08/10/2022
God put this on my heart this morning… It’s a bit long, but I know there are some who need this today...
Are you struggling? Are you feeling worried about something? Fearful? Anxious? Angry? Unworthy or inadequate? Sad? Frustrated?
God is the God of Love. Christ is the Prince of Peace. And the evidence to us and the world of their presence in your life is joy, patience, forgiveness, faith, love, and peace. If you don’t seem to have these in abundance, you must not have God in abundance.
Remember, Christ will leave the 99 to after 1 who is lost or who has wondered away.
When we notice our life seems aggravating, full of stress, anxiety and fear we must conclude that we’ve somehow wandered away from God.
To get back, you’ve already taken the first step – to recognize when you’re away.
Repentance literally means to turn around and go the other way, but it is a process. It involves confessing and asking forgiveness, first of God, then of anyone else we’ve involved. This part is important but often overlooked. Probably because it requires humility.
Confessing to God that we’ve turned away from him, for whatever length of time, requires us to recognize that we’ve hurt Him. Just like we’d be hurt if our child walked away from us for any length of time. We’d feel rejected.
We also must ask not only God’s forgiveness, but the forgiveness of those we brought along with us and given a false representation of God to. This doesn’t just include what we’ve said to people, but what we’ve done that others have witnessed. If they know you claim to be a follower of Christ and see you manifesting not love, but apathy or hate; not peace but fear; not faith but worry – once you get back to Christ you need to confess to them that you found yourself away from God but are on your way back. It will clear up their picture of God’s enduring love and patience for all of us, get us back on track sooner, and a source of growth for everyone involved! Think what a powerful message that would send!
Repenting is not just going back to Him, but a seeking of what led you astray in the first place, AND how you got back. Retrace your thoughts and see if you can’t find the moment you first wandered. What distracted you? What triggered you? We’ve either followed the devil, or any of his minions, on some lark or distraction or we’ve given in to our own desires. Was it a devilish lie that you need more sleep and therefore can’t get up early to pray, or that you don’t have time to go to church or Bible study? Was it your own desire to have fun Saturday night instead of going to church Sunday morning or your priorities of time that devote more to your own desires (or kids desires) than spending time with God.
Figure it out. The Spirit will lead you.
Likewise, you need to figure out what got you back. Where do you find God most often? When I’ve wondered away I can always find God in nature. If I’m not in a position to go outside I can either put myself there mentally, or listen to some Christian music, read scripture, or prayer. You may find God in church, Bible Study, or hanging out with Christian friends.
Whatever it is – it’s up to you to find it, though you do have help.
As you do these things:
1) Recognize you’ve wondered into the devils territory of fear, worry, anger, and anxiety
2) Confess aloud to God and whoever you’ve brought with you
3) Ask forgiveness both from God and those you may have brought with you or given false witness of Christ to along the way, and
4) Ask the Spirit of God to help you discover what led you away in the first place and what brought you back…
YOU ARE TURNING. You are repenting.
Remember, it is a process. It took a little bit to get lost – it will take a little bit to get back! But back is where you belong – and you will NEVER make the journey alone!
