Tag Archive | 1 John 1:9

Fess Up

Jan27

As followers of Christ it is so important that we remove a major roadblock to our prayers being heard. That may seem like a very strange comment but it really isn’t. We have a part in this. So what is this roadblock? Unconfessed sin. Too often we rush into the presence of God and start making requests when we have neglected to confess our sins first and ask for His forgiveness. We know that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9) This is a beautiful fact to remember. However as we look at our Bibles we will see that not confessing our sins and just making our requests known will not ensure His hearing or answering of our prayers.

Psalm 66:18-20 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,  the Lord would not have listened.
 But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer  or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Isaiah 59: 1,2 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call.  It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.  Because of your sins, He has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Micah 3:4 Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not hear them: He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds.

Jesus told us in Mark 11:25, 26 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

The importance of confessing our sins is emphasized so heavily in the book of Corinthians where we are told just how important it is to do before partaking in Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.  For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.

Perhaps the reason some of our prayers have not been answered is because we have approached God with an unrepentant heart and ignored just how important it is we remember He is holy. He is just. He is God. Not just a Santa Clause like figure that we can run to regardless of the condition of our heart and give Him our want list.

So why not start your day off on the right foot and confess your sins. Start your day clean and right before God, knowing that any sin barrier has been removed and you can commune with Him throughout the day. Though He hates sin, He is well aware that we are flawed humans and through Jesus Christ His precious Son, He has made a way for us to be able to come boldly before His throne in prayer. And don’t forget to take time to thank Him for the fact that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins!

Have a blessed day!

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Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Nov26

Over the last few weeks I have had to battle not getting sucked into the discouragement of the world with all that is happening. I have had days of joy but also days where I have allowed the heaviness of the coming storm to get me down and have not handled it as well as I should have. The Lord reminded me today that HE is coming back soon for His bride! Our blessed hope, our beautiful Savior and King is coming back soon for us! This is to be our focus as we navigate our way through the coming days. There is nothing this world can do that can detract from the amazing truth that our Redeemer, the One who bought us our salvation on the cross, the One who has given us the Comforter to help and guide us, the One who promised to return for His bride, is coming back soon!

We MUST live every day with this in mind. Our focus must not be on the rising tide of evil. We can speak against it and pray for those involved but we can’t park on thoughts of evil and destruction. It is a tool of the devil to try and keep us so earthly focused we forget to be excitedly awaiting the beautiful appearance of our glorious bridegroom! When we focus on the coming storm, it may cause us to fill our time doing things that will tear us down. Discouragement, fear and anxiety can lead to overeating, self medicating or watching useless tv programs as a distraction. Most of us have fallen prey to these things from time to time. Our time is short here. Jesus Christ is coming back soon. We must use our time wisely.

Ephesians 5:15-17 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

We have all lived like fools from time to time but it’s time to put away foolishness and repent. We must keep our heart in a constant state of repentance and tender towards God and His word for us. 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

This world is not our home. Heaven is our home. As we see the world unravel more and more each day, that should be a reminder to us not to become to attached to anything here. Hebrews 13:14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

I want to finish up today with the words of Apostle Paul to Titus. They are so relevant for a time such as this. Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you cannot look forward to the blessed hope God promises us. If you want to be assured of your eternity destination being Heaven please pray with me here..

Father God: Please forgive me. I am a sinner that is not worthy of Your love yet You sent Your only Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, despite that fact. I repent of my sins. I am truly sorry for the things I have done that have separated myself from You. Please wash me clean right now through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. I want to follow Him for the rest of my life and know that I will one day spend eternity with Him in Heaven. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me from this time onward and I ask that He will help me to understand Your words in the Bible so that I may grow in my new found faith in You.

Thank you Father for providing Your Son as a way for me to find myself in right relationship with You.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Blessings!

Find yourself waiting?

Mar24

Sometimes while we are waiting on a change in circumstances or increase in an area of our life we grow restless. We begin to fret and complain. We become discontent. Perhaps we are waiting on a job promotion and begin to envy those who have been promoted. Perhaps we have a financial need and grow impatient waiting on the ability to take care of it. Perhaps we have a health issue we are waiting to see resolved. Perhaps we are wanting an opportunity to use our giftings in the church and find ourselves having to wait on an opening to do so.

