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Subject: Standing on God's Promises Author: Hillbilly [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 07:20:42 05/28/13 Tue Psalms 119:49-50 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. The verse is a prayer from the Psalmist to God. The wording calls to mind a troubled soul reaching out to the One who can bring comfort and hope to an otherwise hopeless situation. "God do you remember what you said in your word that has given me such hope during times of trouble?" That is the essence of the prayer. We fear God won't remember His promises. When you are going through bad times do you find yourself, as the Psalmist, calling to mind the promises of God that pertain to your distress? Do you look at His promises as "clutching for straws" or do you see his promises as a life line that will keep you from drowning in rough seas? Our attitude toward God's promises are all important in praying for that blessed relief from God. God honors His word and will always keep His word to us. The Psalmist knew he could place his hope in the word of God and he knew from experience the comfort that was to be found in God's word. He prayed without doubt that God would be his strength and refuge. Many are the times I have called on God to remember Matthew 7:7; Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Those words have sustained me on so many occasions that I could scarcely count them. God has honored His words to me through that verse again and again. I say "His words to me" because I count them as being given to me personally. You should also. Claim them in humility and in faith before a mighty God and see how He honors His word to His children. Have you had trials in which you felt weak and totally helpless? Call Isaiah 40:29 to God's attention: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Are you feeling guilt over something you have done that you are ashamed of and feel God has not forgiven you of that transgression? Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Lay it out before God remembering 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No matter how unworthy we are and how undeserving we feel because of our failures toward God we can rest assured that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Heb. 13:5) We can rest assured in His promise that the child of God always has a way back to God's favor. Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: I liked this lesson, Hillbilly Author: dori [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 16:43:13 06/03/13 Mon I took some comfort in the words and I liked how you made even more sense out of something I had already thought I understood. As a practicing Catholic, I am required to go to regular confession. This is something I have a lot of trouble with. It just seems out of kilter to confess to a priest when I've already taken it to God and asked for his forgiveness.

[> Subject: I may be wrong but Author: Hillbilly [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 17:22:22 06/03/13 Mon I have never read in God's Word where you confessed your sin to any individual except the one you may have wronged. Confessions were to be made before the congregation when a matter dictated that was needed but even the Old Testament priests never went so far as to forgive sins. If you have taken your "confession" to Jesus in true repentance and humility then you have no sin to confess to the priest. Jesus has already forgiven and forgotten. It no longer exists to confess to anyone.

[> [> Subject: I think their reasoning is to humble ourselves Author: dori [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 00:27:22 06/06/13 Thu If you confess to another person--in this case, the priest--supposedly, this is an act of penitence. The Church teaches that this is necessary to achieve a state of grace. I know I'm not explaining it well, but it's all lost on me. I agree with you that a confession should be between Jesus and the confessor.

[> [> [> Subject: I suppose that could be true today Author: Hillbilly [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06:38:34 06/06/13 Thu but in the middle ages the confessional was what gave the priest power over the penitent. It was taught that you had to confess to the priest all your sins, not holding back anything, on the fear of hell for unconfessed sins. While not exactly the same (but similar) the power of officials in high places in government many times hinges on what an opponent knows about you. John Roberts, chief justice of the Supreme Court, ruled a corrupt ruling on Obamacare. It is thought in many circles that he was blackmailed because the children he and his wife adopted were not legitimately adopted and the Obama administration knew this. Whether true or not it illustrates the power another can have over you if they know all about you. God does not use our confessed sins against us but forgives us entirely. I'm not saying you or your priest fit this scenario but with certain people it can happen.

[> [> [> [> Subject: It definitely can! Author: dori [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 18:35:14 06/06/13 Thu Some people put too much faith in their priests or pastors, and they lose touch with what Jesus is all about. You don't have to worry about me, HB. I consider my personal relationship with him to be the important thing, not my standing with the Priest.

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: That's a 10-4 Author: Hillbilly [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 18:49:49 06/06/13 Thu and Amen. I wasn't really concerned but I do know that some can put a lot of pressure on people if they allow it. I have known of pastors that were pushy, nosy and overbearing and I definitely have problems with them.