Month: November 2012

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

David had committed both adultery and murder and was living in denial when God sent the prophet Nathan to crack open the case and expose the sin for what it was. David knew in his heart he had failed but foolishly thought he could hide it from God. He was living without joy and communication with the God he loved had been broken. His joy had departed from him and he just surviving. It wasn’t that God had left Him, but simply that David himself, had moved from God’s presence into sin. God can’t look on the unrighteousness of our lies, our cheating, our envy, our jealousy, our addictions and the many things that distract us from His holiness. We can’t harbor sin in our lives and live for God at the same time. If we deny it, cover it, lie about it, or run from it, we can be sure that guilt will haunt us, stalk us and catch up to us to snag us much like a wild animal catches it’s prey. David knew in the agony and shame of that moment of exposure that God was still His best friend, loving him unconditionally and that His grace and forgiveness was available no matter what he had done. What a comfort for us to know of David’s failure. He was a man after God’s own heart, chosen by God to do His work, yet he fell short. Let’s learn from him! He knew the joy of his salvation rested in God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy. He knew there would be consequences, but he was willing to begin again by making good choices with the God of His salvation. Let’s know that it’s never too late to begin to make the right choices.

If you feel weary and exhausted from the game of hide and seek that you’re playing with God, you can know that He already knows your place and your position. Nothing surprises Him! He knows what you think you’re hiding. He knows how you feel. He knows your thoughts, your motives and your outcome. He knew Adam and Eve were hiding and why they hid. They had consequences for their actions as well, but they also had God’s unconditional love, and favor as we do, when we come clean before Him. Come out of hiding and find your lost joy and communication restored with the God who made you, and only wants to love you in spite of your shortfalls, failures and sin. That’s what He does! Let Him do it in your life. Let Him free you from the guilt that binds you.