When we find ourselves in this place, a place of waiting, the Word of God tells us how we are to wait. Seldom is it how we find ourselves waiting. God knows are natural, fleshly tendencies and therefore the Word is full of reminders of just how we are to wait. So if you currently find yourself in a place of waiting, regardless of what you are waiting on or for, take a look at but a few verses from the Word of God to remind you of the importance of waiting and how we are to wait…

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.~Isaiah 40:31

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.~Psalm  37:7

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.~Psalm 130:5

Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.~Psalm 25:5 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.~Psalm 27:13,14

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!~Isaiah 30:18

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.~Matthew 6:34

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us his mercy.~Psalm 123:1,2

And finally one of my favorites.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.~Matthew 6:33

For when we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first, everything else will eventually fall into place! He will  meet our needs, He will work out those challenges that are beyond are capability, He will move in the hearts of Kings, rulers and others in our lives. He will take care of us!  Rushing ahead of God and trying to orchestrate things in the flesh never works out for our good or the good of others. Wait on the Lord! He is trustworthy! He is faithful! He will come through for all those who wait on Him!

Blessings!

Mercy triumphs over judgement!

Nov4

1 John 1:9

Our God is a holy God. I believe many of us have minimized His holiness from time to time in order to make Him seem more approachable. His holiness is not dependent on our needs, wants or desires. His holiness is who He is. He will never be any less holy or more holy. He is holiness.

So the question is, how then can we sinful people, approach God who is so holy with our prayers? We know deep down we don’t deserve to. We know we will never be “good enough” on our own. We know He will see right through our cleaned up appearance to a heart that is deceitful.

I am thankful that although He is holy , He is also merciful. Because of His mercy, He sent His most precious Son to this earth to make a way for us to approach His holiness.  He made a way where there was no way! He provided His Son as the sacrificial lamb for  you and I. He watched His perfect and holy Son suffer a painful death on the cross because of His love for us. Our sins were on His back as He died on that cross.  He indeed made a way where there was no way!

If you do not know Him as your Savior, it’s time you did. Pray this Salvation Prayer today. Don’t wait a minute longer and you too will become a child of God.

Heavenly Father:

I come to you today asking for forgiveness for all my sins. I know I am a sinner and need saving. I am truly sorry for all my sins and the life I have lived without you and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ, Your Son, died on the cross and shed His blood for my sins. I believe that He rose again from the dead and is now seated in Heaven. I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior right now and according to Your word from Romans chapter 10 verse 9 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” I am now saved!  Thank you for this gift of salvation. Please guide me now and fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may live my life for You. In Jesus name, Amen. 

You have now become a child of God! It is so important that you begin to read the Bible, perhaps starting in the book of Matthew (New Testament). It is also important that you look for a Bible based church where you can grow as a believer and have fellowship with other Christians.

If you are a follower of Christ but have gotten off track and have forgotten that He died for ALL your sins, not just the “little” ones, bring the rest to Him. Confess them and be restored. If you are bound by thoughts, feelings, fears etc. bring them before Him. He is able to set you free. Ask for forgiveness for the things you have opened yourself up to that have brought these things about and ask Him to free you.

1 John 1:9NIV 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Heavenly Father:

 I come before you today, asking for forgiveness for all my sins. I have strayed and disobeyed you and your word. Please forgive me of all my sins and transgressions. I confess (name the sins you are carrying around) I am truly sorry. Please forgive me for opening up areas of my life to sin and bondage. I am sorry and ask that you close the door on any areas I have opened that need shutting. Please restore my peace and joy in You. Guide me with your Holy Spirit so that I may live a life that is pleasing to you. Give me a hunger for your Word, my Bible. Give me a love for others. Create a clean heart in me and renew a right spirit within me today. I ask it all in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Don’t waste another day wallowing in the mire. For everyone that has asked Christ to be their Lord and Savior has indeed been made His righteousness!

