Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
Singapore
October 31, 1994
Good Morning!
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL FAILURES?
Despair?
Self- condemnation?
Self flagellating?
Or
Confession: "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness" - I John 1:9
Acceptance of His grace: "If Thou, Lord, shouldst
mark iniquities...who could stand? But there is
forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. (Psalm
130:3, 4)
New determination: "...A righteous man
falls seven times, and rises again." - Proverbs
24:16a
How you choose to deal with your spiritual failings probably has
something to do with your view of God, either as a condemning
Tyrant, or as a loving Father.
Here's how Francis of Sales, a Seventeenth Century mystic handled
his failings:
"Well my poor soul, here we are in the ditch again
- in spite of our earnest resolve to stay out of it.
"Ah well, let us get out and be on our way; and we
will do well enough, God helping us."
Unless we comprehend and appropriate a measure of His grace
amidst our personal struggles with sin, we will despair of the
Christian life. Those pilgrims who end their spiritual
journey well have learned to drink freely of that grace.
How about you?
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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