Forgiven

Yesterday I had a wonderful morning with the Lord.  Study, peacefulness, music, prayer....You know those times where the Lord feels close and your quiet time seems to go to a deeper place.  I was able to take this quiet joy with me throughout my day.  As I drove into work I spent time praying...knowing that I would be tested (as always in my workplace).  It wasn't all that easy, but I was managing to give my negative feelings and thoughts over to the Lord for a good part of my day. But as things got more frustrating and more people were taken away from the area I work in (as the work increased), it was getting harder and harder to maintain that peacefulness I enjoyed in the morning with the Lord.  Oh how I long to keep this quiet heart throughout the day!!

And so.......The hostility I was feeling inside made it's way to the outside and of course through my mouth.  Ugh.  Well, I ended up venting my anger, and then later apologizing for doing so.  As usual, there are problems, but I am to handle them differently and in a godly manner.

But here is the good part.  I didn't spend the time afterward beating myself up or buried under guilt and condemnation....thinking things like God must be so disappointed, how can He love me, etc.  No, I knew and know that He loves me and sees me as His precious child.  I sin, I make mistakes, I blow it big time....but I am still wrapped in His robe of righteousness, living under His grace because those things depend on Him, not on me and He is completely reliable and faithful and loving.  This was a victory for me.  Thank You Lord.

So this morning I come once again to my prayer closet, I open His glorious, and beloved Word, being led to Psalm 32:1-2 through some notes I had taken during the Joyce Meyer conference.  And I see the comforting Word of my Savior and know it is His hand reaching out to mine to draw me back to Himself, so we may continue this journey together again today.

Psalm 32:1-2  Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Thank You so much Lord for Your cleansing forgiveness.  You are so merciful and I am so unworthy but so grateful.  I stand under the shadow of the Cross, and am clothed with a robe of righteousness because of Your love and grace.  Lord, help me to do better.  To glorify You more.  I know You are at work in me and that is enough today.

Psalm 103  Praise the Lord, I tell myself;

    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, I tell myself;

    may I never forget the good things he does for me.

3 He forgives all my sins

    and heals all my diseases.

4 He redeems me from death

    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

5 He fills my life with good things.

    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness

    and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

7 He revealed his character to Moses

    and his deeds to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,

    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9 He will not constantly accuse us,

    nor remain angry forever.

10 He does not punish us for all our sins;

    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

12 He has removed our sins as far from us

    as the east is from the west.

13 The Lord is like a father to his children,

    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

14 For he knows how weak we are;

    he remembers we are only dust.

15 Our days on earth are like grass;

    like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

16 The wind blows, and we are gone—

    as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever

    with those who fear him.

His salvation extends to the children’s children

18     of those who are faithful to his covenant,

    of those who obey his commandments!

19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;

    from there he rules over everything.

20 Praise the Lord, you angels,

    you mighty ones who carry out his plans,

    listening for each of his commands.

21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels

    who serve him and do his will!

22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,

    everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Psalm 32:8  The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you.