Welcome back! If you are just joining us, we are using the YouVersion Bible App to follow a devotional together. Read THIS POST to get all the information you need to join in and then you can read THIS MORNING’S POST to see the promises we are focusing on this week.
Did you get a chance to spend some time with this week’s promises? I find such peace in the promise I chose this week because it is exactly what I needed to hear this week. It’s a truth I know but it never hurts to be reminded.
You’ll get compassion from Me every time you admit you’re wrong and mean it. Proverbs 28:13
It’s no fun admitting when we mess up, do what we know we shouldn’t, or don’t do what we know we should. Confession? I’ve had a really rough couple of days. My attitude and patience have been less than stellar. At times they are down right terrible. Both Micah and I are getting over nasty colds, the kids are still out of it from vacation (being off routine really threw them for a loop!), and I haven’t been able to work out – one of my major self care needs – because of the cold. Not excuses because there is no real excuse for having a bad attitude, but all symptoms of what is playing into it. I’m letting my circumstances and external factors affect my behavior when I have a choice to rise above them and act better.
I don’t have it all together and I never will. I hope I’ve never presented myself like things always run like clock work around here or that I don’t get frustrated with my kids. I really struggle with that sometimes. More than I want to most of the time. Some days are great and I never lose my cool or even get a little snippy. But those other days? Those are the days when I feel terrible by the end of the day because I couldn’t handle one more ridiculous fight. Or I threw the dirty laundry because it was still on the floor after they were told far too many times to clean it up.
But those are also the times when I get to model to my kids what asking for forgiveness and receiving mercy means. I apologize for not acting nicely like I have to remind them to do. See? Mommy is human and makes mistakes, too. See? God forgives us when we admit we are wrong and really try to do better. See? God still loves us even when we make bad choices just like Mommy and Daddy still love you when you make a bad choice.
What do you need to confess? What are you struggling with right now? Find a trusted person to confide in and to pray for you. There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1), only mercy and forgiveness.
Father God, you are such a wonderful and merciful God! Thank you that you readily forgive us when we confess our sins to you and repent. Thank you that Jesus took all our punishments in our place so that we can have life instead. I pray for each of us today that when we admit our struggles and sins that you would wipe away the desire or tendency to default to those behaviors and choices. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength so let us believe and claim that and walk away from our bad choices. Amen!
