Thoughts of a Broken Man

Because of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/lam.3.22-23.NIV

Best News Ever

Trials, tough times, heartache, pain, suffering, ridicule, shame, stress, depression, anxiety, hopelessness…do any of these sound familiar? Of course they do. All of us identify with at least one of these things, but if we are honest, probably most or all of them at one point in our lives.

There are those who would try to tell you that once you are a believer nothing bad will happen to you anymore. You will be happy, healthy and wealthy the rest of your days. Dear friends, that is a lie of deathly proportions. The Bible specifically says,

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12 KJV

And also Jesus himself says,

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 ESV

But as Jesus says, we can take heart…there is a reason for the trials, to make us better followers of Christ. Being better brings glory to God.

Over the last few years (the last three and a half) I have come to the realization that this world is bad, and getting worse by the day. I’m not saying there aren’t good people, or good things that happen, or beautiful sights to see…not at all. I’m saying that the evil of this world is spreading fast, and becoming darker, and sadly more readily acceptable to the mainstream.

However, over this same time I have tried to maintain my focus on the fact that, no matter how bad this world gets, or how hurtful something is to me or someone I love…it’s only temporary.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 KJV

Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and savior, have something glorious waiting for us when we are done with our time dealing with all of the pain this world can throw our way.

Take heart and keep your eyes on the endgame…remember, it’s only temporary.

…and I pray with all of my heart to you God, move me out of my own way. Holy Spirit guide me so that I can live my life for Jesus, and not myself. I have faith in You Lord, but too many times I allow myself to get in the way. I turn back to old ways, old habits…old sins.

God free me from this feebleness. Move this mountain from me so all I see is You. Your strength is my hope, and I trust You. I love You Father, and I thank you for all You do for me. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen

How many times have you been about to do something…something you know is wrong, a sin. And you get that down in your gut queezy feeling that you shouldn’t do whatever it is you are about to do. Then you say to yourself, “I’ll be ok, I’m saved! I have God’s grace. He will forgive me”.

That’s not how it is supposed to work.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Romans 6:15

Once we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, as our Lord and savior, we are supposed to drop our old sinful lives and live like Him.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:1‭-‬23 KJV

I am just like you, a man of flesh. I sin. I know I do, and struggle with it daily. But folks, we can’t go through life thinking we can keep sinning and will be ok because we have grace to save us. We are called to repent, to turn away from our sins, and live like Jesus.

I pray for us all, that we attune ourselves to the still small voice guiding us. That we act according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, instead of letting ourselves be led by our old dead selves. The selves of the world…of flesh and the sins that kill. Things that keep us separated from God. Thank you Father God for putting up with our failure. Thank you for seeing us as worth the effort, to have us return to You one day. Thank you for providing that way for us with your son Jesus. We love You. Amen

Known by Tauren Wells
It’s so unusual it’s frightening

Songwriters: Ethan Hulse / Jordan Sapp / Tauren Wells

We are called to let our lights shine (Matthew 5:16), and to love others so that they might know we are His (John13:35). Basically, by living our lives walking with Christ, we show the way for others to our savior. My prayer is that God will guide me through the Holy Spirit, to walk more closely with Him. To model my life after Jesus, so that my light can guide others. Father hear me now, and use me to your glory. Amen

God sure knows how to put a beautiful little exclamation point on a beautiful day…