Guilt or Intimacy
Guilt or Intimacy
"Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips." Isaiah 6:5
Psychologists tell us that it’s impossible to feel intimate with anyone with whom we feel guilt. When our inconsistent prayer life makes us feel guilty, we are defeated before we get started. If the very environment of meeting with God makes us feel guilty and thereby prevents intimacy with God, we are obviously in serious trouble.
What makes things even more complex is that when we encounter the manifest presence of Christ, it not only reveals Christ; His presence reveals us. We are exposed. Vulnerable. It is easy to shut down. To push back. To resist the all seeing eye of God. If encountering God’s manifest presence frequently exposes our sin and brings our guilt to the surface, we obviously need to properly process our guilt, or we will tragically forfeit intimacy with God.
Notice, however, that Isaiah does not shut down. He does not back away. When he encounters God’s manifest presence, he presses into God’s presence even when he is exposed. God takes a burning coal from before the throne and dramatically touches it to Isaiah’s lips. That is a point of ultimate intimacy.
Do not allow conviction of sin to cause you to shut down and wallow in your guilt, or you will forfeit intimacy with God. Resist the urge to shut down and press into His presence today. Christ will give you the victory.
Father God, today I receive Your intimacy. Forgive me for allowing my guilt to keep me from Your manifest presence. May the Holy Spirit’s conviction lead me to true intimacy with You today, in Jesus’ Name.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
"Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips." Isaiah 6:5
Psychologists tell us that it’s impossible to feel intimate with anyone with whom we feel guilt. When our inconsistent prayer life makes us feel guilty, we are defeated before we get started. If the very environment of meeting with God makes us feel guilty and thereby prevents intimacy with God, we are obviously in serious trouble.
What makes things even more complex is that when we encounter the manifest presence of Christ, it not only reveals Christ; His presence reveals us. We are exposed. Vulnerable. It is easy to shut down. To push back. To resist the all seeing eye of God. If encountering God’s manifest presence frequently exposes our sin and brings our guilt to the surface, we obviously need to properly process our guilt, or we will tragically forfeit intimacy with God.
Notice, however, that Isaiah does not shut down. He does not back away. When he encounters God’s manifest presence, he presses into God’s presence even when he is exposed. God takes a burning coal from before the throne and dramatically touches it to Isaiah’s lips. That is a point of ultimate intimacy.
Do not allow conviction of sin to cause you to shut down and wallow in your guilt, or you will forfeit intimacy with God. Resist the urge to shut down and press into His presence today. Christ will give you the victory.
Father God, today I receive Your intimacy. Forgive me for allowing my guilt to keep me from Your manifest presence. May the Holy Spirit’s conviction lead me to true intimacy with You today, in Jesus’ Name.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
Posted in Year on Fire
1 Comment
Thankful to God for revival today..No more guilt and shame.. all have been cleansed by one drop of the “precious blood of Jesus Christ “..