Better Together

Will God Forgive Me? | Better Together Episode 1150

March 6, 2026 | S8 E1150 | 50:59

Lasting freedom is possible when we lean into God's arms of grace. God's love and truth can break any cycle of sin and shame. We get to experience healing and hope because our Savior paid the ultimate price once and for all! | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

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Better Together | Will God Forgive Me? | Better Together Episode 1150 | March 6, 2026

If you have a negative cycle that you can't seem to break,
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Then today's conversation is for you.
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Lasting freedom is not only
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Possible, it is god's specialty.
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Nothing is impossible for him.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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♪♪
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I have to tell you, i've loved this week.
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And i also love the fact that our community sends us in
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Questions and carries on the discussions long after the
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Programs have finished.
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You know, that's something you say or something that anybody
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Says will stir something up in someone's mind and they'll say,
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Okay, but what about this?
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So one of the things that came in that was really interesting
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To me was quite a few people
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Said, okay, here's my honest question.
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If you want to know what i really want to know, as opposed
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To what i think i should be asking as a christian, here's
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My honest question, why can't i stop doing something that
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I know is not the right thing to do?
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Why can't i stop sinning? if i know that something is not
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A good behavior,
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Not pleasing to the lord drags me further away,
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Why on earth do i keep doing it?
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And obviously paul talks about that in the book of romans.
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But when i thought that i was going to be having the
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Privilege of leading this conversation, i thought, well,
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Lord, what do i have to say about this?
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And then the lord made it really clear.
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So tell us, what is it?
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What is it, sheila?
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Where do we start, sheila?
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Well, it's-- i mean, there could be
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Many things, but i'll focus in on one.
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And it was probably a couple of years ago now, and i found that
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Every time i would be praying or having a time of worship or
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Listening to worship in my car, somebody's face would
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Come to my mind.
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And it was somebody that i was really hurt by.
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And i would immediately try and just get rid of it
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Because i think when you really care about something, it's only
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People you really care about
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That can actually really hurt you.
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You know, people that you have faith in or trust in.
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And somebody i just had huge respect for and really loved
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And trusted really hurt me, and i had tried twice to do what
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Scripture says.
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I tried to sit down and say,
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Listen, you know i want to hear you
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Whatever you have to say,
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And that went really, really badly.
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They just weren't willing, you know, to.
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And so i felt at that point i just have to leave this.
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But i had left it like under the surface of my life.
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It was still there.
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And so i would see this face or popping up on social media and
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I would feel the same kind of, oh, gosh.
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And so i found myself asking, lord, what do i do?
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I felt like i needed to do was this is somebody whose path we
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Don't cross each other's path anymore.
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We haven't for a long time.
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But i said, okay, lord, here's what i'm asking.
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Would you cause our paths to
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Cross so that i could have this opportunity?
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And so i'm speaking at nrb, national religious broadcasters
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And a huge, big luncheon.
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I'm thinking it's lovely.
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And i look down and there's that person at table and i'm
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Thinking, oh, you answered that prayer immediately.
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Yeah, that was quicker than i thought, lord.
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And after i finished speaking, i went and sat down and there
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Was still a few things going on, but i found myself asking,
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Okay, lord, what do i do?
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And i felt the lord say, well, here's what i'd like you to do.
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I want you to go up and ask her to forgive you.
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And i was like, well, no.
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Wouldn't it be more like, ask her, does she want me
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To forgive her?
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I said, no, i want you to ask her to forgive you because
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You've held bitterness in your heart.
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And i thought, okay.
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And so i waited until things were kind of over and people
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Were starting to--
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And i went and i sat down beside this person at the
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Table, and they were a little surprised that i'd come
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And sat beside them.
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And i said, the only reason i'm here is i've come to ask you to
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Forgive me for anything in my life that ever, you know, was
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Hard for you, or that you didn't understand or that
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Didn't make any sense.
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I'd just ask you, please,
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Please forgive me.
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And it was just this--
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I don't know why i expected, but it was just this amazing--
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I mean, she was very gracious about it, but it wasn't like a
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Oh, i love you and i've missed you.
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It was she was gracious.
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What i felt was this huge weight rolling off me because i
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Thought-- i always used to think,
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Gosh, i've ever bumped into her again,
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This is going to be awful because, well, i say something
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Or will i just ignore it?
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And i thought, it's not about-- honestly, i don't really
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Know how she felt about me asking for forgiveness.
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She said, oh, absolutely, no problem.
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And, you know, went off.
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But for me, it was like god showed up in that moment.
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Wow. because i realized the sin of holding on to something.
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And my thing was like, lord, if she ever comes to me and asks
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For forgiveness, i will gladly forgive her.
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But those were kind of my rules.
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And i thought, hang on a
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Minute, that's this world's rules.
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You don't belong to this world.
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You belong to the kingdom of god where everything is
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Completely different.
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You belong to the upside down kingdom.
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I like to refer to as the right side up kingdom.
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That's right.
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You know, the lord doesn't just want you to have freedom
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In your heart.
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He wants you have freedom in your body and your soul
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And in your future too.
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And that is the goodness of god is that he doesn't want us to
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Be a slave to sin.
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He wants freedom for you and victory.
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The enemy will come with condemnation, but the lord
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Comes with conviction to give you freedom, and that is what
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He wants for you.
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So let go of that today and run towards jesus.
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I'm just going to read a few
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Verses of romans because i love romans.
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Romans is just such a complete theology.
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But when paul, i think he's so honest because he's somebody, i
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Mean, when he's writing to the church in rome, he's been a
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Believer for over 20 years at this point.
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He has gone through so much.
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He's been shipwrecked.
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He's been stoned, he's been
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Beaten, he's been thrown in prison.
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But he's writing and he's saying, i know that nothing
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Good lives in me.
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That is in my sinful nature.
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I want to do what is right, but i can't.
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I want to do what's good, but i don't.
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I don't want to do what's wrong, but i do it anyway.
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But i do what i don't want to do.
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I'm not really the one doing wrong.
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It's sin living in me.
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And then he gets to this place where he says, you know, oh,
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What a miserable person i am.
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How many people have felt that in their life?
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You know, in the middle of something that they said they'd
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Never do again and they find themselves right there?
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Oh, what a miserable person i am.
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Who will free me from this life
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That is dominated by sin and death?
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Ta da! thank god jesus.
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It's like we often go to romans eight,
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Now there's no condemnation to those who are in christ jesus.
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Well, why not?
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Because of jesus. yes.
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And i've realized just in that experience, the freedom
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That comes from simply obeying.
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It's like i didn't need to have a certain result.
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I didn't need a certain outcome.
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I didn't need the person to even accept it.
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All i needed to do was be obedient and being obedient to
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God and laying that down and asking, looking that person
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Straight in the eyes and saying, please forgive me,
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It was literally like something i didn't even realize
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I'd been carrying in my back that just rolled off.
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So i'm just thinking of our community.
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Have you ever faced something like that where you think, i
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Don't know what to do here, and i keep doing the same thing?
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And what do you do in a situation like that?
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Yeah.
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You know, 20 years ago, i found myself in an affair.
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I was married, i was in ministry.
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And that question of, you know, why can't i stop sinning?
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Or why, why am i stuck here?
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Now, i've done the work, i've gone to therapy, and there's a
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Lot of things that kind of
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Connect all the pieces to why i chose.
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And i say chose because i don't think you just don't know
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How it happened.
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You know, you make a choice, the next choice and next choice
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To land yourself in this place.
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And i knew jesus and i loved my husband.
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I had a chance already.
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And it was this space of longing, of not being seen.
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And for some weird reason, in this affair, i felt seen.
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That's why i kept going back.
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Yes, i did really enjoy this person's, you know, company and
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I and i liked him.
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I think i would even say that i thought i loved him.
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I also loved my husband, which was a different kind of love.
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And this was a true love.
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I wasn't planning to leave him.
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But what brought me back time and time again?
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I finally did cut it off and held it for a while.
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And at some point two years later, i ended up confessing to
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My husband and from there
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Confessed to family members and friends.
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And this is what i will say.
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It was the most devastating part of my life.
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This is something i made happen to myself.
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And so that shame of i keep doing this, i keep doing this,
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Just me, no one will love me,
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Everyone will hate me--
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This is even before like, people got canceled.
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And so i just thought no one will ever love me.
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And i didn't tell my husband because i didn't believe that
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He would love me if he knew.
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The breaking point for me in knowing that change was
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Necessary as i--
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I was never actually going to leave my husband.
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I was never in a place
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That didn't believe that god was good and that,
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Um, he was real.
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I think what i didn't believe was whether he loved me or not.
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And that also actually manifested in me not believing
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Or not knowing, actually, if my own husband loved me.
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And so my breaking point was, i miss god.
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I miss my husband.
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Like the intimacy of both, uh, and that breaking point was i
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Needed to know if any of it was real, if i was lovable.
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And it was scary, it was scary.
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But also sharing those things and
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Confessing and putting it before god actually shines so
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Much light into the darkness.
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And it didn't change overnight, but it was time and time and
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Time again of god just drawing me near.
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And my husband and i healing, not just, you know, having
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A good marriage because a good marriage isn't good enough.
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You want a marriage that's thriving, thriving, and without
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That breaking point--
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I'm so grateful for it today.
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Do i wish it never happened?
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Absolutely. but because it happened, my marriage is
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So much better.
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My relationship with my kids is so much better.
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My understanding of how god loves me is more real.
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And so it's worth it.
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It's worth--
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It's hard work, but it's worth it.
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And so when i confessed-- and he didn't forgive me right away.
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But as time went on, he did.
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He told me, i forgive you.
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And he's never thrown into my face since.
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And each person i've told not all of them are great, but the
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Majority of them were so gracious and so kind, and i
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Found that these were lifelines that pulled me into healing and
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Into seeing how amazing jesus,
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How amazing his grace really is.
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And i, at least for me,
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I think i couldn't stop.
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I thought i couldn't stop.
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First, the great deceiver. you can.
