Two-minute read.
“So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.”
1 Samuel 7:6
Poured out.
Samuel, appointed judge over Israel, calls the people together to fast and pray. Pouring out of water symbolized repentance for their sinful ways. During Samuel’s reign, he would appoint two kings, Saul and David. The wandering ark rested in Jerusalem during David’s reign. Israel’s weakness came from their idolatry, their unfaithfulness causing divine punishment, but genuine repentance reversed the situation.
Today, we can pour out our sins to the Lord and, like the Israelites, experience God’s unending grace. Everyone strays. The battlefield of the mind never ends for me. Each day that passes, I become more aware of how thoughts lead to actions, which causes me to pay more attention to what I think. And I have evil thoughts sometimes; they fill me with shame, how dark my mind can go. I constantly ask the Lord for forgiveness because of some wayward thought.
And sometimes, I don’t manage to control them. On a recent golf outing, I lost my temper with two teenagers trespassing on the course. Lounging in the sun by the bunker, my ball came within 10 feet of them. Approaching them, I lost my temper when they treated me with a complete lack of respect for my concern for their safety. Entitlement poured from them as I tried to explain the situation to them, only making me angrier. Finally, they left, but not without attitude and sassy words. And I once again confessed my anger to the Lord, mad at myself for letting them get under my skin.
God forgives and understands our sinful nature. As our Creator, the Lord knows our weaknesses and helps us turn them into strengths when we give them to Him. Humble hearts discover the Lord’s grace when they seek Him. Just like God forgave the Israelites, He forgives me and you. Repenting and pouring out our hearts to the Lord will bring peace and allow us to try again.
Fasting helps us focus on the Lord by removing distractions and seeking Him for provision. Pouring out our hearts cleanses us. Wrestling through our sinful nature, seeking forgiveness, and accepting responsibility for our actions leads to righteous living, one day at a time. In Christ, we can find all we need to persevere on the journey, honoring and glorifying God with humble hearts and repentant attitudes.
Journal Questions:
- How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
- What do you need to seek forgiveness for today?
- How can humbling yourself before the Lord help you find healing?
Prayer:
Lord, forgive our sinful ways. Help us recognize and acknowledge the areas in our lives we must confess to You. As we allow You to search our hearts, illuminate the dark places, and bring them into Your eternal light. Let us find strength in our weakness as we confess our sins, humble our hearts, and align our will with Yours. IJNIP. Amen
