I have been marvelling at many things these last few days. “Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvellous deeds.” – Psalm 72:18.
I marvel at the way in which God shines new light into your life to give you eyes to see. I am reminded of when Jesus healed the blind man in Mark 8:22-26, and after Jesus put his eyes on the man’s eyes, the man could see the people looked like trees walking around. After Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, the man’s eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. The new light God has shone into my life has shown me that I have been living in a land of walking trees for my whole Christian walk.
I marvel at the depravity of my own heart – maybe “marvel” is not quite the right word, but you know what I mean. How I can think I am following wholeheartedly after God and His ways….and then suddenly more light falls across my path, and the darkness in which I have been walking is exposed.
Truth. We worship the God of Truth (Psalm 31:5), Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), the Spirit of Truth has been sent into our hearts (John 16:13), God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17), we are sanctified by truth (John 17:17) and one day we will dwell in the City of Truth (Zech 8:3).
Deception and truth are no friends. And yet I have found myself swept up into a world of deception as I have sought to protect my sister from knowledge which I have believed would cause her pain in her world of rituals, as she seeks to find her security in a “contamination-free world” and I have tried to reassure her that we are keeping things “clean”. (This post explains more). And the new light I have been given has shown me that in my desire to protect my sister, I have unwittingly been causing her to rely more and more on her rituals and the false security these can give her, rather than placing her trust in the One True God who has the power to set her free. I have also brought dishonour to the precious Name of my Lord and Saviour by not proclaiming truth in all circumstances. These last few days have been intensely painful.
I marvel at the forgiveness we have in Christ. That in Him ALL our sins are forgiven, that we can come before Him at the foot of the cross, and know that because He is the Truth and His Word is Truth, when we confess our sins God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.
I marvel at the steadiness and confidence I now know, now that I have God’s belt of truth buckled firmly around my waist. He has given me a boldness to speak the Truth to Helen in love.
I marvel at the way God is speaking to Helen and unsettling her confidence in her rituals and showing her that it is wrong for her to place her trust in these rituals and not in God.
The prayer of my heart: That I will marvel at God’s deliverance of Helen from her rituals and at Him giving her a new song in her mouth and a hymn of praise to our God. I am under no illusions – I know the walk ahead will be a difficult one for us as a family. God has reminded me of the fact that when Moses approached Pharaoh to ask him to let God’s people go, initially things became much more difficult for God’s people. But when God revealed His Name to Moses He told Him the significance of His Name – “I am the LORD (Yahweh) and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:6).
May God have mercy.
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Praying for Helen; and praying for you.
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
Praying for you my friend, and for Helen. Love to you Diana and thank you for your courageous post. I know things are very hard right now but God will give you His strength.
ReplyDeletePraying for both of you.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
This is reassuring and comforting in that God is strengthening you and giving you courage. Thank you for sharing this news! Praying for You, Helen, and your family! Grace and love!
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for your prayers - I can't tell you how much I covet them! Love to you all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this with us. What a very challenging and tough situation you have all faced for many years. I know that you have each endured much in different ways. Praise be to God for the new things that He's revealed to each of you. God working in our lives is ALWAYS good news!!
ReplyDeleteI am also thankful that God gives us all we need in His Word which teaches, rebukes, chastens, corrects, and trains us so that we might be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17), It also penetrates to our deepest, innermost part of our being and assesses what is good and what is bad there, so we might learn where correction is needed(Hebrews 4:12).
Sanctification is a process, not an occurrence, and what I see here is evidence of God working within you through the Holy Spirit to build in you a more godly character as He works to conform you to the image of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in His perfect righteousness, while you also work to submit to His will and be more Christlike, growing in the knowledge and understanding that can only occur by knowing God and Jesus Christ as He's revealed Himself through His Word.
I know you know that but every time I read that, say that, write that, I am amazed anew at the mighty God we have who would do all that for us.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I pray that God continue to strengthen you and give you courage to continue boldly speaking the truth to Helen. Praying with perseverance for you, your mum, and Helen.
Much love,
Ruthie
Ruthie - I can't thank you enough for your words of encouragement - coming at a time of deep conviction over sin, they mean so much to me. God bless you, my friend♥ .
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