I wrote this devotional I wrote a couple of years ago for a book called Perseverance: 30 Devotions for Faith that Moves Mountains. In the midst of this marathon we are all running called Covid-19, I wanted to remind you of this resource. At the time of this writing, Amazon has it for $7.99 in paperback and $2.99 on Kindle. And if you use these links, I will receive a small commission. Hang in there, friends.
When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Genesis 6:5-6 HCSB
My 13 year old daughter schooled me. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t ask for it. But that’s what happened. One summer evening my family selected a film for movie night from an online streaming service, and God taught me a lesson. He used my little girl to do it.
Here’s the low-down. The plot of the film we chose centered on a country singer who fell in love and married; then he skyrocketed to fame when a song he wrote for his wife caught fire. As he and his music grew in popularity, the sweet story turned sinister. He spent more and more time on the road away from his wife and young child, and as it turns out, absence didn’t make his heart grow fonder. The more he distanced himself, the more he exposed himself to booze and drugs. He sank deeper and deeper into this lifestyle until a drunken night led to an infidelity. That infidelity eventually advanced to a full-blown affair.
Having seen similar movies a time or two, I knew that this character would eventually come to his senses and return to his “roots” of God and family. But my daughter, either unsure of the outcome or unwilling to experience the heartache the film caused her, ran from the room crying each time the singer strapped on a new sin habit. Several times my husband and I paused the movie to coax her back out to join us again with promises of coming redemption in the storyline.
It wasn’t an easy sell to get her to finish watching the show with us. Through tears and anger she told us repeatedly, “I HATE this” as she watched the family man turn his back on his family, dissolve his faith and obliterate his resolve.
In those moments I admired the tender, uncalloused heart beating in the chest of my last-born. At the ripe old age of plenty-nine, I’ve seen too much and heard too much to be so broken over sin. At least I told myself that lie. But the truth is, I want to be more like my daughter. And I don’t think it’s too late for me. I think I just need to spend MORE time with God (prayer, praise, Bible reading and meditation) and in Kingdom pursuits and LESS time consuming what the world has to offer. Cynicism and hard-heartedness make poor servants of our Heavenly Father, nor do me any personal favors. I believe God is revealing that, for me, a sifting is in order. What about for you?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 HCSB
Father, thank you for the example of childlike faith and purity. Give us the strength to make hard decisions in this sin-saturated world. Guide us toward pursuits that honor you and bring you glory and away from those with no redeeming value. Help us to persevere in purity and sanctify us toward ever-increasing holiness.
Is a purge of your consumption in order? Are you filling your mind with movies, books, podcasts , music or other things that could be desensitizing you to sin and its destructive power?
Do you need to repent of any unconfessed sin in your own life to restore you to right standing with God?
And now for this week’s featured post!
Bettie Gilbert of BettieGsRASeasons wrote transparently about her physical pain in Sharing: Praise in the Midst of Our Pain. Although my current pain is emotional, she encouraged me to remember to praise our Sustainer through it all. Thank you for blessing us, Bettie.
Now for this week’s link-up! Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.
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Heather Hart & Valerie Riese
Maree Dee
Lauren Sparks
Lisa Burgess
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