I am going to share one of my secrets with you....are you ready?
Psalm 25 is my "go to" Psalm.
I sin. Time and time again. Sometimes it is a bad attitude. Often it is a short fuse. It can look like impatience, selfishness, and/or a lack of contentment. My tongue. My temper. My pride. (You name it.)
Sometimes I feel like there is no way God can forgive me...again. He just can't! I've asked one too many times for forgiveness for the very same things. Over and over again I confess, and repent, and work on change. But then something happens, it resurfaces, and I give in to temptation and sin. And I hate it. I want victory. I want to please the Lord with my words and actions, attitudes and lifestyle. I try so hard to parent perfectly - balancing law and grace like nobody's business. I want to follow my husband's leadership in full submission while demonstrating honor and respect. I want the effects of sin to go far, far away. I want, I want, I want.
But I am learning. I am learning to spend less of my energy on trying and learning to rest more in being. Simply being.
Ephesians 1:11-14 says, "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you hear the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."Christ is my inheritance! And my inheritance is sealed (as in a wax seal, a mark of identification) by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit!
I can rest in that. I can give up trying, and wanting, and striving and just be. Be a daughter of the King of Kings. Be a child of God. Be who I already am through Christ. And through the years, Psalm 25 has consistently and repeatedly reminded me of the following gems which I have through my inheritance in Jesus Christ:
Forgiveness - "Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!" - verses 6-7
Direction - "Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right,and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." - verse 4-5, 8-10
Friendship - "The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his convenant. My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net." - verse 14
Grace - "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble and forgive all my sins."- verses 16-18
Comfort - "Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame." - verse 3a
Protection - "Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you." - verses 20-21
And do you know what some wonderful verses in the very next chapter say ? (They weren't part of today's Bible reading.) Psalm 26:6-7 says,
"I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds."
The picture here is though I am a sinner, and will continue to sin until I am in the presence of God, I have been cleansed (forgiven!) through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God. My worship (and yours) is acceptable to God and I can enjoy, celebrate, and participate in public worship! I think that is simply.....beautiful.
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