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You might not want to at the moment, but if you're asking
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That question to our viewers, if if you're asking that
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Question somewhere deep down you really do.
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You really, really want it.
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And i just want to encourage you tell somebody, and i'm not
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Saying everybody. don't throw your pearls to swine, but i'm
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Saying confess that.
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Tell your story. share it out.
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Let darkness be
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Consumed by light.
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Let it be consumed by light.
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And is that part of my story gone?
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Absolutely not.
00:11:59.441 --> 00:12:00.643
But it's further away, and i have been redeemed
00:12:00.643 --> 00:12:04.747
And restored since then.
00:12:04.747 --> 00:12:06.816
And there's restoration for anyone else out there that
00:12:06.816 --> 00:12:09.752
Keeps feeling this way, right?
00:12:09.752 --> 00:12:11.921
And it's not me just saying, oh, yeah, jesus covers all,
00:12:11.921 --> 00:12:15.191
Which he does,
00:12:15.191 --> 00:12:16.458
But also you have to do the work to say, i no longer want
00:12:16.458 --> 00:12:20.729
To do this, and i repent.
00:12:20.729 --> 00:12:21.664
I turn my back from this,
00:12:21.664 --> 00:12:24.133
So it's not going back.
00:12:24.133 --> 00:12:25.334
It's not a dog, you know, returning to its vomit over
00:12:25.334 --> 00:12:27.903
And over and over again.
00:12:27.903 --> 00:12:29.205
And here i am 20 years later.
00:12:29.205 --> 00:12:30.506
I can say this now, that you can turn away from the things that
00:12:30.506 --> 00:12:34.643
Tear you away from god at the core thing.
00:12:34.643 --> 00:12:37.012
And so let your community come in.
00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:39.582
Don't decide for them how they're going to treat you.
00:12:39.582 --> 00:12:42.384
Just invite people in and let the light in.
00:12:42.384 --> 00:12:45.521
Confession and repentance is a huge part of overcoming our
00:12:45.521 --> 00:12:49.792
Battle and sin.
00:12:49.792 --> 00:12:51.227
It brings the darkness into light where god can address it
00:12:51.227 --> 00:12:54.663
And work through it, and also helps you put a stake in the
00:12:54.663 --> 00:12:57.333
Ground that says, i am not going back.
00:12:57.333 --> 00:13:00.069
I have freedom in christ, and i'm going to walk in the
00:13:00.069 --> 00:13:02.738
Victory that god has given me.
00:13:02.738 --> 00:13:08.277
I joke about this because it's not a popular word, but it's
00:13:11.881 --> 00:13:15.017
One of my favorite words and it's the word repentance.
00:13:15.017 --> 00:13:18.187
Repentance is such a gift because you and i are going to
00:13:18.187 --> 00:13:21.991
Fall and make mistakes.
00:13:21.991 --> 00:13:23.225
I mean, it happens to me every single day, but repentance
00:13:23.225 --> 00:13:26.562
Means i get to stop right there
00:13:26.562 --> 00:13:28.898
And then and fall to my knees sometimes.
00:13:28.898 --> 00:13:32.501
Or if i'm somewhere else, just immediately pause and just say,
00:13:32.501 --> 00:13:35.371
Lord, please forgive me.
00:13:35.371 --> 00:13:36.939
And the amazing thing about god is when we do that, scripture
00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:40.376
Tells us he removes that sin as far as the east is from the
00:13:40.376 --> 00:13:43.212
West and remembers it no more.
00:13:43.212 --> 00:13:45.681
If you find yourself stuck in a hard place right now and you
00:13:45.681 --> 00:13:48.217
Feel you've blown it, i just invite you to come to god.
00:13:48.217 --> 00:13:51.420
Repentance isn't about punishment.
00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:53.555
Repentance is all about restoration.
00:13:53.555 --> 00:13:56.959
We are better together because of you.
00:13:56.959 --> 00:13:59.161
Connect with us on social media to ask us a question, share
00:13:59.161 --> 00:14:01.897
Prayer requests, and make
00:14:01.897 --> 00:14:03.165
Friends with women all over the world.
00:14:03.165 --> 00:14:05.334
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:14:05.334 --> 00:14:08.737
Be the first to know all the latest better together updates.
00:14:08.737 --> 00:14:12.541
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00:14:12.541 --> 00:14:16.645
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00:14:16.645 --> 00:14:20.003
You know, it's so interesting because up until jesus came, we
00:14:23.286 --> 00:14:26.122
Had the law, 613 things to do or not do.
00:14:26.122 --> 00:14:31.127
And the law came to us like a prescription, like a doctor.
00:14:31.127 --> 00:14:33.663
And we didn't need a doctor.
00:14:33.663 --> 00:14:34.731
We needed a savior. yeah.
00:14:34.731 --> 00:14:36.733
And-- yes, yes.
00:14:36.733 --> 00:14:38.268
When jesus came, he changed everything. he did.
00:14:38.268 --> 00:14:41.037
Sin happens because
00:14:41.037 --> 00:14:43.573
We choose to think and believe a lie that my choice is better
00:14:43.573 --> 00:14:51.314
Than god's choice.
00:14:51.314 --> 00:14:52.315
Right?
00:14:52.315 --> 00:14:53.249
Or it happened in the garden.
00:14:53.249 --> 00:14:55.652
Yep.
00:14:55.652 --> 00:14:56.553
Satan's joy is better than god's joy.
00:14:56.553 --> 00:14:59.489
Yeah. and so i love when the woman caught in adultery came
00:14:59.489 --> 00:15:04.794
Before jesus.
00:15:04.794 --> 00:15:05.962
And then we know the story.
00:15:05.962 --> 00:15:07.697
He said, those who have never sinned throw the first stone
00:15:07.697 --> 00:15:10.533
And they, the oldest, left first.
00:15:10.533 --> 00:15:12.902
And then-- yeah, interesting.
00:15:12.902 --> 00:15:15.005
Down to the youngest.
00:15:15.005 --> 00:15:16.539
And then he says, where are your accusers?
00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:18.808
Then he said to her, he said, go and sin no more.
00:15:18.808 --> 00:15:22.679
Yeah, right.
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:23.880
So jesus would have never told her something that she
00:15:23.880 --> 00:15:25.882
Could not have done.
00:15:25.882 --> 00:15:27.050
Exactly. that's good.
00:15:27.050 --> 00:15:28.551
You have that choice.
00:15:28.551 --> 00:15:30.186
Yeah. you have the
00:15:30.186 --> 00:15:30.854
Power to not sin anymore.
00:15:30.854 --> 00:15:34.824
God's forgiveness and grace is not a license to sin.
00:15:34.824 --> 00:15:39.295
And if you find it to be a license to sin, then i would
00:15:39.295 --> 00:15:42.899
Say you don't know how much god has forgiven you.
00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:46.669
You may not have truly tasted his grace.
00:15:46.669 --> 00:15:49.939
You may think of it in a very superficial manner, like he
00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:53.843
Just let you off the hook.
00:15:53.843 --> 00:15:55.845
But to fully understand grace will produce in you a desire to
00:15:55.845 --> 00:16:01.518
Walk in his will and his way.
00:16:01.518 --> 00:16:04.320
I'd love to unpack even just
00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:06.322
What you were saying about the garden.
00:16:06.322 --> 00:16:08.958
A lot of people, when they sin, it's not because they want to
00:16:08.958 --> 00:16:11.361
Be a sinner.
00:16:11.361 --> 00:16:12.629
You know, a lot of people, when they commit wrong, it's not
00:16:12.629 --> 00:16:15.732
Because they want to be offensive to god, right?
00:16:15.732 --> 00:16:19.102
And for those that are wrestling with their sin,
00:16:19.102 --> 00:16:21.905
Habitual, secret, whatever it is that they're wrestling with,
00:16:21.905 --> 00:16:26.543
Um, usually it's because there's just something in them
00:16:26.543 --> 00:16:30.180
That needs something or thinks that it needs something.
00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:33.650
And i love that when you were sharing your story, it was a
00:16:33.650 --> 00:16:36.186
Lot deeper than just, oh, i just felt like ruining my life
00:16:36.186 --> 00:16:40.824
One day, right?
00:16:40.824 --> 00:16:41.758
Who ever thinks that?
00:16:41.758 --> 00:16:42.992
And you know, when you're right, when you're looking at
00:16:42.992 --> 00:16:45.028
The garden, it's so profound how everything was perfect
00:16:45.028 --> 00:16:49.299
In the garden.
00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:50.366
They lacked nothing.
00:16:50.366 --> 00:16:51.835
Everything was just in harmony.
00:16:51.835 --> 00:16:54.571
It was exactly as it should be.
00:16:54.571 --> 00:16:57.207
But it was the moment they stopped fully trusting in god's
00:16:57.207 --> 00:17:01.845
Words that they looked at the fruit differently.
00:17:01.845 --> 00:17:05.782
Because all of a sudden he's keeping something from us.
00:17:05.782 --> 00:17:08.718
He's holding out on us. he's holding out on us.
00:17:08.718 --> 00:17:10.787
So that disbelief changed their relationship to what
00:17:10.787 --> 00:17:15.158
They were looking at
00:17:15.158 --> 00:17:16.893
Because i think sometimes we think, oh, i just can't
00:17:16.893 --> 00:17:19.796
Help but be tempted.
00:17:19.796 --> 00:17:21.798
I just can't help myself.
00:17:21.798 --> 00:17:24.000
Right? but for adam and eve,
00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.102
That temptation, that dissatisfaction
00:17:26.102 --> 00:17:29.272
And that desire for more was birthed when they
00:17:29.272 --> 00:17:32.876
Remember what god said,
00:17:32.876 --> 00:17:34.110
But they stopped believing it.
00:17:34.110 --> 00:17:35.812
They stopped trusting it.
00:17:35.812 --> 00:17:37.080
And then i reminded in psalm chapter one, psalm one it says,
00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:41.551
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the
00:17:41.551 --> 00:17:45.822
Wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the
00:17:45.822 --> 00:17:48.892
Company of mockers.
