My Sins are Gone

When the Lord forgives, the sin is gone. Your tendency has been hold tight to the memory of past sin and even to magnify it in order to punish yourself. You do this out of the mistaken idea that this will prevent further sin, but the opposite is true. You place yourself under the demands of the law rather than choosing to walk in the light of God's grace.

Self-punishment is ineffective. Staying clean before the Lord does not entail self-analysis. “Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me...” (Psalm 139:23-24). This is a picture of release. Dear One, it is ever your mode of operation to attempt to take the reins of control over your own sin. You understand release in other areas of your life, but it is in the area of your own heart and yes, your own behaviors that God wants you to learn to practice release. Lay back in His arms and rest. You wear yourself out and you actually manage to weary the Almighty God with your constant thoughts of how you might improve yourself.

God understands human frailty. He sent His only Son to save you from sin born of exhaustion and fear. You feel despair because giving way to sin weakens the ability to resist further sin. It is then you must depend upon His grace. When you can’t save yourself, you need a Savior. He is your ace in the hole, your hidden blessing; your way out when no way seems possible.

Grace is not a goal that you must work hard to obtain. God's grace has covered you, His power has infilled you, His presence has sustained you, and His strength has enabled you to walk the path He's engineered for you. You ever hope to attain a standard that you have already achieved; God is with you, His grace has covered you; you may rest in Him.

Look to Your Heart

Disorganization in the form of a messy office or a cluttered bedroom does not equate with disorganization in the spiritual life. Do not judge yourself by outward signs, but by your inward commitment to obedience, praise, worship, prayer and intercession for the saints. In other words, look first to the state of your heart, and address the state of your kitchen cupboards only when the heart has been correctly aligned with Jesus. Remember that Mary was rewarded and Martha chastised. Quit condemning yourself for things over which the Lord does not chastise you. Disorganization is not a sin. Do not disengage from pure focus on Jesus in order to be more organized. Do not let go the spiritual in order to chase after outward signs of material control. The Lord's foolish children always want to attempt to control the outer environment, perpetuating the faulty belief that the outer life accurately mirrors the inward state. The desire to impress other human beings does not spring from a pure heart.