Curing the Whines - Rita Pueschner

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV

Felicia, my feline child, had the whines one afternoon. Her constant, high-pitched meowing grated on my nerves and left me wondering what she wanted. She showed no interest in playing with Jingles the jellyfish or any of her other toys scattered across the living room floor. We’d had lunch and cuddle time, but evidently catnap time wasn’t on her agenda. She didn’t even want to practice her tunnel tumbling. Things were just not to her liking. I guess she’s forgotten about the year and a half she spent confined to a cage at an animal rescue before I adopted her. She has gone from being homeless to becoming queen of the household. She should be grateful. Where is her appurrciation? She needed to learn a little about curing the whines.

On that thought, God reminded me of my own whiny tendencies. Sometimes, things are just not to my liking either. Perhaps my well-laid plans have gone awry, or I’ve been disappointed, and the whining begins. 

But then I look around and see how God has blessed me. I look within myself and see a woman transformed by His forgiveness and grace—rescued from a wayward, self-indulgent lifestyle. I’ve gone from being on a downward spiral of sin to becoming a cherished child of God Most High, who has promised me an eternal home with Him in heaven. So what do I have to whine about? Where is my appreciation?

The Bible tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Our joy in the Lord should be based on who He is to us—not on how things are going for us. I’ve found that when I get a case of the whines, the best cure is to recall all that God has done for me and show Him my gratitude through thanksgiving and praise. When we focus on God’s goodness and His loving presence in our lives, our whining gives way to rejoicing. 

If you get the whines, pause and reflect on everything you have to be grateful for. Spend time with God, thanking Him for who He is and what He’s done for you. Rejoice in God’s goodness, even when things don’t seem purrfect.

Rita Pueschner is a recent retail retiree and is excited about pursuing new opportunities to do God’s work. She was almost fifty when she acknowledged her need for salvation, and God transformed her life by His amazing grace. Now she wants to share her faith through writing and to encourage others in their Christian walk. Rita leads a prayer ministry for people and their pets and is a devoted cat mom.

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Walk - Lynne Phipps

Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. . . . Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:22, 24 NIV

My dogs and I try to walk every day. Since our property is fenced, the dogs can run freely. Some of them like to be out in front of me. Some cast back and forth across the field, and if not for the fence, would soon be out of sight. Others, however, always walk closely by my side. The walk is the highlight of my day.

As I contemplated the way the dogs and I walk together, I thought of how I walk with God. Do I like to walk out ahead of him, seeking my own path, only running back to him when I find myself in trouble? And do I cast about in the field of life, checking out all the exciting things it offers. Looking at things that can pull me farther away from my walk with him, until I can no longer hear his voice on the horizon of my mind? Or do I choose to walk closely beside God daily? 

In the Old Testament, those who walked with God did so by faith. They looked forward to the coming of the prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ. Today, we walk with God through the guidance of his Holy Spirit, who resides in all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the Messiah, whom God foretold at the beginning of time in the garden after Adam and Eve sinned.

Walking closely with God, by remembering and dwelling upon the truth of his Word and by the power of his Holy Spirit, keeps us on the right path for life. Additionally, it protects, comforts, and guides us in the best way forward. Doing so also opens our eyes more each day. God shares with us just who he is and how much he loves us.

How is your walk with God? Are you out front, doing your own thing? Casting about, looking for something you think will be a little more exciting? Or calmly and obediently, like Enoch, are you walking by his side, feeling his approval day by day, until he takes you away to dwell with him forever?

Think of ways you can walk with God daily. 

Father God, may I choose to walk with you closely each day. Help me enjoy the peace, joy, comfort, protection, and love that come from doing so. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Sun - Lynne Phipps

To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3 NIV

It was a cold winter’s day. So cold that I debated going for my daily walk with the dogs, worrying that it would be too frigid for their feet. Nevertheless, they were anxious to get outside, so off we went. 

As we trudged around the snowy path, I pulled my parka hood up over my hatted head to try to cut the searing north wind. What a bitter day, I thought. In spite of the cold, however, the beauty of the brilliant blue sky against the stark white landscape was a sight to behold. Best of all, however, was the heat of the winter sun beating down upon us, making our glacial experience that much more bearable.

That winter sun reminded me of the last part of today’s scripture verse: a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Life, just like the weather, can at times become quite bitter, causing us to become discouraged or even to despair. God understands this and has given us a remedy to make our difficult situations bearable. 

