Falling Into Sin

Scripture warns us to constantly guard ourselves against the temptations of this world; it makes no bone about it that we are living in a world we were not meant for! Even scarier is that the keeper of this world and his followers seem to pervert any situation possible in an attempt to cause us to stumble. Their full intent is just to get us to take our eyes off of God, they know that for some it will only take a moment and they can consume that person and take them captive. I’m not a huge sports fan but the way about it is similar to being at a basketball game; a player has just been fouled so he gets the opportunity to shoot a free throw. (I think I got the terminology right…) Anyways, there the player stands ready to take a shot at the basket, hoping to put a few extra points on the board. The opponent’s team and their supporter’s roars with enthusiasm, their main goal: to distract the player, to get him to lose focus hoping he won’t complete the throw.

I can only speak for myself, but my life is a lot like that moment, I intently focus my eye on the goal; Christ. But in the background the noise of opposition roars throughout the world, louder and louder making it more difficult to keep my eyes focused on God. Peer pressure and temptations surround me, I think this is why find scriptures that instruct us to put on the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:11-17

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics^[a] of the Devil. ¹² For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. ¹³ This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand, therefore,

with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.^[b]
16 In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.

This scripture details how we are to live each day. Sin is prevalent throughout our lives; my life is no exception! I continue to fall victim to sin more often than I would like to admit. In my own human weakness I falter and I fall, and each time I do I get back up and try to focus not on my failures, instead I chose to focus on what I can do to build my armor and stand strong the next time the wind blows.

There are several things weighing on my heat and I have been writing about, waiting for God to give me the green light. Tonight, He has chosen to use something very personal to me, tonight I feel God stirring to me to share with you something that took place in my life very recently. Everything has a purpose and it’s my prayer that by sharing this experience with you that someone will hear what they've needed to hear, even if  just one heart is transformed my personal vulnerability will not  go in vain, and no matter the outcome I am confident that in confessing my sins I am doing as the Lord commands. Perhaps just confessing my own short comings is His purpose for putting these words on my heart.

  I stand here tonight with a confession within the last two weeks I chose to intentionally commit a sin. I want to clarify the significance of the previous statement; every day I sin, but on this day I made the conscious decision to commit a sin simply because it was what I wanted, I chose to gain an instant pleasure knowing it was heartbreaking to God. The guilt I have carried knowing that I chose to sin and I chose to hurt God has been intense and hopefully has had a powerful enough effect on my heart that I will never make that type of decision again!

I won’t deny the truth that I sin on a regular basis, I am human and scripture teaches us that we all fall short, this is the reason we need Jesus Christ!

Romans 3:23

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the^[a] glory of God.

Just take a look around, it’s easy to see an increase in this disconnected way of thinking, people; yes even Christians, have begun to find justification for the small sins in their every day lives. My confession is that I intentionally committed a sin, I made a conscious decision knowing what I was doing was wrong!

What started as a simple thought, found in my heart some fertile soil and it began to take root. Instead of tending the soil of my heart, like I knew I should have by taking it to the cross, I allowed it to keep growing and to eventually play out in my life and I chose to commit an intentional sin. In all honestly  I can’t deny that I knew full well that if I honestly took this seed and placed it at the foot of the cross  and allowed Jesus to have it, then  I wasn't going  to get to dabble in this little but of “ harmless fun”. It’s undeniable that sin can be fun, especially in the moment, but when we count the costs we see the path of devastation and destruction that it leaves behind. So I allowed myself to remain deceitful and the rest is history.

 After I had committed my offense I was still elated in the thrill of the moment, I called a friend and began to tell her about the all “fun” I had. Sensing that I had not yet come off of my high, she gently tried to nudge me back down out of the clouds. At that point I still had myself so convinced that this was not really sin and was not dishonoring to God, I just knew He would be okay with the idea of me having a little “fun”. Gracious in her approach she didn't just come out and slap me upside the head (although I definitely deserved it) instead she allowed me to keep talking and describing the events that had played out. Looking back I see that the more I talked, the more I found myself trying to justify the event, not to her but necessarily but to myself. I love how God can get into your own heart and discipline you in a deep way. Personal conviction is a powerful discipline tool that God uses in my life!

