JULY 27, 2016

“Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” ― Walt Disney 

PSALM 50-52

David repents to God and seeks to be made new after his sin with Bathsheba

10Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

ACTS 27:1-25

Paul is sent to Rome and is caught in a terrible storm and encourages the men...

21After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

JOURNAL 

The difference between guilt and shame is seen clearly in David's prayer. He understands his wrong and his sin yet he asks God to "restore to me the joy of your salvation". David understands that God loves him. David understands that he has done something horrible, yet David trusts in God's restoration.

This is a lesson to me in my own transgressions. You can never fall too far from God because God is interested in us only as his servants and then as his sons and daughters. Nothing can take that away. He desires our obedience because that is how we were created. We were never created to be our own God. We were never created to rule out of our own authority. We were created to live and rule and love only in obedience.

Taking confidence in this and trust in God is what ultimately gives me peace. This is what will guide me in all situations in all circumstances. This is the confidence to believe in something "all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."

20He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

 -  MATTHEW 17:20