Praise is the key to lifting our spirits and blessing us with the encouragement, hope, and strength to persevere amidst the winters of life.

Praise focuses our attention on the truth of who God is, what He has done in the past, and what He will do now and in the future. Praise opens the door of hope, as well as expectancy. God is ever-present.  He will never leave us. He goes before us and can lead us on the right path. He is the God of peace who will provide every good thing we need in order to do His will. God provides wonderful counsel and wisdom. He hears us when we cry and answers our pleas. He is also able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever hope or dream, more even than our highest prayers.

Yes, when we don the garment of praise amidst our times of discouragement or despair, our spirits are lifted, our burdens become lighter, and hope for today as well as tomorrow begins to shine down upon us, just as that warmth of that winter sun shone down upon me on that cold and bitter winter’s day and gave me strength to keep going.

Father God, thank you for the garment of praise to banish the spirit of heaviness within my life when the storms of life assail me. Remind me to don it quickly and wrap it tightly around me. In your name I pray, amen. 

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Hidden - Lynne Phipps

Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV

As spring approached and the days warmed, the deep snow in the dog’s yard disappeared flake by flake.  With its demise, the hidden became more apparent.  

Bright colors shone through, and shapes materialized. Dog toys galore, buried beneath the mantle of white, emerged one by one. The dogs were thrilled to find this treasure trove of delights. The toys, of course, had been there all along; they just couldn’t see them.

Likewise, many things about God remain hidden even to the most dedicated of Christians. Even Moses, who at God’s command led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, could only view the glory of God from behind as God passed by. After all, no one could see God’s face and live. 

The apostle John was granted many visions and revelations concerning the things yet to come, the Kingdom, and the enemies of God. He sought to describe these visions as he penned the book of Revelation, a book which scholars still study and seek to understand.

Mary learned that she would bear the Son of God, yet it was an angel who made the announcement. She heard from God, but could only see Him in His fulfilled promise.

Each of these great heroes of faith knew God in part, but not in whole. They too had to continue to walk by faith, day by day, trusting that what they did know about the Almighty would not fail them, that His promises were true and faithful in every way, just as He is.

Therefore, amidst our own questions, concerns, and from time to time, our doubts, we too must walk by faith. We must trust in our hearts that, though much remains hidden concerning God and His Kingdom, one day God will make all things clear. God will lift the veil from our eyes, just as the snow melts away, revealing what lies beneath. When that day arrives, all our questions will be answered, and our doubts and concerns will vanish. We will fully see the glory of God, just as He fully knows us, even now.

What joy shall fill our souls as the hidden bursts forth upon our sight. God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, shall be our portion in all His splendor and glory forever and ever. 

Father God, thank You that one day, Your glory, which has always been but in its fullness has been hidden from our mortal sight, shall one day become clear and known to us for eternity. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

How to Establish Healthy Habits - Martin Wiles

Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil. Jeremiah 13:23 NLT

Old habits are hard to break. And how to establish healthy habits is sometimes more difficult than we imagine. 

For four years, we lived in a small townhouse. Our Chihuahua, Twix, was accustomed to the way the doors to the bedroom and outside opened and would stand at the appropriate side of the door to enter or exit. Then we moved. Although the townhouse we moved into had the same floor plan, it was a mirror image of our previous one, which confused Twix.  

On Twix’s first trip outside, he stood at the left side of the door. That’s what he had been accustomed to. But now the door opened from the right. He repeated the same action for the bedroom door and had to change sides when I opened it. After a week, he managed to break his old habit and stand at the proper side for entering and exiting.

Being born with dark skin was a genetic trait among Ethiopians. So was a leopard having spots. An Ethiopian had no power to change their color, nor can a leopard become spotless.

According to the prophet, we, too, have a genetic flaw of sorts. We can’t do good because we’ve all done evil. The reason is our sin nature, which leads us down the wrong path toward sinful behavior and attitudes.

My dog’s habits were neither morally good nor bad. They were just habits. I’ve had a few habits like that myself. Among them, biting my fingernails. It took my grandmother giving me twenty dollars and one finger getting infected for me to break that habit. But I’ve also had some habits that were morally wrong and difficult to break. Those habits emerged from the sinful nature I was born with. By myself, I was helpless to do good.

