INTO HIS PRESENCE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Confession is a difficult discipline for us because we all too often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners. We feel that everyone else has advanced so far into holiness that we are isolated and alone in our sin. We cannot bear to reveal our failures and shortcomings to others. We imagine that we are the only ones who have not stepped onto the high road to heaven. Therefore, we hide ourselves from one another and live in veiled lies and hypocrisy.

But if we know that the people of God are first a fellowship of sinners, we are freed to hear the unconditional call of God's love and to confess our needs openly before our brothers and sisters. We know we are not alone in our sin. The fear and pride that cling to us like barnacles cling to others also. We are sinners together. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied, but transformed.” ― Richard J. Foster

I shared this with a few folks yesterday.  And a couple days back I shared that often confession can be “cringe-worthy”. 

But I love how FOSTER encourages us to RELEASE the POWER that heals.  Authenticity brings healing. Hiding promotes hypocrisy.  Confession as I remarked earlier in the week is cleansing!

1 John 1:9 (NCV)

But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.

Lord knows I am flawed. I know I need cleansing.

Areas like lust and anger, selfishness and short-sightedness plague me almost every day. My mind can be a divided landscape; shifting by the moment. Creative and connected one minute and carnal the next.  I spend lots of time dealing with the "Romans 7 dilemma"; doing things I shouldn’t, thinking things I shouldn’t and missing out on the things I should be doing.

I say that because I desperately want to be healed from that double-mindedness!  Confession clears the deck!

But I (we) can’t stop there. We need to fill that cleared space with CHRIST!

My friend and colleague Josh offered a simple and deeply practical solution to this challenge; something all of us can apply.

After confession and honesty, choose to enter in and remain in GOD’S presence.  Invite his accountability into your heart and mind.  Take thoughts captive.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)

…take every thought captive to obey Christ…

Embrace His guidance.  

Fill your mind with GODLY influence. 

Grow in grace. Focus your attention, heart and mind on CHRIST!

2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:2(ESV)

…Set your minds on things that are above…

That will keep us on track!

I am doing my best to take that guidance to heart.

Confession. Presence. Focus.

Why?

Colossians 1:22

God has made you (me) his friends again. He did this through Christ’s death in the body so that he might bring you into God’s presence as people who are holy, with no wrong, and with nothing of which God can judge you guilty.

That is why...!

I love you all!

Freedom Church