00:17:48.892 --> 00:17:50.126
Instead, his delight is in the lord's instruction, and he
00:17:50.126 --> 00:17:56.633
Meditates on it day and night.
00:17:56.633 --> 00:17:59.502
And i remember thinking about that.
00:17:59.502 --> 00:18:01.304
I'm like, okay, how happy is the one?
00:18:01.304 --> 00:18:04.073
And other translations is blessed is the one, right,
00:18:04.073 --> 00:18:07.977
That basically doesn't sin.
00:18:07.977 --> 00:18:10.713
And it says meditates on god's words instructions and
00:18:10.713 --> 00:18:15.485
He delights in it.
00:18:15.485 --> 00:18:17.220
I remember wrestling with god like, what if we don't,
00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.889
I don't want to delight in your law?
00:18:19.889 --> 00:18:22.692
Like, what if i don't want to be meditating?
00:18:22.692 --> 00:18:24.527
What if i rather be watching something on tv?
00:18:24.527 --> 00:18:27.430
What if i rather go get a snack?
00:18:27.430 --> 00:18:29.732
What can i do about my lack of desire,
00:18:29.732 --> 00:18:33.269
Right? and then that's when i realized, oh, he is so
00:18:33.269 --> 00:18:37.473
Good like that.
00:18:37.473 --> 00:18:38.441
Where temptation was birthed,
00:18:38.441 --> 00:18:41.044
When trust in his word was broken.
00:18:41.044 --> 00:18:44.447
And now he's asking us to believe again.
00:18:44.447 --> 00:18:47.650
He's laying it out, the road to blessedness and what some may
00:18:47.650 --> 00:18:52.655
Say a happiness, a true joy.
00:18:52.655 --> 00:18:55.658
And he's saying it's not just knowing my words, but believing
00:18:55.658 --> 00:18:59.963
In it, trusting in it, meditating on it.
00:18:59.963 --> 00:19:03.666
And it's so much more than just reciting it on a sunday.
00:19:03.666 --> 00:19:07.937
So what i would say to somebody that feels like they cannot
00:19:07.937 --> 00:19:10.974
Help but fall into temptation is, what is your
00:19:10.974 --> 00:19:14.077
Relationship to god's word?
00:19:14.077 --> 00:19:15.945
Do you just have it or do you meditate on it?
00:19:15.945 --> 00:19:18.848
Do you delight in it?
00:19:18.848 --> 00:19:20.149
Do you follow it?
00:19:20.149 --> 00:19:22.151
Do you trust in it because that dissatisfaction
00:19:22.151 --> 00:19:26.089
Was birthed-- yeah.
00:19:26.089 --> 00:19:28.157
When that trust with god's words was broken.
00:19:28.157 --> 00:19:32.495
This sin is an interesting thing to talk about.
00:19:32.495 --> 00:19:34.530
It's not something that's real popular in our world, but it's
00:19:34.530 --> 00:19:37.367
Anything that pulls us away from god's presence.
00:19:37.367 --> 00:19:40.436
And if you find yourself in a situation where you keep doing
00:19:40.436 --> 00:19:43.072
Certain things, you might want to kind of just take a
00:19:43.072 --> 00:19:45.541
Step back a little bit and take a look at your life.
00:19:45.541 --> 00:19:48.011
You know, like, what are you spending your time on?
00:19:48.011 --> 00:19:50.079
You know, where is your heart?
00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.714
Because sometimes i discovered, i don't know, a couple of weeks
00:19:51.714 --> 00:19:54.384
Ago that i was spending way too much time scrolling on my phone
00:19:54.384 --> 00:19:58.554
And then wondering why i felt bad, or why i felt kind of
00:19:58.554 --> 00:20:01.391
Left out of something.
00:20:01.391 --> 00:20:02.692
I wonder why they didn't invite me to that? or watching things,
00:20:02.692 --> 00:20:05.428
Like always watching the news a kind of daily, you know,
00:20:05.428 --> 00:20:09.098
Barrage of things that are wrong in the world.
00:20:09.098 --> 00:20:10.933
You might want to address that imbalance in your life and say,
00:20:10.933 --> 00:20:13.503
Lord, i want my priority to be built up in your word,
00:20:13.503 --> 00:20:17.774
To be built up my relationship with you, and then to worship
00:20:17.774 --> 00:20:21.044
You rather than to allow everything else that's going on
00:20:21.044 --> 00:20:24.047
In the world to tell you how to live.
00:20:24.047 --> 00:20:25.848
Jesus has given you and i a better way to live.
00:20:25.848 --> 00:20:29.686
First corinthians 10:13 says, no temptation has overtaken you
00:20:29.686 --> 00:20:34.157
That is not common to man.
00:20:34.157 --> 00:20:35.825
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond
00:20:35.825 --> 00:20:39.062
Your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide
00:20:39.062 --> 00:20:42.165
The way of escape that you may be able to endure it.
00:20:42.165 --> 00:20:44.934
And god is faithful.
00:20:44.934 --> 00:20:46.336
You know, his kindness-- in romans three,
00:20:46.336 --> 00:20:48.438
It talks about his kindness, leads us to repentance because
00:20:48.438 --> 00:20:51.808
He wants us to live in freedom.
00:20:51.808 --> 00:20:53.976
And freedom is like you're saying, let the darkness-- let
00:20:53.976 --> 00:20:56.412
The light overcome the darkness
00:20:56.412 --> 00:20:58.314
Because when you live in darkness, you live in the shame
00:20:58.314 --> 00:21:00.717
And the burden and the weight that you carry.
00:21:00.717 --> 00:21:04.053
God wants freedom.
00:21:04.053 --> 00:21:05.321
He wants us to enjoy the life god has given us and walk in
00:21:05.321 --> 00:21:08.925
The freedom that jesus alone can give.
00:21:08.925 --> 00:21:11.527
That's right.
00:21:11.527 --> 00:21:12.495
And it's his kindness that convicts us.
00:21:12.495 --> 00:21:14.497
It's his kindness that shows us what the word has to say.
00:21:14.497 --> 00:21:17.467
It's his kindness that leads us out of temptation so that
00:21:17.467 --> 00:21:20.303
It doesn't overtake us.
00:21:20.303 --> 00:21:22.105
That is his kindness towards us, and he is just so faithful
00:21:22.105 --> 00:21:25.575
To speak, to give us ways out.
00:21:25.575 --> 00:21:27.643
And i'm just so thankful for his word that just says that he
00:21:27.643 --> 00:21:30.513
Will be faithful in it. yeah.
00:21:30.513 --> 00:21:32.582
It's interesting too, when you read that story in genesis at
00:21:32.582 --> 00:21:34.851
The beginning, right up until when adam and eve eventually
00:21:34.851 --> 00:21:38.388
Decide to make their own choice, the lord is referred to
00:21:38.388 --> 00:21:42.024
As the lord god.
00:21:42.024 --> 00:21:43.159
It's this whole title of who he is, the almighty god.
00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:46.963
But when satan comes in, he says to her, satan says,
00:21:46.963 --> 00:21:49.866
This is 3:1,
00:21:49.866 --> 00:21:51.134
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the
00:21:51.134 --> 00:21:53.336
Lord god had made.
00:21:53.336 --> 00:21:54.604
One day he asked the woman, did god really say. satan drops
00:21:54.604 --> 00:21:58.941
Lord and just uses the word god?
00:21:58.941 --> 00:22:01.077
And i think what he tries to do over and over is reduce the
00:22:01.077 --> 00:22:04.914
Authority of god in our life.
00:22:04.914 --> 00:22:06.282
That's really good.
00:22:06.282 --> 00:22:07.517
And for me, it's like, i love the fact that he's like a
00:22:07.517 --> 00:22:09.919
Shepherd, that we're invited to come into his presence.
00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:12.455
But i don't ever want to forget that he's a holy god.
00:22:12.455 --> 00:22:14.924
You know, he's almighty.
00:22:14.924 --> 00:22:16.259
He's holy.
00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.527
And i guess it's because i'm older, but i don't want to play
00:22:17.527 --> 00:22:19.128
Around with life.
00:22:19.128 --> 00:22:20.563
You know?
00:22:20.563 --> 00:22:21.264
I want my life to honor him.
00:22:21.264 --> 00:22:22.765
And so to me, he is the lord god.
00:22:22.765 --> 00:22:25.301
He is over all. yeah.
00:22:25.301 --> 00:22:27.003
And he gives you a way to escape, too.
00:22:27.003 --> 00:22:28.571
And i think that's what you're saying of, like, i don't want
00:22:28.571 --> 00:22:30.540
To mess with that. you know what i mean?
00:22:30.540 --> 00:22:31.941
I don't-- i tell my kids this all the time.
00:22:31.941 --> 00:22:34.310
You place yourself in positions where you can hear
00:22:34.310 --> 00:22:38.147
From the lord, walk with the lord.
00:22:38.147 --> 00:22:40.049
And so i think with that is we don't want to mess around.
00:22:40.049 --> 00:22:42.318
We want to guard our hearts and our minds and our spirits and
00:22:42.318 --> 00:22:45.054
Not give way to the flesh
00:22:45.054 --> 00:22:46.923
That could be tempting in those situations.
00:22:46.923 --> 00:22:49.492
And i just love that you're saying you're like, man, i
00:22:49.492 --> 00:22:51.327
Don't even want to mess around with it.
00:22:51.327 --> 00:22:52.762
Like i want to walk close to the lord.
00:22:52.762 --> 00:22:54.430
I want to hear from him.
00:22:54.430 --> 00:22:55.731
I want to have clean hands and a pure heart and not walk with
00:22:55.731 --> 00:22:58.568
Ungodly, but walk with jesus like it talks about in
00:22:58.568 --> 00:23:01.103
Psalms 1 and hear from him.
00:23:01.103 --> 00:23:04.173
The bible says to call upon the name of the lord,
00:23:04.173 --> 00:23:06.542
And you will be saved.
00:23:06.542 --> 00:23:08.177
If you do not know jesus and you are walking in this place
00:23:08.177 --> 00:23:12.181
Of going, god, i want this.
