Hi. Welcome back! Grab your bible and let’s turn to chapter nine of Nehemiah. Be sure to read both verses sixteen and seventeen.
“But You are a God of forgiveness,
Gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;
And You did not forsake them.” ( Nehemiah 9:17b, NASB)
When I was a kid, I would be sent to my room occasionally for a time out. It was for a period of time for me to consider my behavior. I had done something that went against the standards of my home. It was never fun or rewarding to be sent to my room. I was cut off from my family, made to endure time, alone.
When we rebel against God, the evidence of how this separates us from him is not always as obvious as a time out is for a child. It affects us so very deeply when we rebel against God and his perfect plan for how we live our lives, even if it does not show on the outside.
Perhaps now, more than ever, with slowed down lives for many of us, an over examination of our lives is occurring. It is not wise to go to those places without God.
He is our correction and comfort.
To enter this place of reflection without his perfect love is to open ourselves up to the prince of lies and fall victim of false conviction. (Romans 8)
Like a child set free from a time out, that separation has an effect for good when they are loving received back into the family.
Lord,
Is anything in me rebelling against your will? Please show it to me. I want to apologize for it. Gratitude fills me that I am received by you. Your compassion and love go further than anything I can imagine. Thank you, that although I have rebelled against you at times, you are there, waiting to receive and forgive me. Thank you for not turning away from me, but for pulling me closer to you.
Do you have some extra time today? May I suggest reading Romans chapter eight? That chapter never fails to minister to me and weed out any thinking that does not fall in line with our loving Father.
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation” http://www.lockman.org/