Have I...?

Times of trial and testing serve a great purpose in our life and the life of our nation.

For those not serving the Lord trials are a cause to point the finger and find blame in others. 

For believers trials and testing serve as an opportunity to search our personal heart and bring any sin to Christ for forgiveness and healing.

We know God always has a purpose in allowing difficult circumstances.

He uses these times as a refining fire to burn away all things that keep us from loving obedience.

Daniel chapter nine reveals the cause of a nation in great chaos and calamity.....

"We have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgment......O Lord to us belongs shame of face.... because we have sinned against You" Daniel 9:5-8

Daniel was deeply shaken by the consequences of sin upon his nation.

Yet, in his distress he refused to allow his mind to dwell on the news about him. Instead he chose to set his face before the Lord in prayer and fasting, in contrition and repentance.

He brought forward his own sins and confessed them to God.

He brought the sin of his nation to God.

He reminded God that He is a God of great mercy.

He acknowledged that sin was the cause of all that had befallen his nation.

The healing we seek has to begin in the hearts of God's people.

Now is the time to allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts.....allowing Him to shine on and define for us what He sees in our personal heart.

As this process takes place, we confess and turn from all He reveals that is separating us from Him.

We allow our hearts to be washed in the cleansing Blood of the Lamb.

The Lord will point out areas needing forgiveness.....

Have I been truthful

Have I been envious, or coveted what others have

Have I remained pure in thought and behavior

Have I loved my mate as God wants me to

Have I lacked forgiveness of anyone

Have I gossiped or slandered others

Have I been a good steward of God's gifts

Have I been judgmental or bitter to anyone

Have I been afraid to speak the Truth in love

Have I exposed my heart to the world's darkness by what I put in my mind

Have I doubted God's Word or ignored spending time in the Word

Have I been prideful 

Have I indulged in self pity

Have I elevated people above God

Have I pushed aside the poor or the humble in favor of prideful people

Have I been too busy to pray

Remember.... confession of sin and repentance come before we can receive God's help.

Lord,

I have done wrong and sinned against You and others.  I have not loved You above all else. I have not loved my neighbor as myself. If someone was hard for me to bear, I held it against them and carried resentment in my heart instead of forgiving them. I have been domineering, arrogant, and determined to have my way instead of loving others. I have not humbled myself beneath the sins of others and realized that I am just as great a sinner as they are. 

Father I desire to repent of my sin. I know change begins with me.....within my own heart.

Please forgive me by the work of Jesus on my behalf at the cross.

Help me to come to You now for cleansing of each sin as soon as You reveal it in my heart.

I know You give grace to the humble. Please keep my heart humbled before Thee.

Amen

Jesus is always calling us to come home to Him......it's never too late to start over again