00:23:12.181 --> 00:23:13.549
Who is this god?
00:23:13.549 --> 00:23:14.283
What is this hope of glory?
00:23:14.283 --> 00:23:15.651
I want to encourage you today to run to him, that you would
00:23:15.651 --> 00:23:18.287
Call upon the name of the lord and be saved, that you confess
00:23:18.287 --> 00:23:21.924
With your mouth that jesus is lord.
00:23:21.924 --> 00:23:23.893
Believe in your heart that he died and rose again, and that
00:23:23.893 --> 00:23:27.296
You will be saved.
00:23:27.296 --> 00:23:28.664
That's what the bible says.
00:23:28.664 --> 00:23:30.199
God wants to free you.
00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:31.567
He wants to give you abundant life in him.
00:23:31.567 --> 00:23:33.669
And jesus can make all things new.
00:23:33.669 --> 00:23:36.572
Run to him today.
00:23:36.572 --> 00:23:38.841
And the people that feel trapped right now,
00:23:38.841 --> 00:23:40.209
Those that are watching,
00:23:40.209 --> 00:23:41.644
Yeah, you know, we talked about this a couple days ago
00:23:41.644 --> 00:23:44.213
Where in joel it says, i will restore to you the years the
00:23:44.213 --> 00:23:46.849
Swarming locusts have eaten.
00:23:46.849 --> 00:23:48.150
But here's the thing, they're coming back from exile, right?
00:23:48.150 --> 00:23:51.654
And they're feeling this darkness over, and there's this
00:23:51.654 --> 00:23:54.156
Shame, and it's kind of sitting there and we kind of know this
00:23:54.156 --> 00:23:57.159
Verse, but we kind of stop there.
00:23:57.159 --> 00:23:58.761
But if we read on, it says, you shall eat in plenty and be
00:23:58.761 --> 00:24:03.232
Satisfied and praise the name of the lord your god, who has
00:24:03.232 --> 00:24:07.236
Dealt wondrously with you.
00:24:07.236 --> 00:24:08.871
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
00:24:08.871 --> 00:24:13.876
And so it is so important that we don't just read one verse
00:24:13.876 --> 00:24:16.345
And go, well, that's it.
00:24:16.345 --> 00:24:17.580
Like read the whole passage, read the whole thing because
00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:19.749
The promise is there.
00:24:19.749 --> 00:24:21.551
Yes, we have to do the part of confession.
00:24:21.551 --> 00:24:23.553
We have to do the part of being accountable, being willing to
00:24:23.553 --> 00:24:26.422
To be held accountable. i have put in a lot of things.
00:24:26.422 --> 00:24:29.158
Here's the thing.
00:24:29.158 --> 00:24:29.825
Once you've had an affair,
00:24:29.825 --> 00:24:32.128
You can have it again and again and again.
00:24:32.128 --> 00:24:34.130
So you put in those accountability pieces--
00:24:34.130 --> 00:24:37.567
That's wisdom. that you can't-- you have people that can
00:24:37.567 --> 00:24:41.137
Speak into your life.
00:24:41.137 --> 00:24:42.438
Right? so it's not that-- you turn and you sin no more, just
00:24:42.438 --> 00:24:45.308
Like that, the adulterous woman.
00:24:45.308 --> 00:24:47.009
Right? but you also don't stop living, and you don't stop
00:24:47.009 --> 00:24:50.913
Trusting that god will have so many beautiful things for you.
00:24:50.913 --> 00:24:55.751
But you have to do that first step of confession.
00:24:55.751 --> 00:24:58.154
You have to do that part and say, okay, it's not just,
00:24:58.154 --> 00:25:00.523
Why can't i stop?
00:25:00.523 --> 00:25:01.824
It's what can i do now to lead me to the next step of healing?
00:25:01.824 --> 00:25:07.263
And it is continual on and on and on.
00:25:07.263 --> 00:25:11.000
When it comes to fleeing from
00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.468
Temptation, you can't be a lone wolf.
00:25:12.468 --> 00:25:15.905
You can't just lean on your own strength and lean on your own
00:25:15.905 --> 00:25:21.010
Piety, if you will.
00:25:21.010 --> 00:25:22.878
You need people.
00:25:22.878 --> 00:25:24.180
You need community.
00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.181
God has created us to be communal people.
00:25:25.181 --> 00:25:27.984
Whenever god has entrusted us to steward his presence, he
00:25:27.984 --> 00:25:31.821
Created community right after.
00:25:31.821 --> 00:25:33.923
Just as in the garden and in the pentecost, whenever we are
00:25:33.923 --> 00:25:38.394
Given this intimacy with his presence, it also includes
00:25:38.394 --> 00:25:42.398
Intimacy with other people.
00:25:42.398 --> 00:25:44.000
And so accountability is going to be really important in
00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:47.837
Making sure that you are walking right with jesus.
00:25:47.837 --> 00:25:51.307
I remember when i first got pregnant, i was-- i was like a
00:25:51.307 --> 00:25:55.311
Baby, like, not really, but i was 25.
00:25:55.311 --> 00:25:57.780
So what did i know at 25?
00:25:57.780 --> 00:26:00.049
Um, but i remember when you, you know, when you go to the
00:26:00.049 --> 00:26:03.152
Sonogram and you see the black and white image of your child,
00:26:03.152 --> 00:26:07.423
They're like, this is yours.
00:26:07.423 --> 00:26:08.891
And you're like, oh my goodness, how cute.
00:26:08.891 --> 00:26:10.526
Right? you know.
00:26:10.526 --> 00:26:11.894
Um, but i remember thinking, okay, my whole life
00:26:11.894 --> 00:26:15.598
Is different now.
00:26:15.598 --> 00:26:16.899
They're calling me mommy, like, in this, in this office, but i
00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:20.803
Don't feel this child in me. i don't-- like,
00:26:20.803 --> 00:26:24.273
I don't see any proof that a living being is inside of me.
00:26:24.273 --> 00:26:29.111
And then they tell you you shouldn't be drinking coffee.
00:26:29.111 --> 00:26:31.614
You shouldn't have sushi, you shouldn't be in saunas.
00:26:31.614 --> 00:26:34.450
Like, these are all my favorite things.
00:26:34.450 --> 00:26:36.385
So to, like, change my whole
00:26:36.385 --> 00:26:39.455
Life for what felt like a theory--
00:26:39.455 --> 00:26:42.625
Right.
00:26:42.625 --> 00:26:43.793
Was hard like so i mean, obviously i would do it because
00:26:43.793 --> 00:26:47.396
It's an honor, but it felt obligatory in the beginning.
00:26:47.396 --> 00:26:51.567
But i remember when i felt her first kick and then just
00:26:51.567 --> 00:26:56.739
Realizing what that was.
00:26:56.739 --> 00:26:59.041
I was alone in my living room and i went, oh,
00:26:59.041 --> 00:27:02.978
You're actually in me.
00:27:02.978 --> 00:27:04.346
Like, you're actually you are in me.
00:27:04.346 --> 00:27:07.683
And then this revelation sort of dawned on me that, oh my
00:27:07.683 --> 00:27:12.955
Goodness, one, this revelation of who's inside of me, that
00:27:12.955 --> 00:27:16.358
Someone is in me because it's easy to know something
00:27:16.358 --> 00:27:19.729
Cerebrally but not have an experiential knowledge of it.
00:27:19.729 --> 00:27:23.399
Right? but then i think when the revelation came, realizing,
00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:26.368
Oh my goodness, i really could have just done whatever i
00:27:26.368 --> 00:27:30.106
Wanted, and she would have just had to take it.
00:27:30.106 --> 00:27:34.443
Because we're bound.
00:27:34.443 --> 00:27:35.811
We're bound by blood.
00:27:35.811 --> 00:27:37.646
And so this pure,
00:27:37.646 --> 00:27:40.116
Hasn't done anything wrong in this world,
00:27:40.116 --> 00:27:44.019
This pure being would have just had to listen to what i say.
00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:48.624
You know, be there when i watch certain things or would have
00:27:48.624 --> 00:27:52.661
To, um, be inside of me if i
00:27:52.661 --> 00:27:55.197
Drink energy drinks or whatever.
00:27:55.197 --> 00:27:56.932
Not that i did, but like, if i did, she would remain and she
00:27:56.932 --> 00:28:00.603
Would-- even though it would be suffering, she would remain.
00:28:00.603 --> 00:28:05.141
And then that's when i realized, oh my goodness.
00:28:05.141 --> 00:28:09.078
The same goes for the holy spirit.
00:28:09.078 --> 00:28:11.247
Yeah.
00:28:11.247 --> 00:28:12.548
You know, we may know that he's within us, cerebrally, and we
00:28:12.548 --> 00:28:16.218
May feel obligated to change certain aspects of our lives.
00:28:16.218 --> 00:28:21.090
But then when we have this realization of who really is
00:28:21.090 --> 00:28:24.960
Dwelling within us--
00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.595
Yeah. oh my goodness.
00:28:26.595 --> 00:28:28.330
Then every change that we make is no longer out of obligation.
00:28:28.330 --> 00:28:33.969
But it's for relationship. yeah.
00:28:33.969 --> 00:28:36.172
It's no longer just to be a
00:28:36.172 --> 00:28:38.541
Disciplined christian, but it's personal.
00:28:38.541 --> 00:28:42.645
It's a personal choice because i have a personal relationship
00:28:42.645 --> 00:28:46.816
With holy spirit.
00:28:46.816 --> 00:28:48.284
So for anybody that feels like, okay, i gotta be a better
00:28:48.284 --> 00:28:52.288
Person, i gotta, i gotta change this, i gotta fix this.
00:28:52.288 --> 00:28:57.393
Likely so likely.
00:28:57.393 --> 00:28:58.661
So that doesn't change.
00:28:58.661 --> 00:28:59.929
However, we must first go to the one that gives us the power
00:28:59.929 --> 00:29:05.334
To change.
00:29:05.334 --> 00:29:06.502
You know, we can't sidestep that,
00:29:06.502 --> 00:29:09.238
That step.
