Wisdom from the Psalms
I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in thy grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from the hand. -Psalm 88:4, 5
Annette sat with red-rimmed eyes. She had been crying for quite some time. Everything in her life felt like it was going wrong. She called herself a Christian, but she kept doing things she knew were wrong. She asked forgiveness, but she felt like a liar and a hypocrite. She wanted God to love her, but she kept being so unlovable. One of her friends told her that she was going to hell, because God would judge her for all the lies she told and all the sins she committed. Now, she sat sobbing, not knowing what to do.
It is hard to be good when we are so weak. Even the great apostle, Paul, spoke of doing things he knew he should not do. No one ever rises completely above sin. God wants people who will try and who will strive to do better, even when they know they can’t be perfect. God will judge us on the intentions of our hearts. We cannot separate ourselves from God’s love as long as we desire in our hearts to be reconciled to Him. He loves us that much.
Prayer:
Forgive my weakness, fill me with strength, and continually remind me of Your great mercy. Though I am not worthy, I am loved, and therefore, I am saved. Hallelujah! Amen.
Amen!
Wow! I can SO RELATE to this one! And it came at such a time where it’s truly a needed reminder. Thank you Author and PRAISE & THANK YOU LORD! I Love You Jesus Christ, for YOU ARE OUR ONLY SAVIOR! Hallelujah & Amen!
The past few weeks have been tough, falliing back into my addiction to drugs and alcholhol. I hope for a renwed start everyday, but have been falling short agian and agian. I believe GOD forgave me agian, and therefore I will try to turn away the next time I am faced with a problem that makes it easy to fall short. Thank you GOD, for I know you are laways with me and I know I will overcome.
“If God were not willing to forgive, Heaven would be empty.” How awesome to be loved even with our sins!
To FELIX…I am touched by your statement. I want to encourage you to keep trying and fight for your life – because essentially that is what you are having to do. Do not let the drugs and alcohol take your life away. I have seen first hand how destructive addiction can have to a person and their loved ones. Continue to seek help. Find a support group…if you do not find strength and comfort from one group – go to another group until you find where you can feel at home and receive the warmth and encouragement that is so badly needed in your struggle; but, never give up!
If you are in AA – keep going or find a parish that also offers support groups. Just keep trying and pray, pray. pray as if you life depends on it – because it does! Stay Strong and God Bless. My prayers are with you. I will let you know…my daughter who is now 18 yrs old lost her father to drug and alcohol addiction – she was nine years old when he passed away. He was a wonderful loving man but the illness took over and the “addiction” won. Don’t let it defeat you.
Hi, Kent,
This devotional is so true. Satan is always wispering to us of how unloveable we are. We can so easily fall into that trap where we feel that we are hopelessly disconnected from God, but it is one of the devil’s traps!!
I have a website where I offer for free machine embroidery designs. They are all Bible texts that have been digitized so people who have embroidery machines can stitch out God’s promises and share them with friends and family. It is another way in which God’s Word goes out and doesn’t return void.
I would like to digitize the prayer you offer in your devotionals. They are like a conversation with God, an immediate connection to Him. I frame some of my embroidered Bible texts, some I put into quilts. I would also like to put a link to this site.
I am quite certain that you will not object to my request, however, I await your response.
Thank you,
Paula
Sewbird