My Encounter Journey (Day 24)

Today's Scriptures are Romans 6:11-18 and John 8:31-36. I find it very compelling that Paul says that we need to not offer up the "parts" of our bodies to sin. I started thinking about what in the world that could mean.

How can I offer up a part of my body to sin? I guess I can sin with my eyes when I look at something I shouldn't look at. I think I can sin with my hands when I use them as a tool to get something I don't need or to offend someone who I am mad at. I believe I can sin with my ears when I listen to things that I should not. I sin with my feet when I willingly walk into trouble, knowing that it will lead me to ruin.

I even sin with my heart, when I long to do something that is wrong because it will make me feel better. I sin with my mouth when the words that come out of it are used to tear down and destroy.

I do offer up the various parts of my body to sin. I need to stop. As I thought through the list, there are not many untainted parts of my body that sin has not left it's dark imprint upon.

But thank the Lord, I am no longer held captive by those ways. I can choose differently now because of Christ and His power within me, I can choose to live for Him and not me.

"Father, wash me clean from sin's dark stain. I still see it's affect in my life. I once took a bloodbath and that cleaned me up...but like my dog, Bessie, I went quickly back to wallowing in the dirt. Help me to stay clean, Lord. Cleanse me. Purify me. Transform me...from the inside out. Thank you Jesus. In Your Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 6)

Today's Scriptures are Luke 5:1-11. I see myself resistant to things that God is wanting to reveal to me continuously. I am getting better though. The way God usually works with me, is that He will, at first, tap me on the shoulder. If I continue to ignore, or go about my own business, then He will hit me upside the head with a 2x4.

so to avoid pain and grief, I am learning to respond to Him quicker. I think Peter never dreamed as he had finished his work that morning that he would be leaving it forever to do something completely different. But when Jesus asked to use his boat, that's where this journey began for Peter.

And in the midst of being close to Jesus, Peter embraced a "because you say so" faith. And that was just enough faith for Jesus to do something amazing. And when Peter saw who it was that was really in the boat with him (the Lord), he realized at the same moment who he really is (a sinner).

That is the weirdest thing about our walk with God, to me. The closer I get to Him, the farther away I realize He is. The closer I get, I realize how far I have to go. You may think you're doing good, but you start drawing close to God and you will realize that you have an awful amount of growth ahead of you. The holier that you see God, the less holy you see yourself. The more you learn about God, the more stupid you become.

That's weird to me. But that's how that works. So I guess I want to have the realization that I am nothing more than a stupid sinner...and then I'll be doing pretty good.

"Lord, Jesus, help me to never think more of myself than that which I truly am...a sinner in need of your grace. Thank you for saving me. In Your Name."