00:29:09.238 --> 00:29:10.339
Like we cannot try to change and then go to god.
00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:13.576
No, we must go to god.
00:29:13.576 --> 00:29:15.578
And then from there, from that intimacy, that relationship,
00:29:15.578 --> 00:29:18.347
Comes the power to change.
00:29:18.347 --> 00:29:20.583
I don't know if you've ever found yourself in a season
00:29:20.583 --> 00:29:22.484
Where you feel like you're doing the same thing over and
00:29:22.484 --> 00:29:24.353
Over, and you don't want to.
00:29:24.353 --> 00:29:25.788
It's something you've said you would never do again, and it
00:29:25.788 --> 00:29:28.157
Doesn't have to be something huge, but it could be something
00:29:28.157 --> 00:29:30.893
You feel is not good and
00:29:30.893 --> 00:29:32.361
Doesn't bring you closer to the lord,
00:29:32.361 --> 00:29:34.163
But you keep doing it.
00:29:34.163 --> 00:29:35.264
And paul talks about that.
00:29:35.264 --> 00:29:36.966
If you read the book of romans, read in particular chapter
00:29:36.966 --> 00:29:39.635
Seven and eight, because chapter seven will give you the
00:29:39.635 --> 00:29:42.638
Problem, chapter seven will give you--
00:29:42.638 --> 00:29:44.874
Chapter eight will give you the answer.
00:29:44.874 --> 00:29:46.742
Paul talks about the fact that you know the things he
00:29:46.742 --> 00:29:48.711
Doesn't want to do he still keeps doing.
00:29:48.711 --> 00:29:50.713
And this is after paul's been a christian for over 20 years,
00:29:50.713 --> 00:29:53.749
So he's not a baby christian at this point.
00:29:53.749 --> 00:29:56.051
He's somebody who walks with the lord who's been faithful to
00:29:56.051 --> 00:29:58.687
God, but he still struggles.
00:29:58.687 --> 00:30:00.022
But then he remembers the fact that because of what jesus has
00:30:00.022 --> 00:30:03.893
Done, there is no condemnation for those in christ jesus.
00:30:03.893 --> 00:30:07.830
And i love the fact that the word he uses there in the
00:30:07.830 --> 00:30:11.033
Greek for condemnation.
00:30:11.033 --> 00:30:12.835
He talks about being sure.
00:30:12.835 --> 00:30:14.503
I am sure there is no it means i was sure when i first became
00:30:14.503 --> 00:30:18.674
A believer, and i remained sure after all these years,
00:30:18.674 --> 00:30:22.211
There's no condemnation for those who trust in christ.
00:30:22.211 --> 00:30:26.115
I feel like this week, one of the things that we just keep
00:30:26.115 --> 00:30:28.784
Going back to is jesus has all power.
00:30:28.784 --> 00:30:31.754
He has all authority. in him,
00:30:31.754 --> 00:30:33.789
We have everything that we need.
00:30:33.789 --> 00:30:35.457
And so i think going back to what you're saying, if you are
00:30:35.457 --> 00:30:38.027
Wrestling with sin, we can't get victory on our own.
00:30:38.027 --> 00:30:41.330
We get victory through the blood of jesus christ, who died
00:30:41.330 --> 00:30:44.967
To take away our sin and died to give us freedom so that we
00:30:44.967 --> 00:30:47.970
Could live in abundant life.
00:30:47.970 --> 00:30:49.505
And so, because of the gospel, the good news that jesus made
00:30:49.505 --> 00:30:52.441
A way, we can have power through jesus to overcome what we're
00:30:52.441 --> 00:30:56.879
Navigating, what we're struggling with.
00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:58.614
And we don't have to muster up the strength of
00:30:58.614 --> 00:31:00.616
How do i do this on my own?
00:31:00.616 --> 00:31:02.284
How do i do this? i feel like i can't.
00:31:02.284 --> 00:31:04.353
It is because of jesus that we get the strength through the
00:31:04.353 --> 00:31:07.723
Holy spirit helping us, giving us a way out, helping us to
00:31:07.723 --> 00:31:11.694
Endure, help us to walk through these things.
00:31:11.694 --> 00:31:13.896
That is how we get victory.
00:31:13.896 --> 00:31:15.297
That is how we get power.
00:31:15.297 --> 00:31:16.632
It is not in ourselves.
00:31:16.632 --> 00:31:18.267
Yeah, i think that's a hugely important thing because i think
00:31:18.267 --> 00:31:20.569
We often put it onto people that you just get to choose.
00:31:20.569 --> 00:31:23.038
You've just got to make all
00:31:23.038 --> 00:31:23.872
These choices, not understanding.
00:31:23.872 --> 00:31:25.541
It's through the power of the holy spirit.
00:31:25.541 --> 00:31:27.209
That's right.
00:31:27.209 --> 00:31:28.477
And i think that's what i love about what paul does in his
00:31:28.477 --> 00:31:30.946
Letter to the church in rome, that he confesses,
00:31:30.946 --> 00:31:34.049
This is what's true.
00:31:34.049 --> 00:31:36.218
But then, you know, thanks be to god
00:31:36.218 --> 00:31:38.754
Because of jesus. i'm thinking of people who are sitting
00:31:38.754 --> 00:31:41.590
Thinking, well, i'm just totally blown everywhere.
00:31:41.590 --> 00:31:43.826
Every-- you know what?
00:31:43.826 --> 00:31:45.794
Here's something else i love. when they talk about, um,
00:31:45.794 --> 00:31:49.031
Removing our sin as far as the east is from the west.
00:31:49.031 --> 00:31:52.468
I used to think, well, why is it not the north and the south?
00:31:52.468 --> 00:31:54.336
Why is it east and the west?
00:31:54.336 --> 00:31:55.437
But this obvious?
00:31:55.437 --> 00:31:56.705
If you go north, eventually you're going south, so you're
00:31:56.705 --> 00:31:59.908
Going to meet where you started.
00:31:59.908 --> 00:32:01.377
If you go east,
00:32:01.377 --> 00:32:03.545
You never you just keep going.
00:32:03.545 --> 00:32:05.114
You just keep going.
00:32:05.114 --> 00:32:07.016
So when god removes our sin, it
00:32:06.081 --> 00:32:09.385
Is gone and he remembers it no more.
00:32:09.385 --> 00:32:12.554
Now, the enemy loves to remind us and bring it up.
00:32:12.554 --> 00:32:15.557
But, um, but that doesn't--
00:32:15.557 --> 00:32:17.292
When you've confessed your sin,
00:32:17.292 --> 00:32:18.827
That doesn't belong to you anymore.
00:32:18.827 --> 00:32:20.362
No, he is faithful and just
00:32:20.362 --> 00:32:21.764
When we confess our sin. he is. to forgive us of
00:32:21.764 --> 00:32:24.666
All unrighteousness and to cleanse us.
00:32:24.666 --> 00:32:27.469
I think that's so good of you talking about.
00:32:27.469 --> 00:32:29.805
Even like, the enemy condemns. jesus doesn't condemn.
00:32:29.805 --> 00:32:32.574
He he convicts us to give us freedom and to give us
00:32:32.574 --> 00:32:35.644
Literally so we can overcome,
00:32:35.644 --> 00:32:37.813
So we can move forward with what god has us.
00:32:37.813 --> 00:32:40.149
The enemy comes in and he condemns.
00:32:40.149 --> 00:32:42.684
Those are two different things.
00:32:42.684 --> 00:32:43.786
Jesus gives us victory.
00:32:43.786 --> 00:32:45.320
He says, confess with your mouth
00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:46.789
Jesus is lord.
00:32:46.789 --> 00:32:47.756
Believe in your heart. confess your sin.
00:32:47.756 --> 00:32:49.324
He will do it as far as the east is to the west.
00:32:49.324 --> 00:32:51.693
He is not bringing them back to us.
00:32:51.693 --> 00:32:53.862
He is saying, walk in the freedom that i shed
00:32:53.862 --> 00:32:57.066
My blood for, right?
00:32:57.066 --> 00:32:58.567
And is tha--t the power of the blood,
00:32:58.567 --> 00:32:59.968
Is that only powerful enough
00:32:59.968 --> 00:33:01.904
For everyone else's sin and not yours?
00:33:01.904 --> 00:33:05.174
Is your sin so much more powerful than the blood of
00:33:05.174 --> 00:33:09.111
Jesus that you know?
00:33:09.111 --> 00:33:10.412
We have to remind ourselves of where jesus stands and where
00:33:10.412 --> 00:33:14.016
He is in our life.
00:33:14.016 --> 00:33:16.151
You know, and we submit to that.
00:33:16.151 --> 00:33:17.252
And so, yes, all power for blood for all of us.
00:33:17.252 --> 00:33:20.055
Yes. for everything.
00:33:20.055 --> 00:33:21.523
Yeah, yeah.
00:33:21.523 --> 00:33:22.891
I think that freedom from sin doesn't start with
00:33:22.891 --> 00:33:27.196
Renewing your mind.
00:33:27.196 --> 00:33:28.197
I think renewing your mind is part of it.
00:33:28.197 --> 00:33:30.833
It's one of the beginning pieces.
00:33:30.833 --> 00:33:32.568
I think it starts with confession.
00:33:32.568 --> 00:33:36.305
It starts with you being willing to acknowledge that one,
00:33:36.305 --> 00:33:41.777
You're not god, and two, that you need god.
00:33:41.777 --> 00:33:45.914
It starts with confession, and i think the renewal of your
00:33:45.914 --> 00:33:49.151
Mind comes with that because you're immediately in your
00:33:49.151 --> 00:33:52.154
Confession sharing that you don't have it, you don't have
00:33:52.154 --> 00:33:56.859
Any control under control.
00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:58.393
And so you are now retraining your mind to think of what is
00:33:58.393 --> 00:34:02.431
Good and what is holy and what you're meant to be.
00:34:02.431 --> 00:34:07.069
The bible tells us that we can
00:34:07.069 --> 00:34:08.370
Overcome temptation through jesus.
