Did I hear You right?
Yes, He was talking to me.
It was that still small voice, but it came through loud and clear.
And it was in King James. "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."
The Message says it this way: "Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time."
Ahem.
He had my attention.
I lay in bed (I woke up to that still small voice...that verse running through my mind) thinking - Wow, God. Have I allowed bitterness in my heart somewhere? (yes, I do talk to God that way).
I asked Him to show me where it started, since it wasn't a sermon where I could look around and say, "Hmmm..wonder who that could be."
He was speaking directly to me.
God is so faithful.
I thought of little things that someone said that rubbed me the wrong way. 'Probably untintentional..we humans are that way...saying things without thinking. But I resented it.
I thought back a little...there was the time, I was sure I was being left out, ignored - and it hurt.
Resntment? Bitterness? Little things just seemed to bother me, out of nowhere (of course, to me, it was somewhere).
Bitterness blinds. Like a weed, it chokes out the beauty around, if it can.
It starts out a seed, but if not caught in time, it grows and spreads.
God is my Father.
I am His child.
Sometimes He has to pull the slack in on me...reign me in...sit me down
in time-out, so I will listen.
Ouch.
But, I needed it - a 'heart' adjustment.
Whew.
'Ever had one of those tiny stickers in your finger? It hurts for a while, then kind of goes away. You forget about it, till it hurts again. But, if you don't get it out, it continues to fester..at some point causing infection. That's how a little bitterness in the heart can be...unnoticeable at first...but then.....Well, you get the picture.
How I need my Savior.
I need Him all the time.
My Father; I am humble before Your throne. I am ever so grateful that I have access to Your throne through Jesus and because of His blood. I thank You that You love me so much, that You are not willing that I should wander. If You seem far away, Lord, I know it's not You. It's me. I thank You for speaking to me by Your Word and Holy Spirit. Thank You for forgiving me and rstoring me by Your grace. Hallelujah! I am free to love. I am free to give. Thank You for joy and peace restored.
I love You, Lord.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
