I was sitting in a car wash this morning and thought about the way we are washed and renewed as Christians.

Recently I had a shocking moment that was a shake into reality.  It shook me to the point of feeling like a scolded child.  Everything seemed foggy and I wanted to retreat.  If I could have crawled into a shell, I would have done it and put a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the front!

God corrected me.

I needed the correction, but it left me feeling disoriented and foggy.   The correction made me question my actions and reactions in particular situations.

Hebrews 12:5-6
My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.

Job 5:17
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

God doesn’t want us to shrink back and retreat.  We are to move on and continue to look to Him for direction and guidance.

I shared a few days ago that I am participating in a challenge to memorize Romans 8.  Our first two scriptures this week were SO TIMELY for me. (If you would like to join us, click HERE.)

Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

There is NO condemnation when we fall.  Jesus alone is the only perfect being who has walked this earth.

As I began to really capture the thoughts of condemnation, embarrassment and everything else the enemy was heaping upon me — my vision started to clear.

God loves me.  I’ll never be good enough, perfect enough, mature enough.  I’m a mess each day and HE LOVES ME.   My correction was due to a way I received something and the way my flesh reacted.  It wasn’t a big deal to anyone other than me, but I don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Sometimes those of us who have been walking with the Lord for a long time have to remember the basic truths.  It is only by the blood of Jesus.

John 3:16
For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

There is nothing we could ever do to earn or deserve God’s love or approval.  But sometimes our past can set us up.  Sometimes we can strive completely unaware.

Isaiah 64:6
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

Romans 3:25
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past …

Ephesians 2:13
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 10:19
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.

Hebrews 13:12
So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make His people holy by means of His own blood.

1 John 1:7
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

God’s Word brings clarity doesn’t it?

I love Him and I love His Word.

I pray God brings someone across this post who needs to read these words:

GOD LOVES YOU!