“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”- (1 John 9).
One thing that tends to characterize the people God has used is they tend to have a past. Abraham the father of nations slept with his maid in an act of desperateness (Genesis 16). Moses the liberator of Israeli was once a run away murderer ( Exodus 2:14). The Apostle Peter denied the Lord three times ( Luke 22:54-62). Before he converted, the Apostle Paul relished in the persecution of the church.
Although all these, and countless other saints had a past, quite not so romantic, yet the Lord used them mightily to further His work. This is an important point to grasp. Quite often we find those who looking back at their past may feel not up to the task of serving the Lord because of that dark past. Guilt has overtaken them and they feel chained down.
Sometimes there are also those who pause and compare themselves to some holy figure in their surroundings. Standing in their shadows they feel hum strung, for they cannot match up to the saintly figure before them. Worse, still, there are situations where those who knows of one’s past are quick and eager to bring it up, as a stumbling block.
Looking at the past of those God has used it should be an encouragement to all of us, that any can play a meaningful role in the Lord’s kingdom. The scripture are quite emphatic, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” ( Romans 8:1). Guilt over some past and feeling inadequate is one of the tricks of Satan to paralyze believers in their individual callings. Every believer, who has confessed his past to the Lord is forgiven and ready to be of much use, regardless.
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you that through your son Jesus Christ you have forgiven me and can use me as you will to further your kingdom without alluding to my past, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
