God uses many people with troubled pasts to tell his story in the Bible, murderers, prostitutes, thieves, tax collectors, and others. This helps us all understand that God doesn’t require us to be “good,” to be saved; He can make us “right with him” no matter where we start. The moment we ask for forgiveness, God grants it. The important thing is that we ask.

Nathan, the prophet, comes to David, the King of Israel, in 2 Samuel 12, and tells David a story illustrating the terrible thing David did by having Bathsheba’s husband killed and taking Bathsheba as his wife. When David realized what a terrible thing he had done, he repents. His words are written in Psalm 51, and may sound familiar to those who attend traditional church services. Verses 10-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free Spirit.”

The Living Bible writes verse 10, “Create in me a new, clean heart, O god, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.” and verse 12, “Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”

We all fail in our resistance to temptation. God knows, He and is there waiting to forgive us. Let us give up our pride, and confess our faults, ask for God’s forgiveness, so that we can experience the joy that comes with a “clean heart.”

Dear Lord, we are sorry for our failure to follow your will. Forgive us and give us the desire to obey you. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-25, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

After reading this, think about the difficult life situations like, disagreeing with someone, disciplining our children, providing direction to our employees, expressing our dissatisfaction with a contractor’s work. How should we behave in these situations?

Dear Lord, living by the Spirit is so much different than the norms our world expects. Help us use your word as guidance for our actions so that we will live by the Spirit and demonstrate your love even in difficult situations. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Genesis 3 tells the story of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. verses 4-6 write, ““You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”

When I think about it, I wonder what Adam and Eve were thinking. They had to know that God created everything, they had personal interaction with Him, and he specifically told them, “don’t touch or eat the fruit from that tree.” How could they be persuaded by the serpent, a creature God created, to disobey God? It seems like we would know better.

However, do we?

We believe God is our Lord, the supreme power over all things. We have the Bible, His word, His direction, and it tells us, don’t have things more important than him, don’t lie, don’t take things that are not ours, don’t take God’s name in vain, etc… How can we be persuaded to disobey God’s direction?

None of us, on our own, are capable of overcoming the temptation in order to be “good enough” for God. It is only through believing Jesus saved us that we can be forgiven of our disobedience.

Dear Lord, no matter how we may try, we cannot overcome temptations that make us disobey you. What peace and joy it brings to know that we are forgiven and made right with you through Jesus’ sacrifice. Thanks and praise to you. Amen.

We all have had those experiences where we say or think, “I just can’t take it anymore” Whether it is a difficult situation at work, overwhelmed with the housework, homework, challenging people, struggling with finances, addictions, or health problems. When we want to give up, what we really need to do is to give our problems over to God.

God wants us at the place where we submit ourselves and our plans to him. Ideally we can do this without needing to get to the end of our rope, but many times the only way we get to that point where we submit to God is when we have no place else to go. Paul tells us, however, what God told him. 2 Corinthians 12:9, God said, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

When we are weak and discouraged, we need to as 1 Peter 5:7 says, “cast all our cares on Him, for he cares for you.” In our weakness, God’s love and power will be there.

Dear Lord, help us to remember that we don’t have to wait until we want to give up in order to come to you and surrender ourselves, but when we do come to that low point, we thank you that your grace and power will be right there for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We should never underestimate the value and power of reading the Bible, God’s word. God speaks to us and works in us when we read it.

God says through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 55:10-11 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmers and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

When you are looking for answers, comfort, direction, or for a way to help others, look in your Bible.

Dear Lord, what an amazing way you created to connect with us, teach us, and keep us on the right path with the Bible. Remind us to use it. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.