The Panera Man

Two of the things that I just love about God:

1. He never shows me everything that's wrong with me all at once.
2. He never reveals sin to condemn me - but to set me free and for me to be closer to Him.

As we begin to move through the week - I want you to keep these things in mind.

John 13:10

"A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean."

The moment we invite Jesus into our lives, acknowledging that we are sinners, in need of His forgiveness - our whole body is clean!  All of our sin:  past, present, future, small, medium, large, extra large is washed away by the blood of Jesus.  We are completely and permanently forgiven!  Go God!!!  Thank you Jesus!

But we still sin...  We still get our feet dirty.  So in order to maintain a clear conscience with God and others - we must confess our sin and be cleansed.  This is what Jesus is referring to when He says, "a person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet..."

In my prayer time each day, I ask, "Lord, show me where I've fallen short.  Show me where I've grieved your Spirit."

AND THEN BE QUIET and listen to what the Lord brings into your mind.  

One day I was pulling into the parking lot at Panera Bread.  An older gentleman (at least 10 years older than me) cut me off in the parking lot.  The man was in a brand new convertible corvette. 

And wouldn't you know that I got stuck behind him in line as well?!

As we stood in line, waiting to place our orders, his phone rang.  He answered and began talking.  (Sorry people, if you talk in public like that - people are listening!)  As he stood there talking on the phone while waiting in line, I stood behind him and "sized him up" mentally:

• Mid-life crisis -
• Probably his bimbo on the phone -
• Probably left his wife for whoever this is -
• Probably has no money, b/c he spent it on that car.  And if his wife is smart - she's taking him to the cleaners -
• Probably lives in an apartment down the street -

I continued to go on and on until it was my turn to order.

The next morning in my quiet time - when I asked the Lord to reveal how I'd grieved Him.  (Such self righteousness!)  The Lord brought the Panera man to mind.

"Lord, what?  Why am I thinking about him?"

All of sudden, I was washed with the reality of my judgemental and critical spirit. My self-righteous attitude.  I knew nothing about that man.  Yet, in my mind - I thought I had him all figured out.

I praise God for the Panera man.  Every time my natural sin nature begins to "size people up"... I think about the Panera man.  God loves that man.  Who was I to judge him?

Do you see what I mean by having our feet washed?

Wash your feet, girlfriend.  Take time each day to ask the Lord how you've grieved Him.  He's so sweet to show us.

Tomorrow: 

Short Accounts (I know I promised it today, but this is what the Lord had me write instead.) 

Also, Iron Sharpens Iron is next week!  Details tomorrow!

A Clear Conscience

Confession: This is an area of my prayer time that in all honesty, I'd rather skip.   But as we move into the next section of our Prayer Journals - there's much we can discuss...

Acts 24:16

"So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man."

It always grieves me to think I've disappointed my heavenly Daddy.  But the fact is, I do.  I fall short of His standards and expectations every single day.  Sadly, to sin comes far more easily than to do what is right.  Sin disrupts the sweetness of our fellowship with the Lord.  It's a barrier that stands in the way.

I hope you don't mind...  But I want to spend this entire week and maybe some of next - on the subject of confession of sin and repentance.  I also want to spend time shining a light on the areas of sin that we may not even be aware, yet are part of the fabric of our beings.   I also want to discuss the subject of "guilt."

Oh, "to live life with a clear conscience before God and man," is a verse that's always before me.  This is not only how we sleep well at night, but maintaining a clear conscience helps keep us out of bondage's and captivities.

What are bondage's and captivities?  Any thing that hinders the abundant Spirit filled life that God has planned for us.  A captivity could be:

• A bondage to lust -
• Sexual sin -
• Habitual dishonesty -
• Bitterness -
• Unforgiveness -
• Approval addiction -
• Doubt -
• Discouragement -
• Addiction - to alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs, exercise
• Fear/unbelief
• Insecurities -
• Greed -

The list could go on and on and on...  Do any of these areas strike a cord with you?

Every area of captivity has a starting point.  We can't allow sin to fester or be unidentified or be in denial.  Sin hinders the quality of our life and the life God has planned for us.

I'm scratching the surface, but do you see the importance of confessing known sin?

Next Post:  Short accounts -

Prayer Time Dry?

Have you ever come into your prayer time dry?  Not really knowing what to say?  Perhaps all you can think about are your fears and insecurities.  Or your prayer list of what you need God to do that day... 

This can describe me - on any given day.   So what do you do?

Psalm 100:4

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise."

So far, we've talked about:

• Recording in your Praise Section or your A-Z list attributes of God.  Or perhaps new things you learn about Him in your Bible reading time.

• Intentionally being thankful!  Taking time each day to look back at the day before and trace the fingerprints of God and record them on whatever day it is in the body of the Journal.  I recommended bullet points.

• Recording the "biggies" in the front of your Journal in the Thanksgiving Section. 

Personally, I allocate one page per month.  I write the month at the top - and then intentionally record God's blessings in my life, my husband's, children, ministry etc... 

Last post I talked about how encouraging it is to go back and see the faithfulness of God 6 + months ago.  Especially when times are tough.

When I am intentional about recording everything mentioned above - this helps jump starts those day's when I'm dry with nothing to say.

This also helps me to get my mind on the bigness of our God and the smallness of my circumstances.  Listen to this passage I read the other day - I wrote it in my "Praise Section."  It helps reiterate this point.

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.   With him is only the arm of the flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." 
2 Chronicles 32:7-8

What vast army is attacking you?  What are your fears and insecurities?  Praise God and thank Him that there is  a greater power with you than with your enemy of _____________.

With your enemy is only the arm of the flesh, but with you is the Lord your God to help you and to fight your battles.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS enter your prayer time with praise and with thanksgiving!

Let me know if you have any questions -

Next Week:  Confessing Sin and dealing with guilt

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