
AGAIN
Are you like me and keep doing the same things over and over, that I just asked God forgiveness for the day before? It is hard to realize that God will keep forgiving us, isn’t it? I think it is harder for me to forgive myself, than it is for God to forgive me. I wrestle with guilt that I can’t push the devil out of my thoughts and I keep doing the same sin over and over. Ephesians 3:20-21 reads “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” God’s power and ability to accomplish things is far beyond our comprehension or expectations. God’s power is at work within us, meaning He empowers us to live and act in ways that reflect His greatness. Neither God’s love nor His power to forgive is limited by human imagination. I am thankful for that, aren’t you?
There is a song by Jeremy Camp, called “AGAIN.” It has made me think about this blog. I have realized that I let this world “climb into my brain” at the most inopportune times. I will be listening to the lesson at church, and all of a sudden, I realize I am wondering how my lunch is doing in the oven at home! What is wrong with my brain? I would like to blame it on my age, but the fact is, the devil loves to wiggle into our brains without us realizing it. The devil loves to cause us to swerve away from thoughts of God and His laws.
Matthew 18:21-22 reads “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’’ Seven in the Bible, refers to completion and perfection. Jesus didn’t set a number of times we should forgive. Jesus pointed out to Peter that there is no set number of times that we are to forgive others. This would apply to us forgiving ourselves also. The point of this verse is not to keep count at all, but to always be willing to forgive, no matter how many times we sin over and over.
We are assured that when we confess our sins, God will forgive us. 1 John 1:9 reads “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Do you see the first word of that verse? IF. We have to take action to talk to God, in prayer and ask for forgiveness. When my brain wanders away from what I should be focused on, I tell the devil, once again, to GO AWAY!
Jeremy Camp has a song called “Again,” that I identify with and it assures me that God is always there for me no matter how many times I go to Him for forgiveness. Below are the words to that song.
Here I am again, back in the same place I’ve been so many times.
Here I am again losing the battle and thinking I’ll never win this fight.
I’m so ashamed, down on my knees.
I know there’s grace but is there grace for me?
Fall after fall, prayer after prayer.
Father, will You still be there?
(Chorus): Here You are again forgiving, redeeming my heart again. Standing me up on my feet again. You show me Your mercy will never run out. Will never run out. I can breathe again knowing I’m loved, I feel free again, no matter how long I’ve gone too far. Here You are again.
Here I am again, reminded of all of the ways You’re patient with me. What a faithful friend, through every climb, every fall You never leave.
(Chorus)
You’d go anywhere. You’d give anything. Even lay down Your life to bring to new life to me.
(Chorus)
When I think that I’ve gone too far, here You are again.
Did the words to that song, connect with your heart, like it did mine? The devils’ attacks make it a real challenge for us to remember and simply rest in the promises of God and trust His love. He tries to get us trapped by guilt so we don’t feel worthy of God’s love and forgiveness. The devil lies to us, especially when we are weak. John 8:44 reads, Jesus speaking about the devil, “You are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” The devil is always searching (remember what I wrote about him in my last blog). The devil is waiting for us to slip up, say something we shouldn’t, lose patience, lose focus, pay attention to the sins of this world, to feel less than, or when the temptations of this world pull us into old sinful habits which pull us into addictions. He just waits for us to get our focus off of God!
Psalm 103:11-12 reads “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” There is no distance, no place we can go that God’s grace and mercy won’t reach us. No depth that we can sink to that God will not pull us out of our self-made muddy mire.
The only time He will not forgive us is, if we “sit in it” and don’t ask for that unlimited forgiveness that God is so generous with. Tell the devil to GO AWAY!
Just know that no matter how many times we have to go to Him again and again, that He will forgive us and will help us to breath with peace in our hearts once again. Standing us back up on our feet again. We are once again free because of Who He is and what He has done for us. Rest in the knowledge that we are loved by a perfect God, over and over AGAIN.
Till next time!
Keela