Tag Archives: sin

Lent

Oh David: Psalm 38 Lent Reading

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SheReadsTruth 2014 Lent Experiment

Psalm 38

This is my reflection on Psalm 38 from the Lent #SheSharesTruth experiment. This week’s assigned scripture was Psalm 38.

psychology

I wasn’t too excited when I began reading this chapter; it is dark, gloomy, and brutally honest. When we read this chapter we are reading the raw emotions of a man who is experiencing the physical embodiment of sin. This Psalm is attributed to David and as we know from reading about his life in the Old Testament, he was a man who committed a series of extreme sins. I don’t believe that God was punishing him for his sins. I see David as a man who was experiencing social consequences, instead of divine punishment for his sins.

 

 

How does David describe his illness brought on by sin:

Foul and festering boils (abscess)
Unhealthy bones
Hunched over
Heavily pounding heart
Eyes that lack luster
Worn out body
Physical pain
Emotional distress

Notice how David’s symptoms closely resemble those described by the American Psychological Association as the physical signs of stress.

pray

Eventually David acknowledges and confesses his sins to God. David knows that his only hope is God, especially since his friends and family have stayed away from him. It’s not so much that God can change David’s situation; what we can focus on is the fact that God is there to forgive David despite the sins that have brought him so much physical and emotional pain. When we commit chronic sins against other people and they retaliate, we can’t be surprised when we become sick with worry and fear as the situation turns 180 degrees against us.

psychotic

 

When we are forced to face the consequences of our sin, don’t blame God; He isn’t the sin revenger. God allows us to face the consequences of our actions, even if they are painful and lead us into a deep mental anguish. Our consequences are not a sign of God’s distance or punishment; they are the fruits of our actions.

If there is anything I wish for people to take from this Psalm, it is this: God does not punish us for our sins; we are punished by those we sin against! God loves you too much to punish you, but He loves you enough to give you the freedom to make your own choices whether good or bad. God loves us enough to provide guidance through His holy word; by providing us with godly leaders; and by empowering us with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

QUESTIONS:

  • Are there consequences of sin that you have attributed to divine punishment from God?
  • Have you ever experienced physical illness or emotional anguish caused by your own sins?

ACTION:

Give this physical prayer position a try. In Jesus’ Jewish culture, people prayed in various physical positions. One way that people had prayed was lying in what we now call corpse pose; this was a prayer position that was mostly done while lying in bed. During your prayer time if you are comfortable doing a corpse pose/resting pose, https://holyyoga.net/poses_details/e2c420d928d4bf8ce0ff2ec19b371514/, move into this position and pray. Focus on how your body and mind feels while praying in this stress reducing position.

Yoga_CorpsePose_300x350
Relaxation Poses

Hope your time of Lenting has so far been blessed with wisdom, strength, grace, and self-forgiveness.

 

 

Advent

Advent Day 19: He Never Tires of Forgiving Us

Joy 4

Luke 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 Then Jesus told them this parable:  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders  and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I don’t know about you, but I often get tired of praying to God for help in controlling areas of habitual sin in my life. How many years have I been praying to be more patient? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to ask God to help me control my tongue. l started to wonder if God is as frustrated with me as I am with my unresolved sinful patterns. After reading the following excerpt from Pope Francis’ Joy of the Gospel via Catholic Online, I felt a sense of peace and renewed hope, and unbelievably I felt joy. It was reassuring to know that God is always there for us with open arms to welcome us as we continuously, sometimes even daily ask Him to help us with sinful habits. We only need to approach Him with empty hands and an open heart; He will never reject us. God reassures us that He is here for us always and rejoices in doing so. I don’t know about you, but knowing this brings me joy. I take joy in knowing that having to depend on God daily for the control of my worst habits are something He delights in; He has joy in being there to meet our needs.

Words of encouragement from Pope Francis…

“3. I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”.[1] The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. 

Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. 

Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!…”  Source: http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=53319