Eliminating The Noiseنموونە

REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS ARE KEY

Have any of you gone through a 48 hour crazy cycle after returning home from the road? I have been in these not-so-great moods at home and during one of these times what struck me was the softness in the responses from my wife. Years ago, this would’ve erupted into a knockdown, drag out, multiple day screaming match, but she was constantly living out Proverbs 15:1 and giving me a soft answer. What could’ve turned into wrath because of my harsh words stayed calm and didn’t blow up. She also forgave me (multiple times I might add), even though her flesh probably didn’t want to. As much as her forgiveness of me is important, the most important thing in these moments is my repentance. Maybe you can relate? At times we can get into a funk spiritually when the busyness is distracting us from Jesus and it feels hard to dig ourselves out. But guess what? WE don’t have to do the digging. Jesus will shoulder the load.

Luke 13:3 says, “Repent or you will likewise perish.”

If we ask for forgiveness but don’t repent and continue acting poorly, then it’s a moot point. Jesus wants our hearts to change. He wants us to allow Him to shoulder the load. But we have to do our part by laying it at His feet. Like the woman who wept at Jesus’ feet, we have to lay our weariness, tiredness, anger, and disappointment at the foot of the cross and know He stands in the gap. He shoulders the Load. He is our king.

Reflecting Questions

What specific areas of your life is God calling you to lay at His feet?

Who have you been reluctant to forgive and why haven’t you done so?