In our own power, we can’t break the habit of doing bad and adopt the habit of doing good. But it is possible when we appeal to a Higher Power. Christ in us enables us to change the color of our skin and lose our spots. He enables us to consistently do good rather than evil. Accepting his offer of forgiveness opens new possibilities for an abundant life.

Accept Christ so you can break the old bad habits and adopt new healthy ones.

Father, give me the power to throw away that which is damaging to me and others so I can adopt healthy habits that glorify your name. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Trudge - Lynne Phipps

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV

My dogs and I try to walk every day. Some days, we seem to fly around our route. Our time passes quickly and pleasantly and is over all too soon. But on other days, it’s more like the trudge. The Oxford Dictionary defines trudge as to walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically due to exhaustion or harsh conditions. 

Exhaustion or harsh conditions can also slow the journey of our souls. When life is going well, our relationship with the Lord always seems sweet and full of thankfulness and endless hope, like having wings. Our soul rejoices. The days fly by as we enjoy such calm, happy times. Yet when hardship arrives on our doorstep, life often becomes more of a trudge as we seek to move forward each day, dragging our faith along with us.

Years ago, I remember visiting a friend who was weary from life’s struggles. He quoted Paul’s words to me. When he had finished, he sighed and uttered, "I’m so sick of character building." We both laughed at his remark, yet I still remember feeling the weariness of his trudging soul. 

Amidst such trudging times, although we may feel alone, we never are. The Holy Spirit is trudging right beside us, reminding us of the following: 

The Lord himself goes before us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

He can lead us on the right path (Psalm 5:8).

He is the God of peace and can provide us with every good thing we need to do his will (Hebrews 13:21).

He is wonderful in counsel and wisdom (Isaiah 28:29).

He hears our pleas (Lamentation 3:56).

Therefore, let us not despair when life causes our souls to trudge. Rather, may we rejoice in the Lord’s love and ability to transform our trudgings into all good things in Christ Jesus: spiritual maturity and hope in the Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV).

He who gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak will help you through life’s trudges. 

Lord God, you who strengthen the weary and increase the power of the weak, thank you for always being with me, hearing my cries, and providing me with all I need to rejoice in my trudging so that I might persevere. Remind me that this produces character and hope, which will never disappoint. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Bully - Lynne Phipps

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

I once happened upon a situation where a person was extremely angry with their dogs. They yelled, hollered, and chased after them in a threatening manner. They tried to get the animals to move from one area to another. The dogs were terrified and had scattered in different directions, desperately trying to flee from the bully’s path.

One of the frightened creatures, spotting me, ran to my side and huddled against my leg. Having seen where their owner wanted them to go, I spoke quietly to the little canine and walked toward the designated area. The pup followed. As I approached the assigned area, I called the other dogs over to me as well, speaking in a positive voice. All the dogs responded and were soon safely out of the bully’s way.

Fear kept these dogs from hearing their owner’s loud and angry voice. Dogs respond to tone and attitude more than words. When I introduced the right tone and attitude, they listened and obeyed.

Just as this person’s dogs scattered and ran in fear, our enemy, known in the Word as Satan or the devil, also seeks to put us on the run by bullying us with fear tactics. He wants us to doubt God and his truth. He wants us to rebel against God, just as he did. Our enemy seeks to sow doubt in our lives regarding our faith, often when we are most vulnerable. 

When sickness, sorrow, economic crisis, natural disasters, relational difficulties, and the like assault us, the enemy of our souls roars in with his lies, seeking to steal the truth from our hearts. He desires to crush our view of God, bombarding us with doubts and fears concerning our situation. Amidst his rampage and our resultant fear, it becomes hard for us to hear our Lord’s calm voice. But God seeks to remind us of his ability to use all things for our good and grant us strength and wisdom to endure. 

Let us therefore learn to recognize our enemy and his tactics by studying the Word and committing it to heart. Then, on the day of attack, amidst the lion’s roaring, we can tune our ears to God’s still quiet voice of assurance and hope. He can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. 

Father God, when the enemy roars into our lives, teach us to stand firm and listen to Your still, quiet voice of hope, wisdom, and safety. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

Taking the Chastisement - Martin Wiles

For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. Hebrews 12:6 NLT

She knew what she'd done—and took her punishment willingly.

