compass

We all have an inner compass in us, many would call it a conscience. Some of us trust what it tells us, and some don’t. Now believe it or not everyone has a compass that points us in the direction of Jesus Christ--- some trust in it, and some don’t. For those who trust in it, it is because God has either taken them through a time of trials, so that they have no choice but to trust in what their “compass” is showing them, or the Holy Spirit has convicted them to trust. For me it was a trial. For a period of 7 years I was in prison, and Christ was taking that time to show me how to use, read, and follow, effectively, what my “compass” was telling me. Up until that time my compass was broken, if you will, by the lies of Satan. He did not want me to find the way to God, because he knew that once I did, or we do, I would be able to see for myself the lies that he had been telling me all along.

          Satan’s lies are that we are too broken for God to put back together. Our compass’s, if you will, have been broken beyond repair, because of our pasts. It is true that our internal compasses are broken, Christ does have the power to correct, change and repair any life, period. Change is hard, change requires us to do things differently than the way we have been. I thought that way, “why change, I can’t do it and I am too far gone for God to want me back,” so I just kept prodding along through the mud that was my life. But, one day I did reach that dead end!! I had come to the end of the road and had nowhere else to turn. Now see Jesus knew this would happen. Now I know that you are wondering, “Isn’t God a loving God? Why would He let this happen?” Yes, God did know that I would be in this place, and He also knew that I would need to be in this place in order that I would understand Satan’s lies, that I would find out for myself that He, God, truly did love me, no matter what I had done; past, present or future. Christ knew that I would have to be in this place in order for me to fully understand what He did, when He went, willingly, to the cross to die for me, to shed His blood in order that my sins, and yours too by the way, would be covered and remembered no more!!! I can’t stress enough that your past does not matter to Christ, all He wants is for you to believe in Him, repent, and be saved. Just as Jesus Christ wanted to repair my compass, He desires to fix yours also. He loves you, and cares for and about you. This may be hard to wrap your head around because of the lies that Satan has been spewing out at you for so long, but it is true, I am proof!!

          I always thought that I had to live a perfect life before I could accept Christ, which made it even that much harder to come to Him, and you may think that way too, but again, that was a lie perpetrated by Satan to keep us in his clutches, to keep me, and you, from having the inner peace. See, NO ONE can live a perfect life, and Christ knows that. He does not expect us to. He wants us to live for Him, but as we do, Christ is walking there along side us. Our compass, that is His love, mercy, grace, and Holy Spirit, will aid in our walk-through life. Our compass will not only direct our steps, but will give us comfort in the trials and storms that WILL come our way through life. I pray that if you have not accepted Christ as your Savior that you will, so that Jesus Christ can fix your compass, which will allow you to walk in the right direction, the direction of Christ, the one that died for you!

                        Forgiveness

I recently viewed a Youtube video, by Psalm Forty, about 2 gentlemen. One was a former drug dealer, gang banger, turned preacher. The other a born again Christian, who just happened to have murdered the preacher's son, in a gang related incident, before he was saved.

These gentlemen talk about their past lives, and in the preacher's case, how he came to the Lord. The other gentleman tells of how he came to the Lord while in prison for the murder that he had committed. The rest of the video depicts their meeting each other almost 20 years after the murder. The most powerful moment, for me, is when the pastor, in the middle of their conversation, begins to pray for this person. Prays that the power of the Holy Spirit will guide the man to be a powerful influence to others, leading many to Christ. And, that this man's children will be freed from the curse of the father, so that they too may be a witness for Christ.

Viewing this video just brings home that the power of the Lord Jesus is strong enough to lead the pastor to forgive. And, for the other person to fully know that not only has God forgiven him, but this pastor has forgiven him also. Each was filled with a peace that only Jesus can give. That no matter what he had done, in this case murder someone, he was forgiven, that sin had been nailed to the cross at the death of Jesus. Neither one had to carry any "baggage" with them any longer because Jesus had taken it with Him to the cross. The pastor refused to believe the lies of Satan, telling him that he had caused his son's death because of the life style that he had lead. "You are just trying to hide behind Jesus, you are a coward," that is what the pastor heard just after the death of his son.

Which brings me to this point. Do you carry baggage with you from your past sins? Is Satan whispering in your ear that "this person does not deserve to be forgiven for what he did to you?" The devil enjoys watching us struggle with our past baggage. He laughs at us, as we continually strive to better ourselves, on our terms and with our strength. He continually tries to muffle the voice of our Creator, as He calls out to us to come to Him for the peace that we need to have, in order to live this life to the fullest. Satan delights in lying to us, because he knows that we are weak and vulnerable. And, as long as we carry that baggage with us, we are just that, weak and vulnerable. But Christ died so that we can become strong and courageous. Because of His death we no longer need to carry any baggage from our pasts, those sins, and the ones that we will make in the future, died with Him on the cross.

Along with the mercy and grace that Christ freely gives to those who believe in Him, He also give an inner peace and a forgiving spirit. He gives the power and strength to withstand trials. See, no matter your past, Christ died for you, and He loves you! Our Father in heaven wants the best for you. Because of the death of His Son on the cross, your sins have been paid for. You no longer need to rectify your past by your own strength because Jesus of Nazareth has done that for you, NO MATTER WHAT THE DEVIL TELLS YOU!!!!!

I will again use my testimony to drive this home for you. I lived a life on my own terms before I came to Christ. My life came to ruins because of my sinfulness. I did time in the "big house" away from family and friends. But, during that time Jesus led me, He loved me, He directed me and corrected me and broke me, so that He could build me into what He had destined me for. It wasn't easy. And trying to believe what I am saying here may be hard for you. You may be going through a time of brokenness in your life right now. Just know, as I found out, that God is there with you right now. He longs to take you in His arms and hold you so that the power of His love for you can get you through this storm in your life. No matter your past, Christ walks with you and loves you and calls out to you to come to Him, to come home, if you will. Because by accepting Him as your personal Savior, He will make a room for you in His mansion in heaven for you to live for all of eternity. 

So, quit listening to Satan, begin listening to Jesus, and allow His power to flood over you. Giving you peace in your life. Taking your past sins and un-forgiveness of others upon Himself so as to separate them from you as far as the East is from the West!!