Forgiven

I had a dream this morning that I was tempted and eager to give into that temptation.  As  a matter of fact I had made a choice to give in, but while preparing to give in to the lusts of the flesh, I briefly looked to God and prayed.  What happened next was that he closed the doors.  I could have pushed them open and forced the sin, but instead I went with it and accepted that God looked out for me and prevented me from sinning.  While laying in bed awake afterwards I was feeling the weight of my flesh desires verses my knowledge of what is right.  I hate the idea of is standing before God after I had knowingly given into sin, especially after all that he has done for me, such as giving me the gift of knowledge and many mercies.  How can I not stand there condemned?  I would accuse myself!  I don’t need Satan to accuse me.  Usually scenarios like what happened in my dream adds to my anxiety because I know better, yet I choose to engage in that temptation anyways.  But, in my dream God delivered me.  God has forgiven me.  I also think of all the people who I judged because they gave into their weaknesses and knowingly sinned against me or a loved one.  Here’s a difficult concept for some people to accept, God knows we are evil in our flesh nature, and he has chosen to forgive us.  Jesus died so that when I sin, it can be forgiven.  Does that mean that I or anyone should knowingly engage in sin?  No, we should not knowingly engage in sins, yet there are times when we will.  If it was not for his forgiveness, great love, and mercy then who could stand?  No one could stand.  I am just not good enough.  No one is good enough.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  This is reason to praise God.  He loved us enough that while we were sinners he died for us.  Lord, please help me remember that forgiveness is necessary in relationships even when the other person lets us down, and that love covers a multitude of sins.  Thank you for reminding me that you love me despite my temptations and failures.  It is my desire that I won’t fail anymore.  Help me be stronger than I am, yet I am grateful that without your grace I cannot succeed.  It is because you love me and forgive me that I am able to stand.  Deliver me from evil, and from temptations.  Lift up my feet so that I will soar above the trials and not hit my feet on the stones.  I am righteous because you have loved me and because I said no even though I could have.  You want me to remember that.  I was tempted, but when you made a way out, I took it.  Thank you for making a way out.  Thank you for encouraging me that before your site and because of your great wisdom, I am righteous.  I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  Amen.  What the Lord is telling me this morning is that this is spiritual warfare, and that no weapon formed against me will prosper.  Hallelujah!