November 28, 2016
Finding Strength in the LORD by Agreeing With God…
My first memory of deliberately disobeying my parents occurred during the Christmas season, over fifty-five years ago. My parents hid some Christmas gifts for me in the upper kitchen cabinet and my mother emphatically told me to “Stay out of those cabinets”. I clearly remember waiting until the first opportune moment, then dragging the chair to the counter, climbing up and reaching as high as I could inside the cabinet to feel around for the boxes. I found what I was looking for…charms for my bracelet…shiny and beautiful! I reluctantly put them back into their hiding place, closed the cabinet, and removed the chair!
The more I thought about my actions…I wasn’t sure what to do about that heavy feeling…and the more miserable I became. My conscience and I were in a battle and my guilt became a daunting, threatening giant. Honestly, I felt ashamed and regret-filled, and I could not undo my mistake. I finally fell asleep that night, hoping that the morning would blot out the memory but, the sense of dread clouded my heart once again. I think that we can all relate…we know that feeling!
I found myself sobbing and confessing my crime to my mother, only to be met with her words, “I know what you did…you left evidence behind!” (Evidently, I had left the shelves in disarray before slamming the cabinet door) I very willingly agreed with her that my actions were clearly wrong, classified as blatant disobedience. And, the truth was that I was deeply sorry, and felt exuberant when I acknowledged my disobedience, and when I genuinely agreed that their way was best…It was wonderful to experience a clear conscience!
Just as my mother knew exactly what I had done, our Heavenly Father knows every detail of our lives…not only our actions, but our thoughts and He knows the really heavy cost which occurs, when His people deliberately refuse His ways, and when they fail to agree with Him.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
This verse fascinates me…no, it amazes me! The word confess is from the Greek word, homologeo, meaning to acknowledge, to agree with, to not refuse, but to promise, to confess, or declare openly, to praise, to celebrate.
God’s word instructs us to confess our sins, although our faithful and loving Heavenly Father already knows every single one of our mistakes, mishaps, messes, and our sins. He is not interested in our detailed list of every transgression we have committed since yesterday, waiting to grade our papers in order to absolve us, when we include every one of them…which is totally impossible…
Rather, He is asking His children to come into agreement with Him, to acknowledge the wonder of His ways, of His sovereignty, of His majesty, of who He is…of the fact that He is God and we are not…to acknowledge that He is Wisdom…to acknowledge to Him the truth about ourselves…which He already knows.
He wants us to acknowledge the fact that our sinful nature cannot be redeemed except by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ…and only when we step into relationship with Him, His forgiveness falls upon us through His shed blood. And, we experience His peace when we are walking with Him, in His ways.
As you meet with your Faithful God this week, focus on places in your life and in your heart where you need to shift from your ways, to God’s ways, confessing and agreeing with Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind and your attention the areas in your life where God is waiting and willing to battle those giants which are causing anguish in your conscience and in your life. Confess and agree with Him that His Ways are truly His BEST…and, the best for you. When you agree with God Almighty, you step into the army of the LORD of HOSTS who promises to go before you…but…we must choose to follow Him.
Remember, your Father always shows up and is always on time…HE WAITS FOR YOU TO AGREE WITH HIM, and to acknowledge Him as your God, the LORD of HOSTS…who fights for you!
I continue to pray for you as you Find Strength in your LORD.
