GOD'S TONIC

THE OTHER DAY I read again about using “A-C-T-S” as a guideline for prayer:

A for ADORATION—a means of reminding myself who God is and who I’m not;
C for CONTRITION—which I think of as confession with a desire for improvement and the acceptance of forgiveness;
T for THANKSGIVING—for me that’s the ever faithful gratitude attitude;
S for SUPPLICATION—meaning I don’t know what Your plan is, Lord, but I’d like to tell you mine.

I SEEM TO HAVE LESS DIFFICULTY with adoration, thanksgiving, and supplication than I do with contrition. I just can’t seem to put aside my failures. I seem to need to punish myself for what I’ve done that I wish I hadn’t and for what I haven’t done that I wish I had.

GIVEN WHAT I’VE READ in the New Testament about the promise of absolute forgiveness, these failings seem far more important to me than they are to God.

I AM REMINDED of the story about a man who heard God’s voice.
“How do I know you’re God?” the man asked.
“Ask me a question only I would know the answer to.”
“Okay. Tell me how I sinned day before yesterday,” the man said.
God replied, “I don’t remember.”

THAT’S HOW IT IS. God forgives me. He moves on and I waste time cycling back through the sin. Do I doubt the promises?

HOW WOULD MY LIFE CHANGE if I dared to live it forgiven?

I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. I waste a lot of energy to “unforgiveness.” I waste a lot of energy refusing His tonic. Confession is like putting the garbage out to be collected. All I have to do is hand it over. Once I do, I’m lighter. I have more energy. I’m ready for His plan and eager to be a part of it.

AND I HAVE PEACE.

THAT ALONE is worth striving a little harder for.

You’re blessed. Be a blessing!