Welcome Home!

I lift up my eyes toward the mountains—
from where will my help come?
My help is from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
He will never let your foot slip,
nor will your guardian become drowsy.
Look! The one who is guarding Israel
never sleeps and does not take naps.
The Lord is your guardian;
the Lord is your shade at your right side.
The sun will not ravage you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will guard you from all evil,
preserving your life.
The Lord will guard your goings and comings,
from this time on and forever.                                        – Psalm 121 (ISV)

When we stray from His presence, He longs for us to come back. He weeps that we are missing out on His love, protection and provision. He throws His arms open, runs toward us, gathers us up, and welcomes us home.                        – Charles Stanley (1932 – )

Today has been a wonderful Sabbath for me because the LORD and I had an extended chat which included me confessing, Him forgiving and me feeling His arms wrapped around me. I am truly, securely home.

This isn’t deep theology here, my friends. It’s a step of faith with Jesus shouldering all the weight for us to see the blessings. I believe the biggest hindrance for us to see a change in our relationship to God is our failure to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness and then receive that forgiveness.

The apostle John said that if I think I don’t sin – I am in denial! But if I confess my sins, those ugly destructive things that no matter what I do, will cling to me like a piece of stinky slime, God will forgive me and restore me (1 John 1:8-10).

Confessing without accepting His forgiveness means I do not move from carrying around weight of untold burdens to leaping for joy at being set free! Accepting forgiveness is receiving the best gift ever & I got even though I was a naughty child! I got it because I was sincerely sorry I was naughty, I asked Dad to forgive me – and He did!

I look up for help. Where does help come from? God. Always God. Not complicated. Maybe even too easy. Psalm 121 does not say that evil will never come to my life. It says that my Father God is my help, my guard and that I will never face evil alone.

If you are reading this on the fly today, that’s ok. But take time later. Get alone by taking a walk or a shower, even a “Calgon take me away” bath, and let go of the weight you carry, the sins that have you entangled. Give them over to God. Let Him set you free and take your hand and walk in freedom!