Welcome to this blessed week. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore. Today, we are back to another question on the Infant Steps Series. It has to do with backsliding. Please respond to Hilda’s question below. She needs all the encouragement she can get from you. Thank you.
Also, please take some time to respond to the questions on addictions that came in as comments in the previous post on this series. Thank you.
Dear Rita,
I gave my life to Christ over 15 years ago when I was in class 1, secondary school. Then, every day I felt I was growing in the Lord because I spent considerable time
in prayer and studying God’s word. By the time I got to class 4 (12 years ago), I backslid. I don’t want to blame it on my maturing hormones. Anyway, I realize that after then, I have lived a life I am ashamed of and have done worse things than I can ever imagine. I completely removed God from my life.I want to go back to God. My life then was much better. But I feel guilty, ashamed and afraid because someone once told me that God punishes backsliders. Please what do I do? Is God really as forgiving as was portrayed in your post on God’s view on forgiveness?
Hilda.
If you have any questions you would like to discuss on the Infant Steps Series, please drop me an email at esurunma@gmail.com or leave the question as a comment in any of my blog posts.
All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time.
Greg, Anonymous and Madam, please see comments in the previous post on this series for responses to your questions.
17 comments:
Yes Hilda, God is Indeed forgiving,But we must make a conscious effort not to take that for granted..
Ps:Go on back!..LOL..Wishing you all the best on your journey..
Actually He is glad that you are at this place of wanting to come back.He never stopped loving you, not for a second.He hates the sin not the sinner.Just rededicate your life to Christ, confess your sins and delve into the word.His arms are open waiting eagerly for you.
Yes he is ever forgiving, but like rose said we shouldn't take it for granted..
I love the story of the prodigal son, no matter how far we run, we have a God who is willing to embrace us once again. You just take that step back in His direction...He's always there even when we think He's not
I will be watching for the responses.
Yes, he's truly a forgivin lovin God..He said we should bring all our sack clothes into his presense that he's always willin to forgive us so long as we admit our faults which is the first right step your takin now..and repent of those sins, carry our cross and follow him..
I think thats the biggest edge the devil has against Christ followers.
The belief that they are far too gone for God to forgive them.
Biggest LIE.
There is a school of thought "Once saved, always saved" And another "Being saved is a continuous process"
Not sure how this comes into play here, but there is always a way back. Always
HILDA my dear..lemme put it plain nd simple ehn..
IT IS BETTER TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES AND BE IN SYNC WITH GOD,
THAN AT THE END TO BE IN SYNC WITH THE DEVIL.
One thing i have learnt is that, even wen i mess up, God forgives...I mean that is why we call him merciful father!
No matter what the consequence is...it is way better to face it nd say thank God, than to not come to him and let the devil continue to put in more guilt and have access to ur life.
So please go back...dats all i can say naw, Everyday with Jesus is sweeeeeeeter than the d day b4, without him!
Rita i hav put up the E-sermon o...sinceeeee, i was going to mail up to tell ya, but i got lazyyyy!
Hilda, one question for you. Why do you think you are feeling the way you are now? I know I said its a question for you but I am going to answer it myself. It's because God has put His longing in your heart. That is His way of saying to you 'Hey, I want you back' (where you belong, may I add?). His word says He is faithful and just to forgive, trust me no bi for your case He go come stop! (He won't stop when it comes to you).
The other thing I have been learning of late is sometimes we are afraid because we think, not only have we messed up so much, we also do not know how to walk in righteousness anymore. Guess what? We live in His righteousness. It's not by our power or might but by the acceptance and focus on His righteousness. Through this, our sinfulness begins to lose its appeal and begins to fall right off. So go to Jesus, He is waiting, come on, off you go.
Agape.
Many of us (including me) have had (and probably still have) this problem one time or the other. Truly, it’s usually much more difficult rising up than it is falling. It only takes the steadfastness of the backslider and the grace of God to stand again after falling. Hilda, it is well.
the story of my life.... have no advice to give, still making my way but will read all the comments
The prodigal son has already been mentioned; the father was looking for him while he was still far away. The father ran - God is more keen to get you back than you are to get back! The father interrupts the son's speech as soon as he accepts he has sinned. And for us the best robe is Christ: God looks on the repentant sinner in all the worth of Christ! All He asks is repentance and the rest depends on the finishedwork of the Lord Jesus.
