#Jesus22 - Daily DevotionalsSample

It was late in the evening. I was lying in my bed and could not fall asleep. In the midst of the annoyance of not being able to sleep, I prayed. In prayer, God showed me the source of my frustration: rejection. He showed me several situations where I had not approached people because I was afraid they would reject me. Now I was even more frustrated and thought, "How awful, I need change." At the same time, I celebrated because I knew God was going to bring me into a new freedom.

In the days that followed, I met with my Small Group and we prayed. We asked Jesus to show me where the root of this rejection was. He made me feel the sense of rejection and said, "This is how the people YOU have rejected have felt." Then Jesus showed me the people I had rejected. I was shocked and asked for forgiveness. On the one hand, I was ashamed because my Small Group was there, but on the other hand, it felt like being washed clean. Jesus died on the cross for my mistakes. I was made clean again. My Small Group prayed for me, and I felt the Holy Spirit working in me. It felt like I was being anointed anew with oil. With an anointing that, on the one hand, set me free from this rejection and, on the other hand, protected me from it.

In Leviticus chapter 14, forgiveness through the blood is followed by anointing with oil. Through the blood that is put on the right earlobe, thumb, and toe, forgiveness was brought about in hearing, doing, and following one's ways. Jesus, when He died for us on the cross, shed His blood for us. Knowing that because Jesus bore all our failures on the cross, the power of the Holy Spirit is released in you through the oil. Through the oil, the power of the Holy Spirit comes into our lives anew, so that we can hear God's voice, do His work, and follow His ways.

The Holy Spirit gives us back our value. We are allowed to be part of the heavenly family. Leprosy/sin separates you and isolates you from other people and from God.

The cross is where I am able to bring all the brokenness in my life and be washed clean.

ACTION STEP

Take a minute and ask the Holy Spirit where you need renewal. If you have anointing oil, have someone close to you anoint you.