Living For God

"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2Corinthians 5:15).

Terrified by my sins and the load of my misery, I had resolved in my heart and considered flight into the wilderness.  But you forbade me, and you strengthened me, saying that "since Christ died for all, they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him who died for them.  See, lord, how I cast all my care on you, so that I may live and "behold wondrous thing out of your law. (Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18)) You know my incompetence and my infirmities; teach me and heal me. Your only son--he "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"(Colossians 2:3)--has redeemed me with his blood.  Let not the proud speak evil of me, because I keep my ransom before my mind, and eat and drink and share my food and drink.  For, being poor, I desire to be satisfied from him, together with those who eat and are satisfied "and they shall praise the lord that seek him" (Psalms 22:26).   (Augustine; Confessions 10.43.69)

St. Augustine in his writing Confessions in Book 10 lays it all out bare, confessing his sins and seeking the Lord. At one point he wants to run away into the wilderness and maybe you have at times want to do the same.  Especially when we realize that we are so entangled in our sins.  Oh! They may not be what one would consider as "gross sins" but those times in our minds where we have allowed Satan to rule our thoughts.  Here St. Augustine teaches us that we can find the solution and the forgiveness we need.

Let me know you, my knower; let me know you even as I am known. Strength of my soul, enter it and prepare it for yourself so that you may have and hold it, without spot or blemish.  This is my hope, therefore have I spoken; and in this hope I rejoice whenever I rejoice aright. But as for the other things of this life, they deserve our lamentations less, the more we lament them; and some should be lamented all the more, the less men care for them.  For see, "You desire truth" (Psalms 51:6) and "he who does the truth comes to the light" (John 3:21). This is what I wish to do through confession in my heart before you, and in my writings before many witnesses.    (Augustine; Confessions 10.1.1)

There lies my prayer, and as with Augustine, who being an influential leader for Christianity, who had the need for confession and an needed understanding points out that we have a "lover of our souls" who will and has made atonement for our sins and is by means of the Holy Spirit ready and able to help us in our time of need. He is willing to enable us to overcome those hindrances in our Christian walk.  We come to Him in truth, lay it all out, confess, draw near to Him daily and the Joy that deep Joy will come into our lives. 

The world that lies in darkness needs to see the light.  "...I confess to you, Lord, so that men may also hear; for if I cannot prove to them that I confess the truth, yet those whose ears love opens to me will believe me." (Augustine 10.3.3).  "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins..."(Colossians 2:13).  Now that is Good News for us and for the world.  Let us take that Good News to them.

Daily Prayer:

Father I confess to you my inner most secrets of hidden sin for I want to be washed "white as snow" and be available to be used by You to bring the Good News of Salvation, the forgiveness of sins to my family and friends, those I work with, and come into contact with. How can I thank You? Only by being obedient and with that I too need your help.  Thank you Holy Spirit for Your are my helper and I trust in You.     Amen