positions.
Jesus came and didn’t really play well with the kids who occupied the power positions. He knew those who were in hybris positions of leadership were temporal, and shared about a Kingdom that was eternal. Those who were hurting and living in fear, found hope and life. He didn’t need to constantly berrate those who occupied the temporal leadership positions, in fact, He said to render unto Ceasar that which belonged to the earthly government.
Many who chose to follow Jesus in that day, were persecuted and imprisoned. They sacrificed their lives sharing about the Kingdom of God, not spending hours forwarding e-mails that spoke against the ceasar. The rally for the early believers was sharing the truth of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
I am excited about this day – as the “preparation call” is more relevant than ever. It’s time for those who await the return of the King to come out and tend the fields. The government is not where I place my trust, and liberal government is certainly not my salvation. My Peace, Hope, and Eternal destiny is secure through the shed blood of the Messiah, Yeshua. He is my Rock, and my Salvation.
This is a paradox that I have pondered many times. I plan for the future, yet my plans are often altered (and even hindered) because of past fears and selfish comforts. I sometime find it frustrating when the baggage of the past weighs on the whole concept of preparation. How can I adequately prepare, if I am manipulated by fears? How can I wisely get ready for potential discomforts, when my weak and selfish flesh always presses me for comforts?
I know that God is sovereign, and I also know by Faith that my future is in His hands. That, however; is another area where I sometimes run into a paradox in my thinking – If God has ultimate control of the outcome of my future, why should I be planning anyway? Why would God call me to prepare if He already knows what the future holds – and already has a plan and outcome set for my life?
I have asked the Lord this question often in my daily quiet time with Him. Early-on, I often struggled with the thought that preparation may be nothing more than a manifestation of my fear of things that I discern are coming. Why would I be called to prepare, if I am also called to live by Faith? If I am preparing, does that mean I am no longer living in Faith? After all, Faith is often going where we are uncomfortable and perhaps confronting giants with little more than a rock and a sling.
The more I walk through this preparation process, the more I find that God seems to be preparing me, rather than me preparing for some other outcome. He continually teaches me that many will not be prepared for some struggles ahead, and they will panic when the waves come – rather than staying focused on the Savior.
So, the preparation call seems to be as much an exercise in faith and obedience, as it is truly getting ready for a future calamity. I find that through the difficulties of preparation, I now spend more time looking to Him for guidance – and less time wondering if I have stocked enough ammo.
So, I have learned some things as I’ve traveled on this journey of preparation. I can’t say I’m pleased with what I’ve learned about myself, but I can say it has been quite revealing. In many ways it has exposed me to some personal vulnerabilities that needed to be dealt with.
I felt the “call” to prepare over 30 years ago. For the majority of that time I had developed assumptions about what preparation would actually look like; storing water, planting gardens, hunting, developing new survival skills, etc.
The fact is, preparation has been completely different than I imagined.
Preparation, is an act of obedience. God called Noah to prepare and build an ark so that he and his family could be saved. I’m pretty sure Noah wondered why he was called to prepare, especially knowing that he would look pretty foolish building a huge boat on dry land. I’m also pretty sure he felt humiliated as people confronted him daily and ridiculed him for his silly project. Ultimately, Noah was rewarded for his faithful obedience to his given assignment.
Here are some of the lessons I have learned in this journey. I will expound more upon them later:
Preparation and Prayer should be INTIMATELY related. Never undertake preparation, without first seeking the Lord.
Effective preparation will not be self-focused, but will always include others. Preparation serves the needs of others.
Preparation is important, but is also very fragile.
Preparation is based on Faith: It is the commitment to things hoped for in the future, and is based on the evidence of things visible in the present.
Preparation does not determine the outcome of the future – but it does direct many actions in the present:
Preparation is only partly a rational process. Discernment, faith, and calling all contribute to the preparation process.
Preparation motivates us by pointing attention and effort to a hopeful outcome. It helps us shift from problems to find solutions, turn limitations to possibilities, and changes despair to hope.
We shared last time a beautiful scripture from Psalms – Psalms 29.
This Psalm of David is a beautiful description of the majesty and power of God in a storm of thunder. David’s perspective of viewing this storm was to acknowledge and ascribe the power of this storm to the voice of God. The Psalmist has already given acknowledgement to the God of thunder earlier in his writing. (Psa 18:13)
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. From the voice of God comes the power of the storm. When the thunder comes there is always the sound of accompanying rain.
(Jer 10:13) When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
Should we not listen to the voice of God in the middle of the storm? Should we not give honor and glory which is due to His name when we experience the storm?
(Job 37:4) After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
God will not deceive by His voice, for when He hath spoken then will men hear what He is saying clearly. The Psalmist David is saying in this Psalm that the powerful and majestic God thunders with his voice and breaks the great cedars of Lebanon. Trees that can grow to be bigger than any other can be broken like twigs at the voice of our great God.
Paul the apostle said to the Church of Corinth,
(1Co 2:4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
When Gods people begin to thunder with our voice under the anointing of the Spirit of God then we can begin to uproot those things in our lives that holds us back from the awesome glory and majesty of our great God. James and John was called the sons of thunder indicating their voice of the gospel was heard clearly under the anointing of Christ Jesus. Oh how our voice needs to be raised in these days to clearly speak forth what God is uttering from heaven. (more…)
Arise and shine for the light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1
Today, we want to share a devotion we received and hope it will give you encouragement. It is time to Rise Up! It is time to set aside fear! It is time to move forward with boldness and courage!
Times are very tough, and fear is impacting in a lot of lives. We are beginning to see the challenging times that we have been preparing for. God hasn’t just prepared us to store food so we can eat during a global food shortage. We have been called for a purpose. We are to be overcomers, untouched by recession and all that we read or hear in the news. God holds our future and we are safe and secure in the palm of His hand.
It is time to step-it-up-a-notch and move to a higher place and take a higher position. When a solider has been hurt and wounded in battle, he may be slumped over and walk with a limp. However, after a time of rest and recovery, he can walk straight and stand up tall. The Lord is calling us to rise up and stand tall.
We are living in challenging times and what used to work, doesn’t work anymore. For instance, there was a time you could put ten dollars worth of gas in your car and drive all day. Those days are over and so is casual Christianity. You can’t go very far on ten dollars; it takes $80 to fill my tank and it takes more to fill my spirit. A ten minute prayer time or a ten minute time in the Word will not work.
I believe we are living in a time when we must know God and His Word like never before. You must know who you are and realize the authority God has given you as His child. You are a citizen of the Kingdom, a joint heir with Jesus Christ, and therefore you should be living by a higher standard. The kingdom of God is at hand. He has put His Word in our heart and He expects us to use His Word to speak life into dead things, and hope into hopeless people. This is a time to arise and shine for the light has come.
Encourage those who have fear. Share the Good News of a loving God who has offered His Grace and Mercy, and will never leave us or forsake us!
The Prepared Heart
