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Quote for Today:

"God never forgets anything I don't ask Him to forgive.  I think? Actually, I can't remember!"
 
Psalm 32:1, 2 promises us "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
 
Blessed means "happy".  The key to happiness is to have our transgressions forgiven.  A transgression is a "violated rule or boundary".  As Spirit inhabited believers we are given boundaries, as well as promptings from the Spirit to remain within them.  When we violate our boundaries, we lose freedom and inherit bondage.  This of course hinders happiness.  But forgiveness of our violated boundaries restores happiness; for it restores the relationship between our spirit and His.
 
David goes on to say that transgressions are forgiven through the covering of sins.  God's design is to cover our sins that we may obtain restored fellowship.  In both the original language and in the English, the word "covered" means "concealed".
 
Yet, we know that not all sins confessed to God are "concealed".  Often, our sins are done in public.  Whether it is a secret sin that God exposes, or a public sin such as a lost temper or critical tongue that many may see , how do these "now public sins" become concealed?
 
The best way to understand the purpose of this supernatural restoration process is to recognize the gravest danger of our sin: condemnation!  The devil uses "condemnation of self" far more often than "public perception of others" to discourage or defeat us. 
 
When we violate our God given boundaries, Satan has a heyday, not others.  Though others may critique and our testimonies may be tarnished, God has the ability to "restore such a one in a spirit of meekness".  However, if Satan can wreak havoc on the "meditations from our violations", he can control a person indefinitely. 
 
We must remember the restorative power of confessed sin if we are going to enjoy the blessedness of transgressions forgiven.  David went on to say that when he remained quite (about his sin) he was miserable. 
 
David could not have been referring to keeping his sin silent from His people.  For the whole nation knew of his sin.  It had been revealed publicly.  It was when He finally saw the damage his sin had done to him; he realized he had acquired a period of unnecessary silence between himself and God.  He confessed his sin and his "free spirit" was restored.
 
The devil cannot condemn a man who has had his sins covered.  For the coverage is not from man, but for us!  When I am protected in my meditations from condemnation, I can be happy despite my many mistakes in life. 
 
It is true that when we reject the Spirit's prompting we have officially violated a boundary and are in need of a transgression forgiven, our sin concealed.  When we confess it, God grants it and we are placed once again into a right relationship with the Spirit.  So what does that bring us?  Freedom from condemnation.  Silence!
 
The promise of Romans 8:1.  "There is therefore no condemnation to them that are IN Christ Jesus".  Who are they?  He goes on to say it is they who "walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."
 
If we are not walking after the Spirit we will fulfill the lust of the flesh.  When this is thus completed, His grieved Spirit will not strive with our spirit.  We are thus exposed for our sins and uncovered.  No one may know of our sin except our Spirit, ourselves and the enemy who designed our temptation, but condemnation begins. 
 
It is not the exposing of that sin that will bring happiness.  It is the silencing of our sin that brings happiness.  That silence comes from God forgiving our sin and removing the guile in our spirit.  The word guile is the word artifice.  It's where we get the word artificial. 
 
When we are in silence with God over our sin, we are artificial.  Whether people know it or not, we are.  But when we communicate our transgression in contrite confession, He restores our spirit and we can experience "peace and tranquility between He and me".    
 
So, when we are vocal with God, he shushes us up!  That, my friend, is how we can enjoy the "silence of the lambs". 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:  Today, we should search our hearts for unconfessed sin that has hindered our happiness.  This is more often sins of pride or selfishness or even unforgiveness toward others.  These sins are documented more clearly in Scripture than any others.  They are what lead us to greater transgressions. Pause and ask God today for clarity in your impurities.  He will reveal it.  Grant Him some time to bring it to your remembrance.  DO NOT HURRY the prompting of the Spirit. Allow your journal time today to reflect on how we have hindered our own happiness as a result of our inconsiderate boundary violations.

A QUESTION FOR TODAY'S MEDITATION:  "If God is against it, are you?  If not, why?!"
Have a wonderful day IN the Lord,

Steven Curington