Proverbs 28:13

The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

Whoever confesses AND renounces their sin will find mercy.

We easily and conveniently forget the renouncing part, don’t we. Turning to Christ will always include a turning from sin. The closer we get to Him, the more clearly we see the darkness of sin and therefore, the more we will hate it.

Proverbs 28:26

The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

There is only One who you can totally trust, for He knows you better than you know yourself. Only thru knowing Him can we know ourselves and be transformed.

We so need Jesus to show us our damaged parts that keep us from knowing Him fully. Those parts we can’t even see right now on our own because of our blindness. Because of our damage.

Only thru a bold openness and sincere desire to change will we be able to see what needs to be healed and liberated.

Listening.

Listening is key.

To the Holy Spirit’s whisper.

To others who know and care about us.

To Scripture. Coming to Scripture open and listening, not with preconceived notions.

Many people do not hear God speaking to them because they go in thinking they already know what He is going to say. So there is a shutoff that keeps them from hearing the beautiful voice of God. Go to Him in the reality that you do not yet know what He wants to say to you today. You can’t know. He is God. How often He has a kind, gentle, encouraging word for us, but we do not hear it because we make God in our own image.

John 19:1-16

Oh the dangerous temptation to regard secular acclaim above divine approval.

Who cares what people think when you are pleasing, from your heart, the only One who ultimately matters?

Say what you will.

Think what you will.

Tozer said the meek man understands the world will never see him as God sees him, and he has stopped caring.

In the fitting words of Run D.M.C. – “I’m down with the King!”