Wasn’t sure which devotional to
write about. First saw Guideposts
devotional from 1 John 4 – used some of those verses to encourage last week,
and was looking at it last night in preparation for class today. But then I got to My Utmost for His Highest:
Whatever
I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear,
preach on the housetops —Matthew 10:27
The devotional said, in part, “When you are in the dark, listen, and
God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in
the light.”
I thought a lot about what it could mean for the LORD to tell me
something “in the dark” – everything from going through difficult
circumstances, to being in the darkness of sin.
When my mind focused on being in sin as being “in the dark”, I thought
of Psalm 51:7-13 (KJV), especially verse 13 …
.
7 Purge me
with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to
hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy
face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in
me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me
not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore
unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will
I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
“Then” in verse 13– after restoration
–one will be able to share with and teach others, such that others may be
converted. I also thought of Jesus’
words to Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32 (Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New
Testament):
31 Simon, Simon! Pay
attention! Satan has demanded permission to have all of you for himself, to
sift you like wheat, 32
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have
returned, strengthen your brothers.”
This says to me that when I mess up
(and that is when, not if), there is an opportunity of
returning, and then an opportunity to help someone else once I have done so. (But even as I write this, I am
grateful to realize that the LORD, in His grace, still speaks to us “in the
dark” and allows us to hear Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior!)
So, I thought on that devotional during
the day – but only thought on it. Then,
tonight, I thought (that was the problem – I thought!) to do something to
celebrate Valentine’s Day with the LORD.
However, I had not yet written my blog entry. BIG
MISTAKE.
It was as if someone told you what they wanted you to do special for
them, but then (on Valentine’s Day, of all days!) you did something else that
would make you feel good, that you would enjoy, saying it was for them (for the
both of you) instead of or without first doing for them what they had asked. (I have had situations similar when I was the
one for whom “something else” was done, and remember how hurtful it was, and
how there was loss of fellowship – at least on my end – because of it.)
LORD, please forgive me for my disobedience, my selfishness,
my unfaithfulness, my lack of love and respect for You, my pride and arrogance -
shown when I did not do what I had purposed just yesterday to do (during this
Lenten season) before going on my own (without even asking You!) to do
something else that I would enjoy with You, supposedly for You. Thank You for Your light, for shining in my
darkness, showing me that it was not for You as much as for Me. Please forgive me, LORD as I confess my sin. Thank you for Your steadfast love, and tender
mercies. Thank You for giving me a
chance to repent. Thank You for another
chance. Thank You for Your conviction,
for Your correction, for Your faithfulness to forgive, cleanse and restore. Please help me, dear LORD, to remember this
lesson and to always put You, Your Word, Your desires, Your purposes first in
all I do.
…
and my journey with Him continues …
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