Forgiven

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace… Ephesians 1:7, ESV

My sister and I were sitting in the car deciding if we were ready to walk into the cancer treatment center. We were there to get her infusions, but she did not feel like doing it. So we sat in the car, people watching for a bit. We saw a man blowing leaves away from the front of the doorway, but he was doing a horrible job. He would blow them away but would not move them out of the bushes and trees. He only blew the ones that were right in front of him. We watched him blow them away from the entry doors, then get in his cart and leave. He never picked them up.

My sister and I both sat there and started laughing. We were like, did you see what he did? Then we began to pray. “Father, help us not to serve you in that manner. Help us to serve you with a spirit of excellence, just like it is in heaven.”

Several weeks later, I was up early headed to my prayer room and the Holy Spirit began to show me how I had done a certain task in my garden. I wanted to remove all the lavender plants out of my garden boxes so I could get the soil ready for winter planting. I took some of the lavender and sat them haphazardly in another pot temporarily, as I planned to put them back in the planter box eventually. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the way I had handled those plants was similar to the way that young man was blowing those leaves.

I could instantly see what God was showing me and a heaviness came over me. That is not how I wanted to serve God. I did not even realize that what I was doing was service in His eyes, but everything we do we are doing for Him. As I sat down, I could feel the heaviness even more and I heard the Holy Spirit say, “When are you going to stop coming in my presence with fear and trepidation when I show you something? You just need to say ‘Father, I agree with you. I repent, please forgive me, and help me so I work with excellence.’” He told me that He had already paid for that sin! He said I cannot change that behavior on my own. When I ask for His help, He will change me as I stay in His Word.

When God brings something that He wants us to correct, it is not for us to take on commendation but to accept the conviction, repent and move on with joy! Amen! That is the loving God we serve! Hallelujah!

Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11

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