00:34:08.370 --> 00:34:11.006
He always gives us a way of escape and freedom and victory
00:34:11.006 --> 00:34:14.443
Over the sin and temptation
00:34:14.443 --> 00:34:15.744
That we experience in this life.
00:34:15.744 --> 00:34:17.713
Even jesus was tempted, and
00:34:17.713 --> 00:34:19.248
What he used was the word of god.
00:34:19.248 --> 00:34:21.183
So i want to encourage you, if you are walking through a
00:34:21.183 --> 00:34:23.352
Season where you feel
00:34:23.352 --> 00:34:24.620
Tempted over and over again, that you would run to god and
00:34:24.620 --> 00:34:27.556
His promises, that you would use it as the truth, as the
00:34:27.556 --> 00:34:31.260
Shield to walk through the war
00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:33.162
That may feel like temptation to you.
00:34:33.162 --> 00:34:36.198
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:34:36.198 --> 00:34:38.400
You can find the better together podcast on your
00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:40.736
Favorite listening platform.
00:34:40.736 --> 00:34:42.571
Subscribe today!
00:34:42.571 --> 00:34:47.003
So i think we believe this lie that god's way is less happier,
00:34:50.580 --> 00:34:57.320
I'm not as fulfilled if i go god's way.
00:34:57.320 --> 00:35:00.356
You know, that my choice is better over here.
00:35:00.356 --> 00:35:02.992
It's going to make me happier, maybe less miserable over here.
00:35:02.992 --> 00:35:07.163
And i'm going to believe in that lie.
00:35:07.163 --> 00:35:09.799
And it keeps us from believing in the goodness of god and all
00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:13.636
That he has for us.
00:35:13.636 --> 00:35:14.837
So he sets boundaries for us so that we feel protected.
00:35:14.837 --> 00:35:18.174
It's like little kids out on a playground. you know, you let
00:35:18.174 --> 00:35:21.811
Them, you you open up to a big field and they're all in a
00:35:21.811 --> 00:35:25.648
Little huddle, but you put up boundaries and they were
00:35:25.648 --> 00:35:28.551
Playing all over the place because they love the freedom
00:35:28.551 --> 00:35:32.388
Of running around in the boundaries.
00:35:32.388 --> 00:35:35.491
I love that in israel with the shepherds, they have such a
00:35:35.491 --> 00:35:39.028
Personal relationship with their sheep in israel.
00:35:39.028 --> 00:35:41.197
I mean, they give them names, most of them.
00:35:41.197 --> 00:35:43.566
It's incredible.
00:35:43.566 --> 00:35:44.867
And at night when they go into the pen, and the shepherd will
00:35:44.867 --> 00:35:47.904
Use a crook to make sure there's nothing, like no pests.
00:35:47.904 --> 00:35:50.907
And that's why they anoint my head with oil to get rid of any
00:35:50.907 --> 00:35:53.810
Animals or things that are bugging them.
00:35:53.810 --> 00:35:55.678
Bugs. but then, once they're all in, the shepherd lays in
00:35:55.678 --> 00:35:58.348
Front of the the entrance and the message is clear.
00:35:58.348 --> 00:36:02.418
If you want to get to the sheep, you're going to have to
00:36:02.418 --> 00:36:04.087
Come through me, the shepherd.
00:36:04.087 --> 00:36:05.622
And to me, that's just who jesus is.
00:36:05.622 --> 00:36:07.590
If you want to get to faith, you're going to have to
00:36:07.590 --> 00:36:09.726
Come through me.
00:36:09.726 --> 00:36:11.027
So even though we do fall into things, i think we could just
00:36:11.027 --> 00:36:14.430
Decide in jesus name to draw a line, you know, and say, you
00:36:14.430 --> 00:36:17.166
Know what, lord, your grace has brought me to this place.
00:36:17.166 --> 00:36:20.336
Yes, i've fallen down a lot.
00:36:20.336 --> 00:36:21.704
You've picked me up a lot.
00:36:21.704 --> 00:36:23.239
But today i want to,
00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.607
I want to trust you, that i
00:36:24.607 --> 00:36:25.808
Don't have to keep making those choices.
00:36:25.808 --> 00:36:28.544
And to heal the places-- yes, yes.
00:36:28.544 --> 00:36:31.648
Yes. that we desire
00:36:31.648 --> 00:36:34.517
Someone to see us more than you see in us.
00:36:34.517 --> 00:36:38.054
Yeah.
00:36:38.054 --> 00:36:38.655
God sees us. yeah.
00:36:38.655 --> 00:36:40.056
And my concern right now is someone's watching this and
00:36:40.056 --> 00:36:42.659
Thinking, well, that's good for you.
00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:44.761
Yeah.
00:36:44.761 --> 00:36:45.728
You know, of course it's easier for you.
00:36:45.728 --> 00:36:47.897
And i can say right now, it isn't.
00:36:47.897 --> 00:36:50.099
It wasn't. it still isn't.
00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:52.101
It's, it's a, i'm just further away from it now.
00:36:52.101 --> 00:36:55.938
Right. and so make that first choice today.
00:36:55.938 --> 00:36:58.608
Get in community.
00:36:58.608 --> 00:36:59.976
Confess. keep confessing and just know that
00:36:59.976 --> 00:37:04.447
Shepherd is laying right there.
00:37:04.447 --> 00:37:05.848
Boundaries actually give us freedom.
00:37:05.848 --> 00:37:07.784
Yes. they do.
00:37:07.784 --> 00:37:08.751
We think that boundaries are holding us in.
00:37:08.751 --> 00:37:10.353
But actually it's sin that it's, it's deceiving.
00:37:10.353 --> 00:37:14.457
Sin holds us imprisoned, and boundaries actually give us so
00:37:14.457 --> 00:37:18.861
Much freedom to play and to laugh.
00:37:18.861 --> 00:37:21.331
And breathe fresh air.
00:37:21.331 --> 00:37:22.732
And so, uh,
00:37:22.732 --> 00:37:23.900
Yeah, it's just a,
00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:25.168
Yeah, we got to step into those practices now. understanding
00:37:25.168 --> 00:37:29.005
Who we are in god, who we are in christ leads to true
00:37:29.005 --> 00:37:32.875
Repentance, because you don't actually want to keep doing
00:37:32.875 --> 00:37:36.646
The things that
00:37:36.646 --> 00:37:40.116
Keep you from god.
00:37:40.116 --> 00:37:42.118
Things that have cut you off from god keeps you from being
00:37:42.118 --> 00:37:45.722
In relationship with jesus.
00:37:45.722 --> 00:37:47.557
And so repentance is really the the 180 turn from you're going
00:37:47.557 --> 00:37:51.661
This way and you're going to turn around from it and you're
00:37:51.661 --> 00:37:53.529
Not going to do it anymore.
00:37:53.529 --> 00:37:54.764
And it's not that it's easy, and it's not that you're not
00:37:54.764 --> 00:37:57.500
Going to want to turn back.
00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.768
It's not that you're not going to still feel it behind you.
00:37:58.768 --> 00:38:01.971
It is saying, i'm not going to
00:38:01.971 --> 00:38:03.306
Give you the attention or my eyes.
00:38:03.306 --> 00:38:06.509
You're not going to be my line of sight anymore.
00:38:06.509 --> 00:38:08.711
And so it is really important to not put or platform the
00:38:08.711 --> 00:38:12.849
Things that will take you away from god, because what you want
00:38:12.849 --> 00:38:16.519
To platform is opportunities to worship your savior.
00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:20.990
They cannot be in the same frame.
00:38:20.990 --> 00:38:22.959
They can't be in the same picture.
00:38:22.959 --> 00:38:24.627
You have to focus your eyes and look right at what you
00:38:24.627 --> 00:38:28.164
Want to be with.
00:38:28.164 --> 00:38:30.533
Sheila, when you were kind of doing that exhortation, i
00:38:30.533 --> 00:38:34.370
Thought, man, i think that's really powerful because
00:38:34.370 --> 00:38:37.507
I agree, jenni,
00:38:37.507 --> 00:38:38.808
Like, it's easy to just kind of be watching or listening in to
00:38:38.808 --> 00:38:43.746
This conversation and everything just sounds so good
00:38:43.746 --> 00:38:47.283
And hopeful.
00:38:47.283 --> 00:38:49.285
But i know that i know
00:38:49.285 --> 00:38:51.387
That i know that there's some that are going to be
00:38:51.387 --> 00:38:53.256
Watching, thinking i don't have that kind of hope for myself.
00:38:53.256 --> 00:38:58.027
I remember when i was a fresh, brand new christian, and i just
00:38:58.027 --> 00:39:02.598
Thought once i became a christian, like, i'm going
00:39:02.598 --> 00:39:06.068
To be a saint.
00:39:06.068 --> 00:39:07.403
I'm not going to waver.
00:39:07.403 --> 00:39:11.007
Right? it took me like a day
00:39:11.007 --> 00:39:12.608
Back home for me to realize, oh my gosh.
00:39:12.608 --> 00:39:15.344
Like, i am still just as terrible of a--
00:39:15.344 --> 00:39:18.314
Wretched man. right.
00:39:18.314 --> 00:39:20.149
And so i remember after a couple of months feeling
00:39:20.149 --> 00:39:23.786
Absolutely hopeless, like there's just-- like, i'm not
00:39:23.786 --> 00:39:27.423
Going to change.
00:39:27.423 --> 00:39:28.558
Like i-- my circumstances feel impossible.
00:39:28.558 --> 00:39:32.228
Um, the pain often feels unbearable.
00:39:32.228 --> 00:39:35.798
Um, like, i just feel like my compulsions, my habits feel
00:39:35.798 --> 00:39:41.370
Like they're just unbreakable.
00:39:41.370 --> 00:39:44.173
And the shame of it all makes you feel as though there's
00:39:44.173 --> 00:39:47.443
Absolutely no hope for you.
00:39:47.443 --> 00:39:50.346
And i remember my--
00:39:50.346 --> 00:39:51.581
I was telling this to my youth pastor and, um, basically
00:39:51.581 --> 00:39:56.118
Telling him why i didn't want to go back to youth camp and
00:39:56.118 --> 00:39:59.388
Things like that.
