Today's guest devotion comes from Andrea Boeshaar, from: Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry © 2008 Summerside Press
Broken Things
For
God did not send His son into the world
to
condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:17
I have watched
with a saddened heart as several Christians gave up on their faith. They
stumbled in their walks, got lost in the darkness, and figured there was no way
back to Jesus. Worse, they believed that God didn’t want them back because of
their blemished pasts. After all, friends and family – even former church
family members – didn’t want them back.
But
the truth is, God will take us and our hurtful pasts and use them all together
for His good (Romans 8:28). Of course, repentance is involved with restoration.
But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse
us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Once restored, our hearts can’t even
condemn us, because God is greater than our guilt-ridden, broken hearts.
This
magnificent truth in no way gives us a license to sin, but I have seen God take
the pieces of a broken life, put them back together, and create a thing of
extraordinary beauty – and one that’s of great service to Him.
God
really does use broken things.
Today’s Prayer: Father God, so many people
stand in condemnation of us and others, but that’s not what You stand for.
You’re the Giver of Life, You are Love, and You came so that we can live more
abundantly. We thank You, we praise and worship You, and we rejoice in the
miracles You’re about to do in our lives. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Andrea
Boeshaar has been writing stories and poems since she was a little girl;
however, it wasn't until 1994 that her first novel was published. Since then
she's written numerous articles and devotionals and more than 25 novels and
novellas, and she was chosen as the author to launch the popular Love Finds You line for Summerside Press
with Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky.
Andrea is co-founder of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)
organization and, for many years, she served on both its Advisory Board and as
its CEO. Visit her website at www.AndreaBoeshaar.com
So true, Andrea. I've been in a place where I avoiding God because I felt too far from Him. He always wants us back and the beauty of our faith is that none of us are worthy and yet all of us are welcomed and loved.
ReplyDeleteSuch a precious truth to hang our faith on, Andrea! The beauty of His love and forgiveness is staggering, isn't it? We have a dear friend who is discovering that despite his fierce wandering, God was present, waiting, loving all along. Watching that wonder unfold before him is so much (spiritual) fun!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post!
ReplyDeleteThis devo speaks to everyone because we're all broken - some of us in more obvious ways than others. You're so right, Andrea, about God using broken things.
ReplyDelete