Did you know that God sometimes allows us to be deceived by sin, and fall, to save us from a worse fall in the future, if we are willing to learn from our mistakes and weaknesses? It is sometimes the only way for us to learn to know ourselves, the deceptiveness of sin, and the weakness and wickedness of our own hearts.

“For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope…” Rom. 8:20.

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Rom. 5:20.

No sin is pleasant; afterwards you can look back at it, and see the results, and the pain and embarrassment of knowing what you have done, and the pit you are mired in. all I can do is cry to God.

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1.

“I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, and I will keep Thy statutes. I cried unto Thee; save me, and I shall keep Thy Testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in Thy word.” Psalm 119:145-7.Only God can hear. Only the Lord can save. Only my Heavenly Father can understand.

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?” Psalm 56:13.
I thought I had attained perfection when I found God. I suppose in some sense I had, but the journey after had some sad surprises. Sin still is not completely seen to be the dreadful thing it is. It still has some attractions, and the carnal heart is not totally dead. I thank God that He has foretold this.

“Sanctification is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to
overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience.” AA 559-561.

“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, bur grievous; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 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; lest these be any fornicator, or profane person, as Fsau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:11-17.

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusts in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will [ make my ref-ge, until .hese calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most High; unto god that performs all things for me. Fie shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. (Pause, think about i t ) . God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.” Psalm 57:1-3.

I must hope. I must wait. I must believe that “He which has begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” Phil. 1:6.

“The Lord preserves the simple (seduceable): 1 was brought low, and He helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with me. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from te’jrs. and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 1 16:6-9.

“1 waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible p i t , out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my going.

And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord… But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me: Thou art my Help and my Deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God!” Psalm 40:1-3.17.
AMEN

Kathleen Ross
Alberta, Canada