Embracing a New Way - God's Way

Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity. (Psalm 51:8-9 NIV)

When I read through this Psalm, I am reminded of how little control I maintain over my life and my future. I may think my life is all together, that I am always in control, but truth be said out loud, I am so out of control it isn't funny.

There is a picture in my mind's eye of what I want tomorrow to look like. In an instant I am confronted with reality. The reality is, I don't know best, but God does. He sees the big picture and only He understands my true needs. 

As I prayed this morning, and scribbled in my journal those scripture verses that touched me, I came to realize I am not praying for God's will. I am assuming my will is best and I am focusing on those dreams and ambitions I dumped on my prayer-table over the years.

I made a decision a few weeks ago and I now recognize it as, 'me' controlling my future. And controlling this future in the way I want to see played out. I have been praying, but not listening with open ears. My heart and mind already focused on my dream, not God's response. I need to practice listening - opening myself to what God planned for me. I understand from experience how His way is best. These aren't just nice words, they are truth. Truth, something I need to invite more of in my life.

Is there something you are praying about and trying to control at the same time? Why don't we give up this behavior together? We can discover what it is like to hear God and to follow His plan and not ours. I want to find out. Are you with me?

God blots out our sin

4 January 

Scripture Reading

Read Psalm 51:1-12 and reflect on the passage.

As a mother of three, I’ve certainly dealt with my fair share of stains. Last year when my son came home from camp, I remember pouring in what felt like a lot of OxiClean! Stubborn stains are unnerving, and I’m sure we’ve all experienced the frustration of realizing that something has been ruined. Forever blemished. Beyond repair.

As a believer, I’m thankful for God’s promise that Christ’s blood “blots out our sins.” He, alone, can take on a stubborn stain. Even a stain that we feel is too big and too bad. He can wash it away and make us clean.

Think for a moment of freshly fallen snow—snow that has nothing in it to taint the color. Pure white. Perfectly clean. Glistening and breath-taking. And now, even though it can be hard to fathom, picture yourself in the same way. Isaiah 51:7 says, “Purify me from my sins and I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”

No doubt, this is a God-sized promise. Jesus has not only the power but the desire, to wash our souls so that we can be white as snow. What an unspeakable gift of hope!

Questions

1.      What are some of the things in your life, past or present, that keep you from fully accepting Christ’s power to cleanse you?

2.      What is one step that you can take today to begin experiencing this freedom?

  

Prayer

Father, help us offer you each and every area of our hearts, so that you may have your way. Cleanse us and make us pure. Amen.

—Sarah Schweisthal