When Repentance Gives Way to Gratitude

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you (Psalm 116:7).

Amen.

Courtesy of Flickr: here

Do you ever find yourself restless? Your day is done as normal, whatever that looks like for you, but something isn't right. There's an eeriness that says you forgot to do something or be somewhere. 'Though you can't put your finger on it, something is different. You're different.

With a little bit of searching, you realize someone is missing. The Someone who keeps this planet in orbit has somehow been "misplaced" from your day. No big, red flag was waving to announce His "leave" (not of His doing, but yours). With His "absence" sin has crept at your door and you were found weak.

Me too.

Seasons where I have let God slip my mind only produce distance, sin, and a need for repentance. Sin devours when our guard is down. I've experienced that over and over. The empty spaces become Satan's playground and I'm unaware. Or am I?

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).


Be sober-minded (self-controlled-NIV); be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8, ESV).

Be
guarded
sober-minded
self-controlled

There it is. Simple. But what happens when we fail to "guard", remain "sober-mind", or stay "self-controlled"?

We repent.

David would know a thing or two about that, wouldn't he?

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity,and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare~ Psalm 25:8-15

God is good, and with grateful hearts, we turn back to him.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

God, King of Kings, offers from His throne grace. Holiness that demands our lives, layed down His own. I don't get it. If we truly understood our humble state before the King, we would spend night and day thanking Him for His mercy towards us- for sparing us. It's this repentance, this lowly state, that gives way to gratitude.

There is where you will find me...today.

In His Name,

Jennifer