“Let those who fear the
Lord say; ‘His love endures forever.’ In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he
answered by setting me free.”
-Psalm
118:4-5
Each year when the warmer weather comes, I burst in excitement to work in
my landscaping…and most years that usually concludes with a bad sunburn, even
with sunscreen. Three years ago as I was lathering myself up with sunscreen,
instead of washing my hand, I patted my back to wipe it off…and then forgot to
apply sunscreen to my back. I’m sure you can imagine where this story is going.
Oh yes. I burnt horribly except for one spot on my back. Yep! A big ol’
handprint. And just so you know, I get deathly pale during the winter. If pale was a
crayon color, they would name it Natalie. So imagine a bright red back with a shockingly
*white* handprint. I tried everything to get rid of it. At one point I even put
on sunscreen all around the handprint and then tried to burn it. Nope, little
stinker would not change color at all. So from April until October I had a
handprint on my back. Seriously. As I look back at that summer I realized I
couldn’t get away from my mistake. Every day was a reminder that I messed up.
And isn’t that what Satan wants to do to us. Mentally beat ourselves down over
and over of our mistakes, our shortcomings, our failures. Not God. He tells us
in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they
are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Does anyone else see the same
color scheme as my handprint?!? Oy! Satan wants to keep us in bondage – God
wants to give us freedom. Satan wants us to feel condemned. God wants us to
feel redeemed. Satan wants us to live a life of regrets. God wants us to live a
life of promises. There is a song I like to sing, to proclaim over me. Let the
words wash over you and let it be a prayer...
Where the spirit of the Lord is
There is freedom
Lift your eyes to Heaven
There is freedom
If you’re tired and thirsty
There is freedom
Give your all to Jesus
There is freedom
Freedom reins in the place
Showers of mercy and grace
Falling on every face
There is freedom
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