Our little Chihuahua-terrier mix has a sweet tooth. After many episodes of her getting into candy, suckers, and chocolate of various types, we learned to put away the trash can, shut doors, and remove any other candy within her reach while we were away. 

But one Valentine's Day, we forgot. One of our grandson's teachers had given a Valentine's party for the students in her class. Our grandson had come home with a large bag full of candy, which he placed on the floor by my wife's recliner. When the phone rang, telling us my wife's car was ready at the repair shop, we all piled into my old car and headed off to get it. 

When we returned and walked into the house, Rita lay crouched by my wife's recliner. Since she sometimes greets us that way, I thought nothing of it—until I walked into the den. There on the floor lay an empty box of conversational hearts, or what remained. She had torn the box top off, and a few hearts lay scattered about. The rest were in Rita's stomach. 

"Ritaaaaa," I said in my most chiding voice. (I'm not too good at scolding her since she's my little lap dog and spoiled to boot.) She laid her ears back and cowered a little lower, but remained where she was. 

"Ritaaaa." My wife's booming voice brought a different reaction. Rita scurried to the bedroom and scooted into her kennel—and stayed without the gate latched. "She knows what to do when she's in trouble," my wife said. 

After a few minutes—when I thought she had learned her lesson, even though I knew better—I said, "Rita, you can come out now." And she did, tail wagging and tongue going. 

I've never enjoyed punishing any animal I've ever owned, but I know they must learn what they should and should not do. I consider it more training than discipline, although that's what discipline is. 

God disciplines because we are His children, and He loves us—just as my parents disciplined me because I belonged to them and they were responsible for my behavior.  

I'll be the first to admit I don't much like God's chiding—and sometimes, like my dog, I crouch down when I know it's coming. But occasionally, I'll do what Rita did: take it like a man because I know God has my best interests at heart. I'll crouch a little lower because I know I've done wrong and then willingly go to my kennel—or wherever God sends me—until He sets me free, which is when He knows I've learned my lesson . . . at least for the moment. 

Rita doesn't get into trouble nearly as much as she once did. She has tired of the kennel and the gentle spankings on her rear end. She also knows she's less likely to get treats when she breaks the rules. As she has gotten older, the lessons have stuck—not entirely, but more than they once did. Wisdom comes with age. And not only for dogs. 

When you get off track—or eat what you're not supposed to—take God's chastening with a good spirit. After all, He does it with love and for your own good. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for caring for me through disciplinary measures.

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The Talking Donkey - Martin Wiles

Then the Lord caused the donkey to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me these three times?” Numbers 22:28 NLT

Although He has His normal means, God isn’t limited by how He can speak. And the talking donkey proves it.

My wife and I were once proud—well, sometimes proud—owners of a Deer Head Chihuahua named Twix. Since he was our daughter’s dog and had been passed around between her at-the-time boyfriend and my mom, we felt sorry for him, took him in, and put up with his cantankerous ways.

I never heard him speak audibly—and would question my state of mind if I did—but he had his ways of making his wishes known. With his eyes or by snorting, he communicated, “I need to go outside,” “I want a treat,” or “Will you recline so I can snuggle?” Over the years, I understood what he was trying to relate. Sometimes, I scolded him for snorting or staring, even though I did what he wanted.  

Balaam, on the other hand, actually heard his animal speak. He was a sorcerer hired by a pagan king to place a curse on God’s people. God allowed Balaam to do this but was angry he was doing it with a greedy spirit. So, God sent an angel to stand in Balaam’s path. Seeing the angel with the drawn sword, the donkey stopped in its tracks. After Balaam beat him a few times, God allowed the donkey to speak.

Donkeys and dogs aren’t God’s typical methods of delivering messages. His Word, other believers, prayer, and a strong heart feeling are. God is God, though, and can talk any way He chooses. Who am I to confine Him by building boxes He won’t appreciate?

The method or messenger isn’t as important as the message. With Balaam, God was confronting his greedy attitude and warning him again not to do something foolish.

God’s message to all believers is “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” While crucial, that message is too general. He has a specific word—many words—we need to hear throughout our lifetime. If we listen, He’ll direct our path every day. We’ll pray for His will for us—as well as for others and the world—to be done on earth daily even as it is in heaven. And when we listen, we’ll experience true peace and joy.

How can you listen for God to speak? Don’t make Him use a donkey to get your attention—although He can.

