Greetings, Friends! Susie Larson here...
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks giftcard to someone who posts on my blog, so leave a comment, share an insight, bless lots of folks, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend.
Now on to my topic...
First of all, I want you to know how much I love hearng from you and I do my best to respond personally to every post on this blog. But twice now in the past two weeks, I've sat down, spent all kinds of time writing out heartfelt personal responses (can you hear the violins?) only to have all of my responses disappear! Argh! So, I plan on sitting down again this Saturday and taking another crack at it. For some reason, a few of my replies posted, but most others did not. Anyway, hopefully we'll have that fixed by this weeknd.
I don't know about you but lately I've been going through my days feeling a low level of fatigue and weariness. I'm still enjoying great times of prayer in the morning and at night, but overall, I've lacked a spring in my step (no pun intended). I think for me it's because I'm on the homestretch of my speaking season, and for you, it may be for a different reason altogether. But the good news is, God is in the business of reviving and renewing and refreshing our hearts. We don't have to live under the weight of our weariness.
The other day my mentor approached me in church and she said, "Susie, I've been praying for you and I believe the Lord gave me a verse to pray for you. It's Acts 3:19, and it tells us to repent so that times of refreshing may come." She paused, chuckled, and said, "Not that you need to repent, but I do know God wants to bring times of refreshing to you." I chuckled back and said, "I'll take the whole verse. I can already think of a few things I need to bring before Him."
The next morning I opened to that verse and prayed through it. I paused, looked up and asked God to search my heart. He didn't have to search too far to lovingly point out areas in my life that needed cleansing and renewal. Lord, forgive me for forsaking the discipline of rest when you call me to it. Forgive me for going too far when I teased my husband the other day. Forgive me for asserting myself when You called me to die to myself. Forgive me for choosing to self protect when You've called me to lay my life down...On and on I went. I put my face in my hands and put my heart in His. I entrusted my whole soul to Him and humbly received His mercy and grace. He put me right once again. My soul felt light. My spirit more in tune. And my heart beat more passionately for the One I love.
Feeling bad about something isn't the same as repenting of our sin. It's far too easy to put off repentance in the same way we procrastinate doing the laundry. Eventually those dirty clothes pile up into one big heap and all you see is a mess that feels like it'll take forever to clean up. But thankfully, soul cleansing only takes a moment in God's presence.
God loves us deeply, constantly, and truly; even when we fail to get face to face with Him to find His grace when we need it. But we're the ones who miss out when we put off times of repentance. We miss out on fellowship, freedom, and renewed faith.
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away and so that times of refreshing may come (Acts 3:19).
I challenge you to try it next time you sit down for prayer. Pray Psalm 139, Search me, O God, and know (be intimately acquainated with) my heart. Test me and try my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me in Your everlasting way.
Then pause, and wait on the Lord. And remember, according to Romans 8:1, there is now, therefore, NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. So approach Him with grace and humble confidence, knowing you have an advocate, a friend, and a Savior in Him. Come to terms with your need for Jesus. Own your sin, name it (don't make excuses for it), and then hand it over to Him. God cannot resist a humble repentent heart. In fact, He considers it one of the loftiest, most honorable places to live.
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15).
You are loved, treasured, and covered. Walk with Him like you believe it.
~Until next week