resilience | lent devotions

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:5-9, NIV

Our house is very old. Originally it was two farm-workers’ houses built sometime in the 1700s. The two houses were joined and extended in the 1970s. And that’s where the problem with the lounge stems from.
 
You see, whoever build the extension on the lounge realised the oak supports that hold the roof up were rotten at the base. So they cut the rotten bases off and placed them on a concrete plinth. Which means we have beautiful, ancient beams in the lounge but... they didn’t deal with reason for the rotten bases. Wet. Water. Damp. Rising damp. A small amount, admittedly, but irritating. Especially, because fixing it now is more of a job then it would have been if it had been foxed at the time! 
 
Sometimes we gloss over things because at the time it seems like too much hard work to fix them. But addressing issues when they come up is crucial to resilience. Don’t allow problems, sin, failure, or disappointment root you to the past. Take them to Jesus immediately they arise. 

Let’s pray
Father, there are times when I am so aware of my problems, sin, failure, and disappointments but can’t face dealing with them there and then! Help me remember you are the God of healing and wholeness and you never judge me. Thank you that your forgiveness is total and your memory for the things I’ve done wrong non-existent. Make me quick to lay things at your feet. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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