When it REALLY HURTS!

WHEN IT REALLY HURTS!
This past Tuesday after seven months of procrastination I finally went and had my root canal. As many of you know from a CROSSTRAINER that I wrote way back then, I have a terrible fear of the dentist office. In the last few weeks pain had started to set in and I was started to realize that this problem wasn't going to go away on it's own. Even with the pain I wasn't ready to make that dreadful trip to the dentist office but something happened. God sent people who love and care about me to insist that I get the problem fixed. God sent many "preachers" to me to let me know that if I didn't get the problem taken care of....their were going to be some grave consequences!! Has God been sending you messages? Has God sent people into your life who seem to be urging you one way or the other? Is there something inside of you that you need to allow God to remove? Is there something that's causing separation between you and God? Maybe it's a wrong attitude, misplaced obedience, a harmful habit or maybe it is some form of unforgiveness or anger that you can't let go of. Jesus Christ is the Great Physician and He alone is able to take these things from you and give you something much more valuable back.....FREEDOM, VICTORY AND LIFE!!
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil." Isaiah 1:16
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and many other Old Testament prophets preached the same message. They were telling the people to deal with the problem of sin in their lives, before it was too late. Sure to let go of what had been so common to the people of that day would be difficult and even a little painful but in the end God would bring a blessing upon His people. The people of that day and of our day have this in common; we are all plagued by the disease of sin and it must be dealt with. Like with my dentist visit, it's going to take some "deep probing work" to get to the "root" of the problem, but in the end God will bless us and create in us a cleaner, healthier spirit if we'll only make our way to the cross, the place where Jesus performs His best work!
I pray today that you would allow God to examine your heart, your mind and your soul so that He might take from you that which ails you and will cause you harm. I pray that what causes you pain in your life be exposed so that it might be surrendered to Almighty God who alone is able to cure you of all unrighteousness.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10