Are Things Getting a Little Prickly?
You all know the feeling. Something nagging at the back of your brain like some sort of prickly bush; that voice that keeps asking, "Is your conscience bothering you? Why? What have you done?"
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines conscience as "the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong." As Christians we allow that it is the Holy Spirit who makes us aware of our actions and whether they are right or wrong. It seems to me, however, that we pay less and less attention to what the Spirit is trying to tell us, especially with regards to sin. God created us with a conscience to guide our choices and our acts. When we receive His Spirit, the Spirit speaks to us, to our conscience to guide us, but also to remind us when we have broken faith with the Creator. Once again God provided a way for that break in our relationship to be restored; through the act of confession.
As we think about Easter and what Christ did for us, it is only fitting that we examine our own lives and hearts to see where we might be breaking faith with God. We need to ask Him and His Spirit to reveal our sins to us. Sometimes sins are obvious, but not always. It is easy to point fingers at others and think, "Well, at least I'm not as bad as So and So!" But that attitude will not restore your relationship with the Father. Humility demands that I ask myself, "What have I done to hurt You?"
God is all knowing.
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”
We may think that our internal sins, pride, lust, envy...are hidden from each other, but they do not make it past the Holy One's gaze. And dear one, that gaze is one of love. He knows that those things we cling to are only hurting us, not helping. He wants to heal you and He wants restoration of His relationship with you.
So, if you can and if you care and if that prickly bush is poking you, find a moment to go to Him and confess.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
You will not regret that conversation and you will get rid of that prickly bush.
