How many of you, that are believers, choose to say a repetitious prayer "God, forgive me of all my sins"? Have you ever thought that perhaps that is not nearly enough? I have, but today it was brought home fully. I am reading about the bronze laver that was placed between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, for the Israelites that God brought out of Egypt. (Exodus 30:18 NKJV) This bronze laver was for washing the hands and feet of the priests before they could enter into the tabernacle of meeting. If they did not they would die.
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?And did you know that the base of the laver was made of bronze mirrors? Why do you think that was? It was made to be a reflection of the priests' sins, so that they would have to truly examine their sins and repent of them.
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Psalm 24:3-4 NKJV
Beth Moore states in her study that "several years ago I ceased the repetitious prayer 'Forgive me of all my sins' because I realized that I could not turn away from a sin I had not first confronted."Have you thought about that? When you repent of your sins and ask forgiveness, do you first examine and confront each sin? What a daunting task! I don't want to do it, for sure, but I realize that unless I truly examine my heart, and my motives, I am not truly repenting, or dying to self. I do not have a Godly sorrow for my sins. If we are not truly sorry for a sin, and yet we ask God to forgive it, we are wasting our time. If you find yourself in this position, perhaps you should ask God for Godly sorrow so that you can truly repent and be guaranteed your forgiveness. (see 1 John 1:9 NKJV) This is what I shall be doing, to be sure.
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrew 10:22 NKJV
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 1 Peter 1:22 NKJVThe tabernacle of meeting was the place where the priests fellowshipped with God! How awesome that the priests had to first pass by the blood and the water before they could fellowship with Him. We too, must do the same thing. Jesus has already become our sacrifice, we must only accept it. Then we must be washed in the purifying water of the Spirit. Only then can we be in true fellowship with Him.
--Lord today, I confess my sins to you, and I ask your forgiveness, though I have not named them, each one here, I have named them to you personally, and I ask for your forgiveness of them. Lord I ask for a Godly sorrow to pierce my soul for every transgression against you, that I might be purified by the Spirit, and truly pure in Your sight. I pray this for all that read these words today as well. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
I'd like to recommend a couple songs for today. There is no video for them to show to you, but you can go to the website and listen to it. The song is Stay Near to God by Jon Shabaglian. Wake Up is also a great song. He is a relatively unknown artist, but you can just click on the song title in the playlist to listen to it. He is a local artist (to me) and could use your support, if you should choose to buy his music.
There is no "MORE" to this post.
Shalene- I just read your October 9th post, and then I read this one. You are such a blessing and your strength and faithfulness in the midst of heartache is truly something beautiful. Know that I am praying for you and that my tears fall alongside your own.
ReplyDeleteMuch Love,
Michelle
Excellent post Shalene!!! I didn't pray a blanket prayer or anything but I too sometimes have a problem with Godly sorrow. I don't have a worldly sorrow either - sometimes I'm indifferent which is a HUGE problem. I've often wondered if my conscience was seared, or if I was given over. But I think I don't feel sometimes because it is the result of my past. All the things I've done and the lifestyle I've lead has aided in this sometimes stoney heart. It is my fault. I am reaping the consequences of what I sowed.
ReplyDeleteI TRY to have a bowed heart to Him always - all day long meaning no matter what I do or where I go, I always have Jesus in my mind. And by doing this, I am constantly examining myself throughout the day. If I only think of Jesus in the evening when I spend my prayer time with Him - then I would have gone all day without Him in my thoughts and may have racked up a bunch of sins that I would forget to confess later. But if He's on my heart ALL the time, then I see these things throughout my day - I sort of catch myself before I actually do something. The Lord has saved me MANY times from sinning because He revealed to me my heart and motives before I acted, and then I would pray immediately for thank Him.
Carol, You and I probably have much the same past, because I've found myself to be indifferent as well, sometimes. And you are right it is a HUGE problem. :) I too find that I must keep Him in my heart throughout the day, repenting of my sins or even the temptation of sin, so that I don't forget them as well. It's much too easy to fall back into the lifestyle and person I once was. When you are a certain way long enough, you have to fight to be the person God meant you to be. I get it, I truly do. Blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, thank you for your kind words too. I've said it before and I'll say it again: All glory to Him. If it were not Him in my life, I would not be this person. I would be someone wholly different, and not someone very likeable, once you got to know me. I can say now that God has changed me into something completely different than I once was, and I will not lose sight of that or let go of Him for one instance. I do NOT EVER want to be that other person again. Blessings to you and yours, and thank you so much for your prayers.