Initially convinced I was over thinking things, I tried to ignore Gods voice in my heart. It was the voice of conviction.  I kept it at bay for a few days and I allowed myself to justify my indulgences over and over again in my mind, but in my heart I knew the truth. Looking back in hind sights view I see how that small seed progressed and took root and began to grow. My realization came fairly quickly, and my heart is heavy knowing that I chose to disobey my Heavenly Father, that I made the decision to break His heart all so I could experience a moment of pleasure. If you’re like me you are probably intensely searching for any clues in what you have read, trying to find some indication of what the sin I committed was. Try as you may you won’t find what you’re looking for, not because I am trying to hide it or save face by not revealing the sin in detail. You won’t find the details because you may miss the real message! If you take anything away from what you’ve read please let it be this; in my own human selfishness I chose to sin, I chose to break God’s heart and to disobey Him. Not only have I hurt God but I hurt myself and unfortunately another individual as well. This way of living is not acceptable to the standards of God, the church, or to my own personal standards.

But wait! There’s more! Here’s where the good news comes in, like a prince on a white horse ready to rescue me from my shortcomings! God loves me so much that He sent His son Jesus to this earth, to be nailed to a cross and to die so that I can be forgiven for my sin! Take a minute and read that last sentence again.

 God loves YOU so much that He sent His son Jesus to this earth, to be nailed to a cross and to die so that YOU can be forgiven for YOUR sin!

I don’t know about you, but that just blows my mind! Think about it; the God of the universe loves little tiny rebellious me (you) so much that He sacrificed His son for my (your) transgressions. Please don’t misunderstand, there will be a day when we all will stand before the mighty and just God and we will be held accountable for the decisions we have made, but because of the blood of Christ, those intentional decisions have not condemned us to eternal damnation in hell. That is unless you have not made the decision to accept the free gift of salvation, in that case as you’ll see in the scripture below you do not have this eternal confidence, but rest assured all that is required is a willing and open heart and you too can be covered by the blood of Christ, set free from your sins and past transgressions and given the greatest gift of all: salvation!

Romans 8

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

8 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,^[a] 2 because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you^[b] free from the law of sin and of death. 3 What the law could not do since it was limited^[c] by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain,^[d] and as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live^[e] according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live^[f] according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since^[g] the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. ¹⁰ Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead^[h] because of sin, but the Spirit^[i] is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through^[j] His Spirit who lives in you.

My prayer for my readers:

“Father I pray that your presence be so profound over those reading this! I ask that you bring a peace unlike anything ever felt before and cover any feelings of regret from our transgressions and replace them with the hope that can only be found through a relationship with you, allow them to feel the beauty that is shown through Your mercy and Your grace! Father thank You for sending Your Son and for trading  His righteousness for our transgressions through His selfless death on the cross as undeserving as we are to receive such a magnificent gift! Father I pray for those who have not yet found You, who have not accepted Jesus and whose sins have not been covered by His blood, I pray that You reveal Yourself to them so that they too can experience your forgiveness, which unlike anything in world. Thank you for Your love, for Your redemption, for Your sacrifice, help me to continue on the narrow path and give me the wisdom to take action when I begin to stray. In the name of Your Holy Lamb Jesus I pray, Amen”

Beautiful Submission

As a young Christian woman
new in my faith, the topic of submission always seemed to bother something deep inside of me. I couldn't wrap my mind, or my heart around the idea of submitting completely to anyone, not even to Christ. The word itself stirred emotions inside of me that were rooted extremely deep. I was a young naive woman, and I had no idea the work the Lord had begun to do in my heart.
I recall a conversation that took place just a few months into my walk with God. I was talking with a guy my age from my church about his recent growth and journey with God. He shared with me his testimony about how the Lord was showing him how to be a better leader in his home. Then he began to share with me the journey his wife had begun, learning to be a more submissive wife. That conversation hit a nerve, I tried to continue listening, meanwhile all I could think about was how radical the things he was saying were. I had no understanding whatsoever of what he was talking about; in fact I was sure he was off his rocker!
It's amazing how much a person's perspective can change as they grow in their own personal relationship with Christ.......
One day, the Lord began moving in my heart and a transformation began to take place deep within me. I think that's the point I moved from having just a "religous belief" in God to having a real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I am now begining to understand and appreciate the beauty and grace that comes when a woman submits herself fully to Christ. That stubborn strong willed girl suddenly has begun a life altering transformation into a graceful woman desperately seeking a personal relationship with her creator.
Before I had always considered the term submission to be a negative description, one that showed weakness and vulnerability. Now, Jesus is giving me the eyes to see just how amazing submission truly is! Having the strength to humble yourself in honor and respect is a symbol of love and total devotion, it's a sacred act that demonstrates a deep love that is unshakeable.
When I look at the life of Jesus Christ I stand in amazement at the example He set for us in showing His complete submission, even to the point of being nailed on a cross. If the son of God was willing to show such submission, shouldn't I be? The more in love I fall with God the more I want to submit to Him. I am drawn to surrendering everything in my life to Him and I am completely satisfied when I manage to do just that. The reality is that I am human and so often I fall short of true submission.
It's amazing to me the transformation that takes place in a person's heart when they allow God to be in the drivers seat. I can't wait for the day when God blesses me with a spouse, when I too will have the opportunity to serve my husband as a biblical wife. Because of the transforming power of Christ in me I long for this day. God can change anyone's heart, you just have to be willing to trust Him and follow Him.

