Imperfect But Not Discouraged

 God wants us to be successful in recovery and in life.  One of the truths that God shares with us is that Satan’s mission is to find ways to cause us to doubt the forgiveness we have received when we chose to have faith in Jesus’ death as payment for our sin.  The Bible warns us that our enemy is prowling around looking for ways to deceive us. 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV)

 It doesn't matter to the devil what he uses to accuse and condemn us.  If we are doing well he'll remind us of times in the past when we did poorly.  If we experience joy in following the ways of God he'll attempt to steal our joy by making us believe we are proud and self-righteous.  We need to believe what God says about us and be conscious of the fact that the devil is a liar. 

 No matter how well we are doing, the evil one’s tactic is to eat away at our confidence through showing us how imperfect we are.  He will remind us of a time in the past when we relapsed.  He will tell us that we should have done more, or still could do more, to withstand temptation.  While we can’t justify a bad choice based on several good ones, it is important not to focus on failure when we’ve had many successes in the same period.  God is more patient with us than we are with ourselves.  We need to discipline ourselves to rejoice in the encouragement that God’s word brings and embrace the unfailing love of God. 

Prayer:  Gracious God, I am thankful that Your mercy is new every morning and that Your love and compassion never cease towards Your children.  I am grateful that Your word leads me in the path of right living.  Thank You that I am pure and blameless in Your sight.  Amen 

©2023 Partners in Hope