00:39:59.388 --> 00:40:00.623
And he looked at me and he said, you are not going to go
00:40:00.623 --> 00:40:04.927
Back to your old ways.
00:40:04.927 --> 00:40:06.996
And i remember looking at him
00:40:06.996 --> 00:40:08.030
Thinking, how would you know that?
00:40:08.030 --> 00:40:09.932
Like, you know what i mean?
00:40:09.932 --> 00:40:10.833
Like, you can't say that.
00:40:10.833 --> 00:40:12.201
Like you can't predict that.
00:40:12.201 --> 00:40:13.503
But he i really think it was a it was an unction of the holy
00:40:13.503 --> 00:40:17.273
Spirit that led him to declare that over me
00:40:17.273 --> 00:40:22.144
Because he was right. yeah.
00:40:22.144 --> 00:40:25.114
Like, i mean, not that i was perfect afterwards.
00:40:25.114 --> 00:40:27.783
I was definitely not.
00:40:27.783 --> 00:40:29.318
But i do remember every time i was tempted to fall back into
00:40:29.318 --> 00:40:33.956
That hopelessness, into that feeling of who cares
00:40:33.956 --> 00:40:36.959
Whatever i do with my life, i'm going to just trash it and
00:40:36.959 --> 00:40:40.096
Like, see where it goes,
00:40:40.096 --> 00:40:41.597
Right those words kept ringing
00:40:41.597 --> 00:40:44.166
In my heart, kept ringing in my ears,
00:40:44.166 --> 00:40:46.702
You will not go back. yeah.
00:40:46.702 --> 00:40:48.404
So i really feel like if you're surrounded by people
00:40:48.404 --> 00:40:51.607
That are sort of like, oh yeah, you're not going to keep this,
00:40:51.607 --> 00:40:54.944
You know, you're-- stop being so religious.
00:40:54.944 --> 00:40:57.313
Like you're going to go back to your old self soon,
00:40:57.313 --> 00:41:00.283
Don't listen to them.
00:41:00.283 --> 00:41:01.684
Right, right.
00:41:01.684 --> 00:41:02.852
Listen to those that have filled in the spirit and
00:41:02.852 --> 00:41:04.654
Let them speak over you
00:41:04.654 --> 00:41:06.289
Because you can choose what to do.
00:41:06.289 --> 00:41:10.159
You can choose what to think.
00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:12.662
And ask god to heal the layers
00:41:12.662 --> 00:41:13.996
Of your heart that is behind that.
00:41:13.996 --> 00:41:16.365
So often when we're going back to the same thing over and over
00:41:16.365 --> 00:41:20.303
Again, there's a route there.
00:41:20.303 --> 00:41:21.737
So, you know, just ask god, holy spirit, show me what is
00:41:21.737 --> 00:41:25.274
The route here?
00:41:25.274 --> 00:41:26.042
What do you need to address god?
00:41:26.042 --> 00:41:28.144
What do you need to heal?
00:41:28.144 --> 00:41:29.045
What are the layers?
00:41:29.045 --> 00:41:30.346
I love that you said that you went to counseling because you
00:41:30.346 --> 00:41:33.516
Were like, i don't just want to confess my sin.
00:41:33.516 --> 00:41:36.118
Stop doing it,
00:41:36.118 --> 00:41:37.420
But i want to get help to heal the layers that got me there
00:41:37.420 --> 00:41:40.222
In the first place.
00:41:40.222 --> 00:41:41.324
Exactly.
00:41:41.324 --> 00:41:42.391
And so oftentimes we don't even know the root,
00:41:42.391 --> 00:41:44.794
But jesus does.
00:41:44.794 --> 00:41:46.329
And he is after healing us wholeheartedly.
00:41:46.329 --> 00:41:49.565
And i love that about god is he's not just saying, muster in
00:41:49.565 --> 00:41:52.301
Your own strength.
00:41:52.301 --> 00:41:53.302
He's saying, i will walk every step with you.
00:41:53.302 --> 00:41:55.972
You are never alone.
00:41:55.972 --> 00:41:57.406
I will never forsake you.
00:41:57.406 --> 00:42:00.476
God loves you.
00:42:00.476 --> 00:42:01.844
He'll pick you up and he'll start from the inside out.
00:42:01.844 --> 00:42:05.281
And god starts just clearing up the clutter of your life.
00:42:05.281 --> 00:42:09.118
You are a new creation in christ.
00:42:09.118 --> 00:42:12.021
All things become new.
00:42:12.021 --> 00:42:15.191
It's hard to mess that up.
00:42:15.191 --> 00:42:17.026
So when you start growing in christ, you start getting out
00:42:17.026 --> 00:42:21.030
All the weeds and all the tares and god starts working on you.
00:42:21.030 --> 00:42:26.135
And so some of some of those testing and trials are to get
00:42:26.135 --> 00:42:29.839
Some of that out of you.
00:42:29.839 --> 00:42:31.540
Some of that, those sinful thoughts or those sinful things
00:42:31.540 --> 00:42:34.677
That we do or just things that aren't pleasing to god.
00:42:34.677 --> 00:42:37.847
And that's how we grow in christ.
00:42:37.847 --> 00:42:40.116
That's how we become more like christ every single day.
00:42:40.116 --> 00:42:44.687
That's part of what salvation is.
00:42:44.687 --> 00:42:46.856
He says jesus was wounded for our transgressions.
00:42:46.856 --> 00:42:51.761
That's when we transgress against others or him.
00:42:51.761 --> 00:42:55.564
He was bruised for our iniquity, our shame.
00:42:55.564 --> 00:42:58.901
Yeah. all that encompasses iniquity.
00:42:58.901 --> 00:43:02.004
That's right.
00:43:02.004 --> 00:43:02.705
The shame that's put on us,
00:43:02.705 --> 00:43:04.273
The shame we put ourselves under,
00:43:04.273 --> 00:43:06.976
Um. jesus took all that to the cross, you know?
00:43:06.976 --> 00:43:11.080
And sin is just missing the
00:43:11.080 --> 00:43:13.983
Mark and it's just turning, going,
00:43:13.983 --> 00:43:16.552
Hey, i've said there's times that i say, god, i am not going
00:43:16.552 --> 00:43:20.823
To mention that again,
00:43:20.823 --> 00:43:22.558
Something that i feel that i'm not supposed to whine about.
00:43:22.558 --> 00:43:26.128
You know, this happened to me the other day.
00:43:26.128 --> 00:43:27.830
It was like, god, i'm not going to do that anymore.
00:43:27.830 --> 00:43:29.832
I'm not going to even mention that thing.
00:43:29.832 --> 00:43:33.035
Um, well, a couple days ago, i'm in the car and i said,
00:43:33.035 --> 00:43:37.840
Well, first of all, we need to get back that thing.
00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:41.043
And i went, dadgummit,
00:43:41.043 --> 00:43:45.014
That's exactly what i told the lord i wasn't going to do.
00:43:45.014 --> 00:43:47.683
God, i am so sorry that i did that, and that quick,
00:43:47.683 --> 00:43:51.587
That quick
00:43:51.587 --> 00:43:54.156
Just, god, i'm sorry that i did that,
00:43:54.156 --> 00:43:56.959
Help me not to do that again,
00:43:56.959 --> 00:43:58.728
You know, and that just turning because you've just missed the
00:43:58.728 --> 00:44:01.464
Mark to me that's, that was sin for me, you know.
00:44:01.464 --> 00:44:05.434
But that's,
00:44:05.434 --> 00:44:06.702
That's great that you have the opportunity in that moment.
00:44:06.702 --> 00:44:08.604
In that moment,
00:44:08.604 --> 00:44:09.472
God is so faithful, and he is,
00:44:09.472 --> 00:44:12.541
It's all right, baby.
00:44:12.541 --> 00:44:13.609
It's like a kid. yeah.
00:44:13.609 --> 00:44:14.910
But if your kid looked up and said, i am so sorry,
00:44:14.910 --> 00:44:17.113
I just did that,
00:44:17.113 --> 00:44:18.013
It's like, oh, please, let's move on.
00:44:18.013 --> 00:44:21.383
You know, i think so many people get caught up in this
00:44:21.383 --> 00:44:24.386
Thing where, you know, you sin. you know, you're really doing
00:44:24.386 --> 00:44:28.924
Good with god, and then you sin and you fall back down the
00:44:28.924 --> 00:44:31.560
Ladder and you got to start up all over again.
00:44:31.560 --> 00:44:34.997
God doesn't see that that way.
00:44:34.997 --> 00:44:37.299
It's like i died for that. yeah.
00:44:37.299 --> 00:44:39.935
I hate sin.
00:44:39.935 --> 00:44:41.203
I died for it.
00:44:41.203 --> 00:44:42.772
Now let's go on.
00:44:42.772 --> 00:44:44.039
Keep moving on.
00:44:44.039 --> 00:44:45.775
Get back up on your top rung and keep going on, you know.
00:44:45.775 --> 00:44:49.545
And let's go.
00:44:49.545 --> 00:44:50.579
And let's just keep our eyes fixed on the prize.
00:44:50.579 --> 00:44:54.650
Keep our eyes fixed on jesus, you know
00:44:54.650 --> 00:44:57.586
And believe him in what he says he will do.
00:44:57.586 --> 00:45:01.056
God, you gave us,
00:45:01.056 --> 00:45:03.325
You gave us the ability to go and sin no more.
00:45:03.325 --> 00:45:07.897
Yeah, and i believe that.
00:45:07.897 --> 00:45:09.532
And i'm so thankful for the little still, small voice that
00:45:09.532 --> 00:45:13.269
Says that wasn't right.
00:45:13.269 --> 00:45:14.503
Yeah. oh yeah.
00:45:14.503 --> 00:45:15.738
And that good and evil thing where i can instantly know.
00:45:15.738 --> 00:45:20.409
Mhm mhm.
00:45:20.409 --> 00:45:21.710
That was not right for me to do that.
