When God shows His love, mercy, forgiveness, longsuffering, and grace towards you...it shouldn't stop with you. You are destined to pass it on to others and reflect faithfulness and devotion back to Him as the Divine Spouse.
Cover Art by Maria Oosth...
"O wretched man that I am! Who wil deliver me from this body of death?" ~Romans 7:24
I took up God's Word again after several weeks of ignoring and putting it off. And I find that our Heavenly Father faithfully awaits and mercifully welcomes His prodigal (adopted) son back. It is when I come to His Word, that the Holy Spirit reminds me that He is always faithful even when I am faith-less; He does not deny Himself. [See 2 Timothy 2:13]
And though I am learning to regret the "spiritual drought" I imposed on myself, the Lord shows that He works even that for my good. When I was wandering in the valley of it, it did not seem God's goodness would finish what I had authored. I came face to face with those temptations that are unique to me, that spoke most flatteringly to my ear, and displayed itself most cunningly to both my eyes and the eyes of my mind.
I realized who I am. One who lusts, twists, conspires, covets, transgresses, and is self-seeking.
But after I came to His Word, He helped me realize who I would be APART FROM ABIDING in Him, and that who I am WHEN I ABIDE in Him is completely the opposite. And not because of anything I have done or who I am independently of Him. If I cease to abide in Him, I give ground for my Flesh to take over, encroach, and rule me rather than it being ruled and crucified daily; and I being ruled by His Spirit.
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I am amazed that no matter how long and how far I am gone in wandering away from Him, that He proves His welcome & acceptance of my undeserving self, by unfailingly teaching and strengthening me from His Word.
And this is what brought me hope, in the face of my ugly Flesh: Psalm 97:10,
"You who love the Lord, hate evil! The Lord preserves the souls of His saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked."
How do I know I am a saint, in the face of all my human frailties & flaws? Because He has given His righteousness to those who believe, who will then work out that belief in how they live towards Him and those He has created in His image. [See Isaiah 54:17] And I further take hope and refuge that when our Savior promises He will "deliver His saints out of the hand of the wicked" that includes my heart-nature of Flesh that is "deceitful above all things and 'desparately wicked", which wars against the Spirit [See Jeremiah 17:9-10 & Galatians 5:16-25]
So my frail soul has re-discoverd and can return to abiding again in that true rest which is Him; because His finished work is eternally pure, faithfully enduring, and mercifully bountiful toward me. [Psalm 116:7]
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. The Lord stores up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. The Lord guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints." ~Proverbs 2:6-8
"You are already clean becuase of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch canot bear fruit of itself, unles it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without Me, you can do nothing." ~John 15:3-5