Yes, as everyone has said, God is always forgiving, he is just a prayer away and waiting for you with arms wide open. All you need to do is come back home. He knows where you've been, he sees your heart and know that you will come back, he created you and your thoughts are not hidden from him. Like David said, where can I go from your presence, If I go to the bottom of the seas, you will reach me.
Just say, yes Lord.
Anonymous said it right ooo. God has put his longing in your heart. There is godly shame and ungodly shame. Godly shame moves you to repentence while ungodly shame propels you to guilt and despair.
1 John 1:9 says he will forgive if you ask and confess
Heb 4:16 tells you to boldly approach his throne
John 3:16 says he loves you soo much he sent his son to die and all you need to do is believe
Psalm 51: is a prayer of a sinner called David who killed a man for his wife
Ps 139:13-15 says you are made in his image
Jer 1 says he knew u when u were in your mothers womb
Jer 29:11 says he has a plan for you
so girl
in conclusion all i can say is that consequences we must deal with but God wants you back HARD. It is easy: all you have to do is let go of the shame and guilt and surrender to him from today on.
one day one step that is all that matters how u live today for him
Dear Hilda,
God is as forgiving as that and much much more because He is love.
He knows what is truly in our hearts and I am sure He forgives us before we even ask him if we are truly repentant.
He just wants us to ask...to come to Him and admit we were wrong..to make a real effort to change.
Like Telekinesys said, He hates the sin and not the sinner, God never stopped and will never stop loving you.
And life with Him is so much better than life without. Talk to Him and let Him know everything you're feeling everyday and you'll find that you'll feel much much better.
We all stray from God but the important thing is that we go back to Him.
Hope that helps.
Remain blessed.
---> Rita oooh, how have you been? :)
Anonymous and Kafo have a clear message here - It is indeed the conviction of the Holy Spirit - that is wooing you back to the Lord of Lords and KING of KINGs (Psalm 2).
He never gives up on us - He has not left you or forsaken you. He has not abandoned you - or written you off. He longs for you to come to Him ans say...
"Abba Father, I have sinned and come short of the Glory of the Lord...wilt thou continue to love me and not forsake me?"
... and the Lord says to you LOUD and CLEAR but in a soft gentle whisper...
"I Will" ... "today is your birthday - I celebrate YOU in ME - even now as before... You are made spotless - white as snow - I will remember your sins no more....
now...Go and sin no more."
FORGIVEN AND SET FREE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS - I believe we cannot lose our salvation - unless we deliberately CHOOSE to turn our backs on HIM repeatedly and walk to the other side - willingly.
We cannot serve 2 masters. But if we are drawn back to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit who is our comforter and guide here on earth to help us to walk in the spirit rather than the flesh - He promises to never leave us or forsake us. But we must take up our cross and follow Him .. to the end.
In the last days, scripture says that many will fall away - it is vital that we not fall into the traps of the enemy - that we not take our salvation for granted - that we fall into complacency and not stand as a warrior against the wiles of the enemy who seeks only to devour us in our faith.
STAND firm and dress yourself daily with the amour of the Lord - that you might be suited for the battle over our lives.
Blessings and praises tot he KING for your repentive heart and willing spirit to stay connect to the life blood source of Jesus Christ! Amen!
Patrina <")>><
warrior bride in boots
Rom 13:12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.
Eph 6:14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.
1Th 5:8 But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
Eph 6:11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.
Eph 6:13 Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Isa 59:17 He put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with the robes of vengeance and godly fury.
sorry Rita,
Google said my post was too long - it usually posts anyways - but I forgot that you are moderating - so if it posted more than once - please delete the 2nd one. I get into trouble with Google when I include scripture :)
I love responding to these written letters for help. thanks for the opportunity to wear my faith!
hugs, Patrina <")>><
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