The Morning After

How do you wake up the morning after you turned your back on God?

Can you openly praise his name? Be thankful for another day and keep it moving like nothing happened? Or do you struggle like me, because of the lingering thoughts of the reality of the situation... You chose yourself over His goodness. In a moment, you wanted to call the shots and entertain the lie that your needs and desires needed to be fulfilled in that fleeting moment.

And yes, these feelings are never good. But I think we need to run to the scriptures in these moments and not forget the gift of Grace and Mercy our Father extends to us.

Psalms 51:1-4 says...“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”(ESV‬‬)

Step 1 Repent & Confess:Yes, you may want to begin your day praising God, but you need to repent and confess. God knows we'll fall short of His Glory, but by not acknowledging our sin can lead to issues of contentment and justification. So acknowledge it, repent, confess, and begin the steps to move forward.

Step 2 Shower & Seek Jesus:Idk about you, but there's something about letting the hot water and soap not only physically wash your body and enter you into a physically clean state. But as you let the water run down your skin. And you're seeking Jesus Christ our savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Who sits and judges us justly at the right hand of the Father. A renewal can begin.

Psalms 27:7-10 says....“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in." (ESV)Donnie McClurkin is famously quoted for saying, "We fall down but we get up.... For a saint is just a sinner who fell down, and got up."

Step 3 Don't stay in your Sin:

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”‭‭

Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV

God not only restored you with no condemnation but also restored you to be able to glorify His name and share His Gospel.As you repent and confess your sins. He will restore your righteousness and allow your testimony to show the goodness and grace only the Blood of Jesus can deliver.

Step 4 Examine the Root Cause:

Now that you have been restored and can testify to His goodness. Take some time to reflect on what led you to that moment. Was it a pride issue? Was it an issue where you thought you were strong enough to be sustained without the constant renewal of your mind? Was it because you were deceived by a thought that you let take hold of your imagination? Or maybe your circle of people influencing you led you away from the righteous path you were walking down. Whatever it was, see it take note of it, and surrender it to Jesus.

Step 5 Walk in his renewed Love:

1 John 4:17-19 says...“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” (ESV)

Only by love is love awakened. Because of his love, we're able to walk, talk, and move in love. God sacrificed his son, Jesus, so that we would not have to pay the price of our sin, which is ultimately death. God is so gracious and loving, and by us going through these steps, repenting and confessing, seeking Jesus, moving from sin, realizing the root cause, and surrendering it to Jesus. We're able to walk in his love.

So walk in His love with the confidence only God can give.