New Beginnings...

There are a couple of verses in the Old Testament book of Lamentations that are really cool.  Here they are:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lam 3:22-23 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but I seem to screw up fairly regularly.  On a daily basis, I think, say and do things that I am not real proud of.  Sometimes I shake them off and find it pretty easy not to go there again...for a while.  But occasionally, Satan seems to really get his hooks in me and it seems like I am drawn back again and again to the same issues.  Like a dog returning to it's vomit as scripture says.  I know that's a gross thought, but really...that is how God views it when I keep returning to my old ways.  I can just imagine him saying... 'Billy, you know I love you.  Why are you feeding on that which is never going to satisfy you?  I am ALL you need.'

And intellectually, I know that.  And you do too.  But over and over, throughout life, our personal demons (sin issues) keep coming back again and again.  We try so many ways to rid our lives of the garbage and seem to fail so often.  Here is a truth that I believe...and am trying to live out, however, imperfectly.

Our relationship with God is THE ANSWER for our struggle with sin.  If you are not seeking God, you will not overcome your issues.  You can hang it up.  And showing up for church on Sunday simply won't cut it.  It's a start, but you are gonna have to do better than that.  What God wants is you.  If you are reading this, then you have the exact same thing I have and that is 24 hours every day to decide what to do with.  Your personal relationship with God is the single most important thing in life.  This is true for alot of reasons...but consider this one.

God is the most powerful, loving, just, merciful, forgiving, holy being in the universe.  When you are walking in his will, you are aligning yourself with the only being who really has your best interests at heart.  And He doesn't make mistakes.  Most of us only give him a little slice of our life...so we only get a little power to resist those personal demons that keep haunting us.  When you really begin to seek HIM...your mind actually changes.  This is why mere rulekeeping will not produce righteous, holy behavior.  Only being in the presence of God can do that.  Seriously...grab your Bible and read Colossians 2:20-3:3.

Your life will never be what it's supposed to be if God isn't everything to you.  So don't wait.  Say to God: TODAY I will begin seeking you.  I'm not going to wait for you to show up on Sunday.  Pick a scripture of praise (try Psalm 86:1-4) and imagine that you are sitting before this holy God and simply pray this Psalm and ask God to hear you.

Here is the amazing thing that will happen.  As we allow God to fill up our spirit more and more with his WORD and time spent before Him...our mind will change and the vomit that we've been feeding on will no longer be so appealing.  I believe this is why David was 'a man after God's own heart'.  He actively sought God!  Consistently.  He had lots of issues, but desperately sought God.

I believe that over time, we can become so enthralled with God, that we crave spending time with him and realize our weakness when we aren't in constant communion with him.  We feel disconnected.  And that's when Satan moves in... Can't you see the cycle?  So break it.  Today.  Break the cycle of despair, desperation, and disconnection!  Prevent that cycle by choosing to walk with Him in prayer and through His WORD.  Be consistent.  Be humble.  Be blessed.  And remember, his compassions are new every morning. 

Peace,
Billy