A LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

AS I WAS GOING ABOUT MY DAY RECENTLY, IT WAS JUST “ONE OF THOSE DAYS”. I WAS NOT BEHAVING IN A VERY……BECOMING MANNER, WE’LL CALL IT. AS I WAS GOING ALONG, HAVING A ROTTEN ATTITUDE, (HEY, IT HAPPENS) I CAUGHT MYSELF. I SUDDENLY THOUGHT, “JESSICA, YOU BETTER BEHAVE. GOD WILL NEVER ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS IF YOU’RE BEHAVING THIS WAY! HE SIMPLY WON’T HEAR YOU IF YOU’RE NOT DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT!”……….NOW, GO BACK AND READ THAT BOLD PART AGAIN. GO AHEAD, READ IT.

YEAH, NOW HOW MANY HOLES ARE IN THAT THOUGHT? I CAN’T BELIEVE I THOUGHT THAT, FOR EVEN A SECOND!!!!!!! WHAT A HORRIBLE, FEAR-BASED, ARROGANT, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, ROTTEN WAY TO THINK!!! LORD, FORGIVE ME. FORGIVE ME FOR THINKING THAT I CAN EARN ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO GIVE. EVEN IF I THOUGHT IT FOR ONLY A MINUTE….I STILL THOUGHT IT. I THOUGHT THAT I COULD PRAY AND FAST MY WAY INTO YOUR BLESSINGS. AND THAT’S NOT HOW YOU WORK. YOU’RE NOT A MAGIC GENIE WHO WILL BLESS ME WHEN I’M DOING RIGHT AND CURSE ME WHEN I’M DOING WRONG. I DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME, FATHER. NOT A THING. YOU CAUSE IT TO RAIN ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST. THANK YOU FOR NEVER GIVING ME WHAT I DESERVE, OR GIVING ANYONE ELSE WHAT THEY DESERVE…….BECAUSE IF YOU DID, WE’D ALL BE IN TROUBLE. MANY WHO DON’T KNOW YOU EXPERIENCE THE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS YOU OFFER……AND MANY WHO FOLLOW FAITHFULLY NEVER GET TO SEE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS HERE. WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. AND I’M SO SORRY FOR THINKING I CAN “GET ON YOUR GOOD SIDE” AND BE REWARDED FOR BEHAVING HOW I’M SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE!!! AND LORD, HELP YOUR PEOPLE HERE IN AMERICA---THEY STINK OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT. HELP US TRULY KNOW YOU, SO WE CAN TRULY MAKE YOU KNOWN.

"THEREFORE THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS SET YOU FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND OF DEATH...............................................................................

FOR YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SPIRIT OF SLAVERY LEADING TO FEAR AGAIN, BUT YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SPIRIT OF ADOPTION AS SONS BY WHICH WE CRY OUT, 'ABBA! FATHER!' THE SPIRIT HIMSELF TESTIFIES WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD...................................................................................................................

IN THE SAME WAY THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPS OUR WEAKNESS; FOR WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS WE SHOULD, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US WITH GROANINGS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS; AND HE WHO SEARCHES THE HEARTS KNOWS WHAT THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT IS, BECAUSE HE INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD."

*ROMANS 8:1-2, 15-16, & 26-27*