Father, tune my ears to hear You so I won’t miss a single opportunity You place in my paths. 

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Sniffing Temptation - Martin Wiles

When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13b NLT

Stop. Sniff. Stop again. Sniff again. Caught.

We call our little Chihuahua-terrier mix our cordless dust buster. Wherever we sit to eat, she positions herself underneath our feet so she can retrieve any dropped crumbs. She particularly enjoyed standing beneath our daughter’s middle son when my wife kept him. Pig Pen, we call him—and for obvious reasons. The way he eats causes him to leave many crumbs behind. Sometimes, whole chunks of food. But, of course, our little mutt didn’t complain.

Our daughter’s two oldest boys usually ate snacks—and sometimes meals—on our love seat or my wife’s recliner. Mine was off-limits—unless I was not home to monitor their activity. Our little vacuum cleaner stood guard by each one, hoping a crumb would fall. When the boys finished and got up to throw their trash away, our little mutt quickly went to work, sucking up every crumb they left behind.

One day, as I edited a book manuscript for an author and my wife sat at the table working on making items for a baby shower, we heard a whine—our dog’s standard signal when she wants to go out.

“Let Rita out,” my wife said.

“She’s not at the back door,” I replied.

“Well, I heard her whine,” she said.

I had, too. Then it dawned on me where she was. She had been there before. Under the love seat. Trapped. How she got there when the ends were not reclined, I never figured out. But once she got under, she couldn’t get out without me reclining one or both ends.

On this occasion, reclining didn’t work. I kneeled on my aching knees and saw she had wedged herself in a small section and was surrounded by springs and bars. Rescuing her meant lifting one end of the recliner off the ground.

She ran out, but did she learn her lesson? No. As soon as I put the recliner back down, she scooted under to see if she had missed any crumbs.

Leftover food tempts our little dog. Not necessarily a bad thing, unless she gets in a predicament under the recliner. But temptations are not reserved for my Rita. Paul says they come to believers and unbelievers alike. The difference is that God assists the believer when we turn to Him.

Temptations are not sin—but can quickly lead there. The good news is that God controls them and will not let them intensify to the point we can’t overcome with His help. Emphasis on “with His help.” Regardless of the nature or intensity of the temptation, God has an escape route available if we’ll ask. The temptation may smell good—as it does for our little pooch—but it will lead to trouble every time. Victory over them, on the other hand, strengthens us for the next attack.

Stopping for a quick sniff when temptation comes might be okay, but choosing to eat is another story. Better yet, ask God to keep you from sniffing in the first place.

Prayer: Father, give us the strength not to stop and sniff when temptation comes. 

Tweetable: Are you sniffing where you shouldn't? 

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Walk-on Wednesday - Washing Away Guilt - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

So he (Pilate) sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” Matthew 27:24 NLT

He’s only an animal, but some of his looks show he’s feeling human emotions.

I once owned a Chihuahua out of necessity. I’ve owned quite a few by choice as I was growing up. This one belonged to my daughter, who moved into an apartment that didn’t allow animals. She bought him while in college. She attended classes almost daily, so she never had time to housetrain him fully. And since you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, we never managed to housetrain him completely. Occasionally when I got up in the morning or came home after work, I would find surprises I shouldn’t on the floor. As I stared at him with my hands on my hips, he peered back with downcast eyes—as if the look would alleviate his guilt.

Pilate thought washing his hands would remove his guilt. As the one the Jews brought Jesus to for conviction, he knew their motive: jealousy. He finally gave in to their demands, but he reminded them the guilt would rest on them, not him. To prove it, he washed his hands.

But we can wash away guilt with water. Nor can it be scoured away by sacrificing an animal on an altar. The Jews discovered that after thousands of years of trying.

When we feel honest guilt over sins we’ve committed against God, only one solution avails itself: take our sins to the throne of Jesus, confess and repent of them, and then walk away.

The forgiveness God dispenses is based on what Jesus did on the cross. Repressing it, talking about it, reading about it, ignoring it, and denying it won’t make it go away. 

Guilt is God’s reminder we’ve sinned. Only he can cleanse us from a guilty conscience so we can serve him in freedom.

Try confession when you’re tempted to try and soothe your guilt in some other way.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the guilt-free living we can experience through Jesus Christ. 

Tweetable: How do you deal with guilt? 

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