00:45:21.710 --> 00:45:23.546
Yeah.
00:45:23.546 --> 00:45:24.814
You know and just immediately take care of it with little
00:45:24.814 --> 00:45:26.916
Lord and then just keep going on.
00:45:26.916 --> 00:45:28.684
Yeah. run to the father.
00:45:28.684 --> 00:45:30.085
Right. run, run to the father. and you think--
00:45:30.085 --> 00:45:32.254
I love that you say father.
00:45:32.254 --> 00:45:33.455
Yeah. just your parent never says, okay, you've fallen
00:45:33.455 --> 00:45:36.292
Too many times. don't run to me anymore.
00:45:36.292 --> 00:45:38.294
But so often in our sin, we think, oh, you're sick
00:45:38.294 --> 00:45:41.130
Of hearing me talk. you're sick of me.
00:45:41.130 --> 00:45:43.098
No! run to the father. man,
00:45:43.098 --> 00:45:46.068
Run to home because his heart is always for you.
00:45:46.068 --> 00:45:49.572
He's always there for us.
00:45:49.572 --> 00:45:50.940
And we've got to run to him.
00:45:50.940 --> 00:45:52.641
Yeah.
00:45:52.641 --> 00:45:53.943
A lot of people pray that their kids don't learn the hard way,
00:45:53.943 --> 00:45:56.679
Maybe the way that we.
00:45:56.679 --> 00:45:58.214
We learned it sometimes in our walk with god.
00:45:58.214 --> 00:46:01.517
But, uh, one thing i prayed over my two boys growing up,
00:46:01.517 --> 00:46:05.721
And now that i'm praying over my little grandbaby, is that
00:46:05.721 --> 00:46:09.992
They hear your voice.
00:46:09.992 --> 00:46:11.360
God, i pray that they hear your voice loud and clear.
00:46:11.360 --> 00:46:14.597
And another they will not follow.
00:46:14.597 --> 00:46:17.233
The bible says, my sheep hear my voice,
00:46:17.233 --> 00:46:20.703
And another one they will not follow.
00:46:20.703 --> 00:46:22.438
And so i pray that over your kids.
00:46:22.438 --> 00:46:25.107
And, um, i just have confidence today that they're going to
00:46:25.107 --> 00:46:29.645
Hear god's voice and they're going to do what god says, and
00:46:29.645 --> 00:46:32.715
That's just protection over their life.
00:46:32.715 --> 00:46:34.984
And so i think that's a great idea.
00:46:34.984 --> 00:46:38.187
I have loved this week.
00:46:38.187 --> 00:46:39.388
I mean, i really have, and i've loved the fact that our
00:46:39.388 --> 00:46:41.824
Community has sent in questions, really honest
00:46:41.824 --> 00:46:44.393
Questions, but just real gut level honest.
00:46:44.393 --> 00:46:47.263
Here's what we're dealing with.
00:46:47.263 --> 00:46:48.831
And continue to do that because we love to hear from
00:46:48.831 --> 00:46:52.001
You and hear what's on your heart.
00:46:52.001 --> 00:46:53.903
And but i just want us to to pray and pray god's blessing
00:46:53.903 --> 00:46:58.340
Over our friends
00:46:58.340 --> 00:46:59.775
This as we bring this week to a close.
00:46:59.775 --> 00:47:02.945
Father god, what an honor it is to come into your presence.
00:47:02.945 --> 00:47:08.617
What an honor it is to be welcomed into your presence,
00:47:08.617 --> 00:47:11.954
To be expected.
00:47:11.954 --> 00:47:14.356
To show up and be expected is just so beautiful.
00:47:14.356 --> 00:47:19.161
And lord, i thank you for this community.
00:47:19.161 --> 00:47:21.797
I thank you for this better together community.
00:47:21.797 --> 00:47:24.366
And lord, i thank you for people who are joining us right
00:47:24.366 --> 00:47:27.169
Now, even from different parts of the world.
00:47:27.169 --> 00:47:29.538
But we are all just in your presence.
00:47:29.538 --> 00:47:32.808
It doesn't matter where we find ourselves location wise.
00:47:32.808 --> 00:47:36.478
We gather together in the name of jesus.
00:47:36.478 --> 00:47:39.448
And lord, i pray for anyone who is who feels like they've
00:47:39.448 --> 00:47:42.751
Really missed the mark,
00:47:42.751 --> 00:47:44.019
You know, who feels like they've fallen down and blew it one
00:47:44.019 --> 00:47:46.288
Too many times.
00:47:46.288 --> 00:47:47.523
We speak against that lie in jesus' name, that there is
00:47:47.523 --> 00:47:51.660
Forgiveness and there is power in the blood of the lamb.
00:47:51.660 --> 00:47:54.997
You've told us if we confess our sins, you're faithful and
00:47:54.997 --> 00:47:58.567
Just to forgive us and to
00:47:58.567 --> 00:48:00.602
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
00:48:00.602 --> 00:48:03.305
So, lord, we just do that and we thank you that we get to, to
00:48:03.305 --> 00:48:07.009
Get back up and to, to run to you, to follow you, that you
00:48:07.009 --> 00:48:09.611
Will never, ever tire of
00:48:09.611 --> 00:48:11.680
Opening your arms to welcome us.
00:48:11.680 --> 00:48:14.249
Thank you for, thank you for the lives of these four women here.
00:48:14.249 --> 00:48:18.787
Thank you for the different places they've come from,
00:48:18.787 --> 00:48:20.689
The things you've brought them through.
00:48:20.689 --> 00:48:22.858
And that's built my faith up
00:48:22.858 --> 00:48:24.093
This week listening to their stories.
00:48:24.093 --> 00:48:26.095
And we pray that you would build the faith up of those who
00:48:26.095 --> 00:48:28.530
Are in our community.
00:48:28.530 --> 00:48:29.865
And we ask in jesus' name,
00:48:29.865 --> 00:48:32.167
Amen. amen.
00:48:32.167 --> 00:48:35.104
Connect with us on social media and let us know how
00:48:35.104 --> 00:48:37.439
Our team can pray for you.
00:48:37.439 --> 00:48:42.478
Okay, sheila, we have a message from lori on instagram and lori
00:48:46.115 --> 00:48:51.186
Asks, what can i do about old sins that keep creeping back
00:48:51.186 --> 00:48:56.725
Into my life?
00:48:56.725 --> 00:48:58.127
Oh gosh lori, i think we can all relate to that.
00:48:58.127 --> 00:49:00.696
I mean, there's times when we just feel overwhelmed by
00:49:00.696 --> 00:49:03.499
Things, and one of the things that i found really helpful,
00:49:03.499 --> 00:49:06.068
And i don't know if this will work for you or not,
00:49:06.068 --> 00:49:07.770
But is to have an accountability partner.
00:49:07.770 --> 00:49:09.972
So good. you know, and for me, that happens to be my husband.
00:49:09.972 --> 00:49:12.508
It can be just a best friend or someone in your church.
00:49:12.508 --> 00:49:15.244
But when you find yourself going for the same things over
00:49:15.244 --> 00:49:17.446
And over and you don't want to, um, obviously you make it a
00:49:17.446 --> 00:49:20.983
Matter of prayer and you talk to god and you realize that
00:49:20.983 --> 00:49:24.353
When you do fall again, he doesn't condemn you.
00:49:24.353 --> 00:49:27.256
He invites you to get back up again.
00:49:27.256 --> 00:49:29.525
But somehow, for me, having someone that can say, hey, you
00:49:29.525 --> 00:49:31.627
Know, this is what i'm really struggling with and
00:49:31.627 --> 00:49:33.362
Have them pray for you,
00:49:33.362 --> 00:49:35.064
I think that can be a source of real strength.
00:49:35.064 --> 00:49:37.232
Yeah, and i think what helps is experiencing god's grace.
00:49:37.232 --> 00:49:41.270
Yeah.
00:49:41.270 --> 00:49:42.304
You know, and i know it feels almost forbidden.
00:49:42.304 --> 00:49:45.507
Like it's right for you to be punished, but you don't want to
00:49:45.507 --> 00:49:48.544
Get caught up in the trap of self-condemnation because
00:49:48.544 --> 00:49:52.381
That's not going to bear much fruit.
00:49:52.381 --> 00:49:54.550
But when we get to that place of asking god for forgiveness
00:49:54.550 --> 00:49:58.821
And truly receiving his grace,
00:49:58.821 --> 00:50:01.390
I mean the feeling of being forgiven.
00:50:01.390 --> 00:50:03.659
There's nothing like it.
00:50:03.659 --> 00:50:05.360
There's truly nothing like it, where it empowers you to want
00:50:05.360 --> 00:50:09.631
To walk in, in purity and in righteousness.
00:50:09.631 --> 00:50:13.268
And so i would go to that. lord, give me your perspective.
00:50:13.268 --> 00:50:18.307
I need your forgiveness and receiving that forgiveness and
00:50:18.307 --> 00:50:21.310
Experiencing his grace afresh.
00:50:21.310 --> 00:50:23.712
I love that, and remember, scripture tells us he removes
00:50:23.712 --> 00:50:26.415
Our sin as far as the east is from the west and
00:50:26.415 --> 00:50:29.151
Remembers it no more.
00:50:29.151 --> 00:50:30.486
Now you have an enemy who does remember it, but you
00:50:30.486 --> 00:50:32.421
Need to reject that.
00:50:32.421 --> 00:50:33.589
When he brings that condemnation up, just say, there
00:50:33.589 --> 00:50:36.291
Is no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus.
00:50:36.291 --> 00:50:39.461
Amen.
00:50:39.461 --> 00:50:41.563
Stream full episodes of better together on demand.
00:50:41.563 --> 00:50:45.300
Go to bettertogether.tv
00:50:45.300 --> 00:50:46.602
To stream all of our latest conversations.
00:50:46.602 --> 00:50:49.605
♪♪
00:50:49.605 --> 00:50:49.605

Will God Forgive Me? | Better Together Episode 1150

March 6, 2026 | S8 E1150 | 50:59

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