March 24, 2014 Exact Nature Of Our Wrongs (1)
Monday March 24, 2014
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13 NIV)
All of us wrestle with our conscience regarding situations we struggle with. We may lie to ourselves and pretend that what we have done in the past is not so bad in comparison to what others have done. In our minds we try not to think about the negative or hurtful impact of our behaviour on others or we minimize or rationalize it. When we are in denial we try to work hard at being “good” to counteract the wrong we know we have done. We make excuses for ourselves and reckon that what we did was because of someone else’s behaviour towards us and therefore we justify our own actions.
In order to truly put the past to rest, we must stop rationalizing our past behaviour, acknowledge the error of our ways, realize the hurt we’ve caused, and turn away from this destructive way of life. God created us for a life in loving relationship with Him. All destructive and addictive behaviour is rooted in the breakdown of that relationship. That’s the exact nature of all our wrongs. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. (Psalm 51:3-4 NKJV)
From the time Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s instructions, humans have shaped their lives and sorted their problems based on their own understanding. Our unwillingness to live in trust and surrender to the only all-knowing God is the foundation of all our wrong doing. Only God, who is wise and mighty, knows what is good for us. He has a plan for each of our lives that will give us hope and a bright future. Today, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, whether good, or full of troubles and injustice, God knows how we can best handle the situation.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
Today, are you willing to come away from your crooked paths and follow the straight paths God promises to make for you? He will help you find the way.
©2014 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca resources
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.