Here is an article that came from The Elijah List today - it was written by Bobbly Conner. This goes with the repentance theme from the past few days:
God Restores and Refreshes
Dear Believer, we have entered a new
season. It is the season of a fresh start! We are in a divinely appointed time of refreshing and
restoring:
"So I will restore to you the
years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming
locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall
eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who
has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame" (Joel 2:25-26).
This is a new day in which you may
boldly declare, "Old
things have passed away!" (see Isaiah 48:6-7).
God Offers Forgiveness
One of the sweetest words in any
language is the word forgiven! God promises that even if your sins are
red like crimson – bright, obvious, glaring, unmistakable – they have been
forgiven, washed white as snow, because of the crimson Blood of Christ (see
Isaiah 1:18)!
Not just a few sins or a handful of
mistakes, but each and every betrayal, sin, and offense is under the Blood of
Christ. Each and every
mistake is forgotten and erased. Truly, beloved, it makes no difference how
twisted and tangled your life has been or now is: Through the shed Blood of
Christ at Calvary, God has made all forgiveness and grace abound toward you!
Heaven and earth may pass away, but "His compassions fail not" (Lamentations 3:20-22). Why? Because Christ Jesus already bore our sins and
iniquities!
...Because He poured out His soul unto
death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah
53:12
God Forgets Your Past
Through our repentance, God always
makes a way to free us from our past. Brothers and sisters in Christ, take this
encouragement to heart: Do not let your past failures keep you from
experiencing your future victories! Remember this vital promise:
"There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2 KJV).
The Lord has already lavished you with
abundant, extravagant forgiveness and grace to empower you to leave behind
every single past sin and failure, the days of regret, doubt and fear, the many
missed opportunities and failed relationships, the seasons of backsliding and
passivity, the detours of the works of the flesh.
As we believe His Word of forgiveness
and set our heart to seek the Lord, we will find overwhelming grace and mercies
for each day (see Jeremiah 29:12-13). Never give up; never give in again to a
mindset of guilt and failure (see Hebrews 10:35). You were created by your
Maker to carry His glory and presence into a lost and dying world. God has
confidence in you (see Deuteronomy 28:13). Remember, you are His choice (see
Ephesians 2:10), chosen for "such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).
God Redeems Your Wounds
Truly, it was by the stripes of Jesus
Christ that we were healed (see Isaiah 53:5). Take comfort in this, dear
Believer: Even the wounds that you have suffered will become great avenues of healing.
When we are healed from our wounds, then we receive grace for healing others!
We bring Christ's healing and comfort to others in the areas in which we
ourselves have been afflicted (see 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
God Brings Breakthrough!
God is even now releasing divine favor
to us for accomplishing great exploits for His glory. In Psalm 84:11 (NLT), we learn how He lavishes His blessings
of grace and glory:
"For the LORD God is our sun and
our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right."
Even if you have not succeeded in
previous days and years, do not lose heart! God is saying, "Try
again!" It is time to regroup and try again, knowing that failure is never
God's plan (see Jeremiah 29:11). You will see doors open that were closed to
you previously. God is granting breakthrough.
I pray that your entire family will
experience the overwhelming love and favor of God as you leave the past behind
and boldly take hold of the blessings and promises of God!
Bobby Conner: This "Gentle
Giant" is uniquely anointed with refreshing humor and razor-sharp
prophetic accuracy, which has been documented around the world. Bobby's dynamic
capacity to release outstanding demonstrations of the miraculous – healings,
signs and wonders – reveals the very heart of the Father toward us! Surviving a
dramatic abortion attempt by his mother, being rescued again by the hand of God
from drug dealing and suicide, the story of Bobby Conner is a display of a man
who now walks in his God-ordained destiny to set others free! Highly esteemed
as an internationally acclaimed conference speaker, Bobby has ministered
effectively to over 45 foreign countries as well as here in the States for many
years.