Renew Your Mind

Life so often can be overwhelming. We tend to over complicate even the simplest of things, and in a desperate attempt to juggle everything without even thinking twice we turn our lives into a revolving circus act that wears us down, depletes our strength and leaves us feeling empty. I find myself asking why? Why do so many people today allow their lives to become consumed in activities and work to the point that we lose sight of what matters to us most. My morning routine plays over and over again each day like a marathon of Groundhog Day. The multiple alarms I set on my phone each alert me to the morning, in a desperate attempt to gain just a few more minutes of precious sleep I repeatedly silence the alarms and drift off again, knowing that the inevitable will come.

After I have exhausted every possible extra moment I have the mad rush begins, dashing around the house to get ready. Rushing through every moment, positively sure that I am going to be late. The constant nagging echo’s through the house as I struggle to motivate my grumpy little girl to hurry up and rush through her morning routine as well, struggling to get her to see that my unrealistic expectations are reasonable and necessary to complete the tasks at hand. Or so I've convinced myself....

When the dust settles behind my car after and I wisp us out of the driveway that's when the regret sets in. Reflecting on the insane morning rush that replays itself over and over again in our home I can't help but be a little embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed as I realize that once again I have taken advantage of such precious time that God has given to me. Chances are that I raised my voice, became frustrated and perhaps angry with this little child that God has so graciously blessed me with. Instead of being the fruit of the spirit I feel more like throwing fruit at anything that I can find...... just to clarify I am not in the habit of throwing fruit or anything else for that matter.

I can't help but to ask myself why? How did I even get to the point that such a routine even began to develop, how is it that a grown adult can place the same unrealistic expectations on a child that she places on herself? After all I make the choice each morning to press the snooze button knowing I am leaving no margin of time for life's realities, and then like a child I throw my own sort of tantrum because things didn't go my way. Let me back up in case you missed it, I make the choice each morning, ouch! Those words have a penetrating sting straight to my heart. Every day we make an unfathomable number of decisions. When it comes down to it, I have to ask myself am I consciously making decisions that are honoring and glorifying God. After all aren't we given clear instruction on what decision making should look like in the life of a Christian.....?

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

^"3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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."

That's pretty clear instruction; we are to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. How different my morning would look like if I truly took this command to heart and followed Paul's instruction. I must admit when I wake up and the first words that come from my mouth are "thank you God for another day to serve you" my perspective suddenly changes. I have more joy, patience, kindness, love, gentleness, self control..... This is starting to sound familiar......

Galatians 5:22-23

^"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

I begin to take on the Fruit of the Spirit and in doing so I honor God. Please don't misunderstand me when I say that honoring God is of first importance, but just don't miss the transformation that takes place when I begin taking on the Fruit of the Spirit. My mornings suddenly become less rushed, calmer and enjoyable. Instead of hitting snooze five or six times I am jumping out of bed to spend the first moments of my morning in the presence of the Almighty, reading His word, glorifying Him and giving Him thanks, talking to Him in prayer and receiving His gift of love. Suddenly I've evolved from this unforgiving, demanding and impatient creature into a gentle and peaceful woman, into a loving and compassionate mother, into a woman whose heart is focused not on the things of this world but on the things of God. 

Of the thousands of decisions we make every day, isn't it amazing how letting that first decision be to set my heart and eyes on God can completely reroute my entire morning? It doesn't just stop there either, it completely transforms my heart the entire day, and I willingly make choices throughout the day to honor God and to serve Him. I am overwhelmed by His spirit and the transformation that it causes to take place in my life. Suddenly the narrow path doesn't seem like the impossible path; instead it becomes the chosen path. 

So I challenge each of you to start right now! Ask God to give you a spirit of joy and thanks as soon as you open your eyes each morning. Bow before the awesome creator and allow Him into your heart and let your mind be transformed and renewed.

Romans 12:

"12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² 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."