There are some situations in life that won't go away and people cannot figure out why. Illness, poverty, marital difficulties, addictions, dissatisfaction, irritations and more - seem almost like they are there to unravel a person's peace and joy. They are always for our growth, of course, but sometimes those things are there to remind a person that the life they're living is not the one God has in mind for them. They are not living in their true identity. God is calling for the prodigals to come home.
Did you make a commitment to the Lord some time in the past only to go back into the world and forget about Him? Did you get baptized as a statement of your good intention to fulfill the desire to turn over a new leaf, then walk away from your conviction when temptation got the better of you? Or perhaps a deep disappointment, failed relationship, fear of the future, insecurity at being alone or any number of things caused you to change your convictions in order to justify a lifestyle of living by self-will and keeping God at a distance. After all, if you're not close, you can't really hear what He's saying, right?
Or, how many times have we all said at one time or another, "Oh God, if you get me out of this, I will change! I will live right! I will never be so foolish again!" You were sincere at the time you spoke those words, yet loyalty to Christ was short lived. Perhaps that is you today. Friend, we have all failed our own good intentions at some point, and God is faithful even when people are not, but vows made to Him are still expected to be fulfilled. Grace is not an excuse to just do what we want and expect God to be ok with it. He doesn't let us off the hook! God tries to get people's attention in the little things before He uses the bigger things.
Do you feel a deep frustration down in your soul?
Do you feel regret that you've been wasting time living the wrong life?
Do you feel dissatisfied with life as you know it?
Do you feel tired and hopeless with the direction of your life?
If you answered yes to any of those questions then please don't run from the conviction you may be feeling. Conviction is there as a means of pleading with your conscience to do what is right. Your heart knows when you have guilt that needs to be cleansed away, and only confession and true repentance will wash it away. Repentance is getting up from where you've been and making new choices, taking a new direction. Please come back to the Lord. I promise you, He is SAFE! He is waiting with open arms! I ask you to consider whether or not you have been directing your own life, or allowed the Lord to direct your life. Did you make a vow to Him that you need to honor? Until you make that choice, the life that you truly desire will continue to be out of reach.
I pray that today is the day that people will remember their vows to the Lord and commit to keeping them. Start the new year off right. Turn back to the Lord and honor the commitment to Him that you made. Bring yourself back into good graces and under the canopy of His protective care.
"I am obligated by vows to You, God; I will make my thank offerings to You. " Psalm 56:12
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