On more than one occasion in my life, I've thought how I wish I could take that back; if I had my time again, I'd do it differently...
One of the biggest ways that Satan tries to get at us is with regret. He enjoys throwing our wrongdoings and mistakes back in our face; he enjoys seeing us stew in disappointment and shame.
God warns us against this, as we read in the Bible from 1 Peter 5:8 to
God warns us against this, as we read in the Bible from 1 Peter 5:8 to
'be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.'
The truth is we aren't perfect, in fact far from it. 'We all stumble in many ways' James 3:2. We have made and will continue to make mistakes and fall short. Satan loves it.
'...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...' Romans 3:23
What does it mean to fall short? It means that we come up short. We, in our imperfect human state are deficient, destitute and lacking in giving God glory; giving Him the honour, praise, worship, eminence and acclamation in and through our lives, that He deserves and is rightfully due.
Through His deep love, He opened up a way for us to be able to praise and glorify Him now, and forever in eternity when our short life here on earth fades away. He did this by giving us Jesus - a little bundle of joy destined for such despair and agony in suffering the most harrowing death, for us, so that we may have the opportunity to choose, and do so, to trust and follow Him, and thus be restored to give God glory, and ultimately spared from indescribable suffering in eternity.
But when we do 'fall' and make a mistake, it is assuring to know that 'if we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' 1 John 1:9.
'Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe' ~Romans 3:22.
Righteousness is equity of character; that which is established through a renewed heart, by seeking to follow and implicitly trust God with all things in your life. Knowing that He is in control and that your life just isn't floating by the way side, doesn't go with the tide and buffeted by the wind brings reassurance and peace.
'The fruit [or product] of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever' ~Isaiah 32:17. Confidence in being sure that God is sovereign, He is in control and '"...know[s] the plans [He has] for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"' ~Jeremiah 29:11.
Yes, there will be times when anxiety, doubt and fear creep in. We need to 'cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you' ~1 Peter 5:7.
It is during these times of anxiety that our guard in down, and we are more susceptible to believe and buy into the lies the devil.
'Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.' (5:8)
The passage continues, and encourages us to 'resist him [the adversary], (by) standing firm in the faith...' v9. In faith we 'submit [ourselves] to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you' ~James 4:7
'Standing firm' means rather than attempting to resist in our own strength (in which will ultimately fail in the end); remain solid, strong, steadfast and sure in the power and sovereignty of God to bring us through and grow in our hearts to do what is right, according to His Word (the Bible).
'...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...' Romans 3:23
What does it mean to fall short? It means that we come up short. We, in our imperfect human state are deficient, destitute and lacking in giving God glory; giving Him the honour, praise, worship, eminence and acclamation in and through our lives, that He deserves and is rightfully due.
Through His deep love, He opened up a way for us to be able to praise and glorify Him now, and forever in eternity when our short life here on earth fades away. He did this by giving us Jesus - a little bundle of joy destined for such despair and agony in suffering the most harrowing death, for us, so that we may have the opportunity to choose, and do so, to trust and follow Him, and thus be restored to give God glory, and ultimately spared from indescribable suffering in eternity.
But when we do 'fall' and make a mistake, it is assuring to know that 'if we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' 1 John 1:9.
'Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe' ~Romans 3:22.
Righteousness is equity of character; that which is established through a renewed heart, by seeking to follow and implicitly trust God with all things in your life. Knowing that He is in control and that your life just isn't floating by the way side, doesn't go with the tide and buffeted by the wind brings reassurance and peace.
'The fruit [or product] of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever' ~Isaiah 32:17. Confidence in being sure that God is sovereign, He is in control and '"...know[s] the plans [He has] for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"' ~Jeremiah 29:11.
Yes, there will be times when anxiety, doubt and fear creep in. We need to 'cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you' ~1 Peter 5:7.
It is during these times of anxiety that our guard in down, and we are more susceptible to believe and buy into the lies the devil.
'Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.' (5:8)
The passage continues, and encourages us to 'resist him [the adversary], (by) standing firm in the faith...' v9. In faith we 'submit [ourselves] to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you' ~James 4:7
'Standing firm' means rather than attempting to resist in our own strength (in which will ultimately fail in the end); remain solid, strong, steadfast and sure in the power and sovereignty of God to bring us through and grow in our hearts to do what is right, according to His Word (the Bible).
Praise be to God that He is great, He is awesome; He is loving, forgiving, merciful and full of grace. This fills me with abounding joy and immeasurable love and thankfulness.
'Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness' Psalm 115:1.
'Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness' Psalm 115:1.
With God, when you trust in Him, he doesn't keep score of past wrongdoings, like the adversary does; he writes truth on our hearts, loves us unconditionally, fills us with abounding joy, and a peace that cannot be explained.
In life, you cannot recover:
In life, you cannot recover:
a STONE after it's thrown,
TRUST after it's betrayed,
the WORD after it’s said,
TRUST after it's betrayed,
the WORD after it’s said,
the MOMENT after it’s missed and
the TIME after it’s gone...
~ Unknown
Oh Lord, 'teach us to number our days aright, that we may harvest a heart of wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days' ~Psalm 90:12-13.
Amen.