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV21 God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  

You now have every right to come before God as His child with your prayers, praise and thanksgiving at any time in any place.   Jesus paid the price in full for your sin and has opened the door for you to enter into the holy of holies to your Heavenly Father. Don’t delay, enter today!

What are you feeding your mind?

Jun18

The Word of God says Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. I want to be part of that and I expect all followers of Christ do too! So why is it we see so many in the body of Christ  more concerned about watching the next big game, or episode of their favorite tv show than they are about being ready for our Kings return? We need to be like the virgins with their lampstands and be ready! Sadly we have allowed our minds to become too preoccupied with  temporal things and have shelved eternal things, thinking we can always get back to them.

I feel a stirring in my heart that I need to lay aside the things that easily distract me and move into a deeper walk with Jesus. I have spoken to many people lately that have that same stirring. So how do we go about doing that? We need to start by changing what we are feeding our minds. If we haven’t been reading our Bibles it’s time to get back to doing that. It’s our love letter from our Father and without it we will not grow spiritually. We need to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness for putting anything and or everything before Him. We need to renew our minds on truth.  Our walk with Christ is a journey from glory to glory. In order to grow more like our Savior we need to spend time with Him in prayer and spend time in His Word renewing our minds.

As much as I like to watch and read current news, I realize though it  informs me of the troubles of the world,  it can’t offer any real solutions. And though I like to educate myself on issues like health, food, gardening etc.. I need to bear in mind that these things too are temporal. Good to know but if I am spending more time on them than time with the lover of my soul, my walk with Him will begin to suffer.  The things we spend the most time feeding  our minds on are the things that will grow and flourish within us. What we feed grows and what we neglect dies that’s why it is so critical to keep our minds set on eternal things. Otherwise, our walk with Christ will suffer greatly and our growth will stop. We will find ourselves stumbling around in the dark wondering what happened? We lose our peace, joy, spiritual discernment and so many other things that God freely gives us when we don’t abide in Him.

If you find yourself in that place now, cry out to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you for putting anyone or anything before Him, confess your sins to Him. His Word tells us that,  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. ( 1John 1:9)  He longs to have fellowship with you again! Get back into the Word of God. Just as your body needs food daily, so does your spirit. Begin to renew your mind on the things of God through His Word. Aim to spend less time on the temporal and more on the eternal, where the fruit born is eternal.

Romans 12:2 NIV2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Phillipians 4:8 NIV 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Are you hiding from the Light?

Apr4

Jeremiah 23:24 NIV "Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see ?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:24 NIV “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

I am thankful to God for His patience with me.  I am so grateful that He is slow to anger and kind. That He longs for fellowship with each and every one of us.  I can remember at one time believing that whenever I screwed up in my walk with Christ, God would be angry with me, so I would find myself avoiding Him for a while. I would steer clear of  the intimacy of prayer as it would require my having to come clean and fess up.

Before too long however,  I would miss our fellowship. I would toss up the odd prayer but with no real expectancy due to the fact I knew there were things between us putting up a barrier from intimacy. Eventually I would cave and come before Him with a heart of repentance and fess up. The peace and freedom that would follow was amazing. I’m not sure why I ever thought things would get better on their own!

I am thankful that I no longer try and hide anything from Him. He sees all, knows all and it is a complete and utter waste of time allowing any sin to remain between us.  When I screw up now, I don’t waste the time  I used to fessing up. It keeps the lines of communication open with the lover of my soul. It allows for instant access and freedom in making my requests known when I come to Him with a need for others or for myself.  If you have drifted from intimacy in your prayer life, perhaps it’s time you tear down the  barriers.

If  you have sin in your life you have been holding onto, hoping neither God nor anyone else will see it,  it’s time to get rid of it!  Don’t waste another day without intimacy with the King of  Kings.

The Word of God says in 1John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will cleanse us of ALL unrighteousness.

Let His light shine  into all the dark areas of your life. Don’t allow anything to keep you from coming boldly to the throne!

John 3:19-21 NIV 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,  so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.