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| God Knows Your Thoughts Before You Even Think Them.... Don't You Think It's Time You Told Him, Yourself? *Image from Imagebank.org.UK |
It is not excusing the things you've done OR using being a "prodigal" to stay in that state. I can tell you what the signs for me were that I had become a Prodigal. My peace was gone. There has been indecision and confusion and recognition that I have missed the mark. I am very transparent in my walk with God. I don't see any reason to lie about it because He sees EVERYTHING. I could never understand how Adam and Eve thought they could hide from God. You can't DO that. He sees EVERYTHING. So if you are feeling as though you are not right with Him (as I have felt) you need to bring it to the Cross. Maybe sit in a place that is quiet and talk out loud to Him. Tell Him where you are at. How you love Him. How you long to be right but perhaps don't know HOW to be. How you don't want to lie to Him about where you are at right now - but that perhaps He will help reveal to you - WHY you went down that wrong road, if you are still "traveling" that wrong road and what He wants you to do to get it right. Sometimes we stay on that pathway because we don't know "how" to find our way back or feel as though we don't deserve to come back. Well - this is the lesson that I have learned in being a Prodigal. It is probably one of the most important spiritual lessons I've learned in my 24 years of being a Christian - and one that is easy to forget. We have never ever ever ever "earned" salvation. It is a gift. We could "never" be good enough. It is by the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we are able to come into God's presence.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that Whosoever Believes in Him shall NOT perish but have ever lasting life. (John 3:16)
Even before we came into a "prodigal state" we were never good enough. But I have learned from my own experience that we beat ourselves up sometimes - enough so that we don't leave the state we are in because we feel unworthy. God LOVES YOU. He loves ME. He knows YOU better than you know yourself. Don't stay in stagnant waters because you aren't willing to step forward and move to meet your Father halfway. As I am writing these words I am ministering to myself as well. Because there are some paths that are harder to leave than others. Recognize that and move forward anyways. The dangerous part of being in a prodigal state is STAYING there. (Look at what happened to King Saul, it didn't have to be that way. He chose to stay in that state). Be honest with God. If you need help - ASK HIM. I read a couple of things that greatly ministered to me today. It was like the soft spoken word of my Father speaking to me. Because I too am still trying to figure it out as I go. But He knows, that I am trying to get out of the Prodigal state I have been in and it isn't always instantaneous. Sometimes, it takes time. The first thing I saw today was this:
"There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." (Corrie Ten Boom)
God knows your heart, He loves you. "Behold I stand at the door and knock." (Revelations 3:20) Get quiet before Him - listen, can you hear Him? He's knocking. It may take you a while to get through the mire to open the door - but at least start walking towards the direction of His knock. What is your heart telling you? Don't worry so much about what others think of you. That is not important - everyone has their own opinion and some Christian brethern make it "worse" instead of better. (Maybe because they don't realize truly for themselves that it is NOT how good you are? Or they are too afraid to look at the plank in their own eye while trying to remove the sty from yours... We ALL have things we need to work on. I believe as long as we have breathe in our body that we are constantly learning, growing - but you have to be honest with yourself and if some of our brothers and sisters in Christ were really being honest, they'd work on the things that needed changing within themselves instead of tearing down members in the body who are struggling, hurting or weak. (Uhoh I think I've just opened up a can of you-know-what... LOL) However it's true. When you get a papercut on your finger - your whole BODY feels the pain. That is how it should be with the Body of Christ. We are many members - but one in the body (1st Corinthians 12:12). I don't believe that God would have the body attack itself... Hmmmm come to think of it - isn't that called "cancer?" There is no place for it in the Body. Believe me, I know... And I think that God talks about the troubles within each of the churches in the book of Revelations. Church should be a healing place. Not only for those that don't know the Lord - but for those that DO. Sometimes the pain is so strong that it radiates outside of the Body. We need to be there for each other - to heal, to help, to build up. To love, to encourage and then to rejoice and praise God for what He's doing. It is time to clean-house so that we can grow and heal and become stronger. That is my honest opinion....
It doesn't matter what other people think of you... What matters is what God thinks and God loves you. It's His voice that you need to hear. For me, He speaks quietly. He speaks lovingly - even when I feel like I deserve to have Him yell at me. But He doesn't. He may be very displeased with my sins (I know He is...) - but He ALWAYS loves me. God continues to be faithful to us in the midst of our messes.
Don't try to put a band-aid or to air dry a wound in you that needs stitches. That needs a washing and a kiss from God to heal it. Don't ignore the pain or continue on as though nothing is wrong. You know it is. Get in a quiet place where you won't be disturbed and speak your heart to your Father who created it in the first place. Pour it out in your prodigal state. Let Him meet you halfway. He is the BEST physician. He made you - He has plans to prosper you, plans to give you a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Let me also mention this... It's not going to be easy. It may be painful. Remember when you scrapped your knee and you came crying home and your mom or dad had to wash it to clean out the dirt and add some healing ointment to it - it stung! If you are in a prodigal state - its going to be painful turning away from whatever it is... There are consequences to sin. But don't let that keep you from moving forward - step by step. Because I believe it will be worth it. (And don't think I'm giving you advice I'm not trying to walk in for myself). Be patient with yourself to do it - but DO it! So that next time - when you have continued on in your walk, you come to a fork in the road again - and you say, "Nooooooo way... I've learned my lesson and I'm NOT going to make the SAME mistake twice!" Maybe you'll look down at that "scar" on your knee that is left from the remembrance of that "boo-boo" - you know the one that God brought you through - better, stronger and faster? The one that drew you closer to Him. And you'll be able to stay on the pathway He meant for your life with a finer appreciation and knowledge of who you truly are in Him. Once a prodigal always a prodigal - does NOT have to be true. In fact it wasn't meant to be true. So WHAT are you going to DO about it? It all begins with a conversation... He's waiting... How about answering the door?
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