In January our church held its annual congregational fast. For 21 days we prayed together, fasted together and meditated on 1 John . Here are my thoughts from those times of devotion in 1 John.

SCRIPTURE:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 JOHN 1:8-10

MEDITATIONAL THOUGHT:

Denying your sin only deceives yourself; honesty is the path to spiritual health.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have always wondered why at certain moments I try to hide my sin from God. I mean, He already knows everything anyway so what is the point in trying to keep something from Him. Maybe it is not so much God I am trying to hide from in refusing to confess my sins, but it is me trying to hide from myself because my own psyche is so wounded I cannot face my own truth. I come to it then that I need not only forgiveness but inner healing.

I think it is also I have not totally resolved the doubt that God will never leave me nor forsake me, the sense that a real rejection could be right around the corner.

Here’s the thing I have learned. This battle is not a one and done type of battle. I am not today the same insecure man I was 45 years ago when I came to Christ. I don’t hide from God like I did when I first became a Christian. I am more secure in His promises now. That said I find there is still work to do. So I press on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ.