| "The Best Policy" "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16 While watching a Christian television program this morning, I was quickly reminded that I am not the sole individual on this planet, who has things in their past that needs to be left there. Actually, now that I think about it, two programs I watched kind of dealt with the same issues. Just take a second to reflect on your life. Are there things that you have been holding on to with regret and shame? Have you surrendered all to your God? Wow, I ask that question and I am surprised at the thoughts that rush through my mind. Maybe I have not been totally honest with myself in this area. There may still be regrets that I have not given totally over to God. What causes me, or you, to hold on to this resentment, fear, regret...? If all these things do are hurt us, why do we insist on holding them close to our hearts and minds? We need to lay bare all our problems and concerns before our Father. We need to confess all to Him and allow Him to assume the guilt and shame and reward us with victory. As easy as this may sound, sometimes we are unable to surrender totally to the Master. As Christians we should me more apt to rely on our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all equal in the Father's eyes. We all experience similar trials and temptations. We all have made past mistakes. The Enemy makes us believe that our situation is more drastic than the next person. He'll go to great measures to insure our guilt and pain. We must allow ourselves to follow the words of James 5, verse 16. Here we are encouraged to confess our sin to one another in order that we can console our fellow Christians and more importantly, pray for, and with each other. God is an awesome God. How loving of Him to show me this truth today, as tonight we are beginning preparations for our cell group ministry. Through this group, it is my prayer that many close relationships will be formed and this feeling of family will allow members of the cell to express themselves. I am hoping that we will be able to reach a comfortable zone where we feel free to share our guilt and regrets of the past, in order that our souls may be free of resentment and we may be healed. I am not doubting because God will be there and He makes all things possible. I don't know any of you personally and have no idea of the state of your life or your mind. I have no knowledge of your past, present or future. I do know however that it is nothing that some child of God hasn't already experienced. Please don't allow Satan to bind you. Find a friend who you feel safe with and share your heart. Allow them to counsel you and more importantly pray with you. We are all sinners, not one without fault. The big thing here is to realize this fact and deal with it. Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. Take your cares to the Father and allow Him to begin a renewal in your life. Only He can do something so unimaginable! |