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...and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. - 1 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV) - |
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Worship with us! Every Sunday, from 4:00 pm in the afternoon - 7:00 pm in the evening at the IBP Building, Capitol Compound. |
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| A Good Spank |
| Soulful thoughts by Abigail Canton |
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" See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit." - Ephesians 5: 15-18 NKJV
I knelt for what seemed like the longest time. I constantly conversed with the Lord in the privacy of my room, trying to get my message across. It felt like my prayers were just echoes of sound bouncing off the four walls. I prayed harder. It was of no avail. In my exasperation, I sat on the floor with my head bowed on top of my knees. A vivid picture flashed in my mind… my heavenly father had his back on me. That was the scenario every night for the past two weeks. I relentlessly pursued God’s presence day and night, but I would always end up flat on my bed-alone and unfulfilled. Something was sooo wrong. I had to get to the bottom of the problem and the real cause why God is turning His back on me. It was all so simple and it took me days and weeks to figure it out. I simply did something that was not commendable in God’s eyes. I displeased Him… willfully. And to top it all of, I actually thought I was getting away with it. Ouch! He had every right to act the way He was acting. Just like in a love relationship, we were having a lover’s quarrel. Ironically, this quarrel was non-verbal. God simply chose not to speak to me until I get His point… until I understand that He was disappointed. And who thought the Christian walk is all too boring and predictable?! Think again. I was in for a very quiet week. It was pure torture, especially that my name translates to “chatterbox” by definition. I had never felt so abandoned in my entire life. God was silent. And God was just waiting for me to say the magic words not with my mouth but with my heart… “I’m sorry”. The minute I said those words sincerely and heartily, God immediately broke the silence. Just like a refreshing gentle breeze, His presence was so comforting. And the vivid picture flashed in my mind again, this time with God’s hands outstretched. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s when someone doesn’t speak to me. And that was exactly what God used to get my attention. He wasn’t waiting for an apology simply because He was hurt. He wanted me to learn how to be sensitive to His feelings and more so, He wanted to instill in me the Spirit of Repentance. Repentance doesn’t necessarily mean saying “I’m sorry.” That word actually has more depth to it. It encompasses not just words, but actions. It literally means turning your back to sin. Friends, when you feel like you’ve done something you shouldn’t have done or you failed to do something you should have done, take heart! We all stumble and fall. What counts is not how many times you’ve been on the ground, but the times where you actually got up and shook the dust off. God is not after perfect and sinless Christians (there is no such thing!!). However, He is in a constant search for enduring and repenting believers. So, even if God chooses to be quiet, press on! Even if God has turned a deaf ear on you, pray on! God has a weakness for consistent and persevering children. And when He sees that you are sincere and really sorry, He can’t help but give you a big welcoming hug. Truly, the writer of the book of Lamentations can relate. “ The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison. I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed. Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue. Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.” - Lamentations3:19-24 Yes friends, God is full of mercy and love. We often forget that fact. Sometimes, or most of the time we choose to wallow in our misery and guilt and refuse to be forgiven. No matter how big the sin is, God’s Love is even bigger. Imagine this, who would give up His child for an unworthy and ungrateful person? No one in his right mind would. But God gave His only begotten Son so that you and I would know how far His love would go. Definitely, no sin is bigger than that!! The Lord gave me a good spank alright. But the learning and realization far surpasses the momentary pain. God loves me. God has forgiven me. And I have to live with that, and it goes the same for you, friend. Deal with it. J The words of King David would be a fitting parting remark: “ Teach me your ways, O Lord; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you. Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love, which you have shown from long ago. Forgive the sins and errors of my youth. In your constant love and goodness, remember me, Lord! …Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me, because I am lonely and weak. Relieve me of my worries and save me from all my troubles. Consider my distress and suffering and forgive all my sins.” - Psalms 25:4-7,16-18 Pray on! God Bless. |