As I washed dishes, I listened to the Audio NKJV Bible, a dramatized version of the Old Testament.
My mind traced the new realization of how greatly King David messed up. How far he wandered from that close relationship reflected in so many psalms. And I considered how I’d stepped off the path to follow my wisdom, not God’s. Umpteen times. But my thoughts felt more comfortable focusing on King David’s folly.
I’d known about some of King David’s follies, but not the extent of them. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! This verse says God would have added to David many more things, so I thought I’d ask of the giver, confident the asking would produce an answer. Even prevent error. In King David’s case, a gross coupling of sins.
Imperfection has a way of clinging to shadows and unlit corners of memory. Avoiding awareness is the easy road, but thinking this will solve the problem is a lie. Already, my thoughts wrestled with the question of how my obedience could have altered my life. Refocusing on King David became impossible, for I recalled my misadventures: wayward comments and thoughts, prickling judgments, speeding (just a wee bit), seeking answers to problems, or goal planning from friends or myself and not Father God.
Confronting my inconsistent attempts to follow the Lord struck the realization that all my good intentions, false starts, and deliberate followings of my desires for stuff, attention, and acceptance missed the mark and grieved the Holy Spirit.
The key that unlocked the trap of wayward wanderings for King David and myself seemed too good to be true and much easier than either of us deserved. Accepting God’s forgiveness—the kind of forgiveness that causes Satan to cringe when we know and embrace God’s unconditional grace with wholehearted willingness—softens our judgmental tendencies.
We have no need to allow our willful lapses of focus to entertain Satan. Choosing to do everything, even the mundane tasks of dishes and dusting with God’s perfect presence, will tether our will to His loveliness. Simplicity and satisfaction are available to us all, if we choose Jesus.
Find your fullness of joy in God’s presence.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Susan Marlene is published in “Splickety Love” and “The Novice.” She writes devotions, fiction, and nonfiction, and is a member and co-founder of Pens of Praise Christian Writers. Susan is a member of Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and ACFW WISE. Susan is a wife, mother, grandmother, and At-Risk Teacher’s Aide. You can find her at www.susanmarlene.com., http://inkyquillbysuzie.blogspot.com, and https://www.facebook.com/susanmarlene.author.