by Lisa Kalscheur Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. -James 4:8
The faith journey can be a bit brutal looking backward. Continued discernment is a gift, however once God decides he wants to give more, it can be painful realizing the ways that I have been faithless. I have a handful of friends that I have had for almost 20 years now. We were all comrades back in the day, and even though the frequency in how much we see each other has been less than it used to be, we still manage to make time when we can. We’ve all seen each other get married, have children, struggle and have success. However, over the last few years, I have changed drastically. My perspective has undergone an extreme shift, and God has not let up on showing me how the things I used to think were completely normal are nowhere near what He desires for our lives. My friends carry on with their conversations but the words that I say are different now. I carry something that they have never seen in me before. Sometimes it’s hard, but drawing nearer to God in these moments has brought a tremendous amount of strength and courage that I could never possess on my own accord. It can be uncomfortable at times, and the ache in my heart is a combination of things. It pains me to know that I wasn’t listening to God in so many moments along the way. The truth of our sin hurts, and there will still be times in the future where I will fail to put God first. In addition to this, there is also an ache of gratitude for what He has done for me, despite how much I have pushed him aside. As I am drawn deeper in relationship with Christ, remorse follows. Yet I am so grateful for the experience of being refined. If we are truly putting God first, many times it will be uncomfortable. There is no way we could ever perfect this, because of our sinful nature. Humans naturally want to serve themselves and their prerogatives first. As uncomfortable as it can be to buck what comes natural, it is also the most wonderful ebb and flow of growth in Christ. The grace that He has for us is astounding compared to our ability to honor Him. Prayer: Lord, sometimes it is painful being a Christian. The world looks so much worse by the day. Please guide us to keep our eyes on You, Jesus. Help us to not get caught up in what the world says about us, and stay focused on Your Word. Lord, you are a loving God of grace and mercy. Give us the strength and wisdom to understand our sinful nature more and more as we turn to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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About the AuthorsThe authors of this Lenten devotional are all staff members of Zion Lutheran Church & School of Wayside. They have answered the call to preach and teach the good news of salvation to both the young and the old of the school and congregation. This group of believers have a strong faith rooted in the Word. They are all members of the church professing the Christian faith and are excited to share their love of Jesus with you during this season. Archives
January 2025
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