Shut in with God: devotions and prayers from #stayathome – Post 4 – #washyourhands and your heart

Shut in with God: devotions and prayers from #stayathome – Janet  DeCaster

Post 4 – April 1, 2020 (posted 4/10/20 Good Friday) – #washyourhands and your heart

Post 1 in this series is found at devotions-and-prayers-from-stayathome-post-1/

Cleaning is big these days. The clean freaks amongst us are feeling vindicated, as it’s become the ‘new normal’ so to speak, during this odd #coronavirus #pandemic season. I am very thankful for the wisdom of the experts! From the American CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to our incredible Whitehouse Coronavirus task force to the brave healthcare workers on the frontlines of this battle; we are receiving great help and public health information on a daily basis. I think it is wise to listen to their advice, and help-them-help-us by washing our hands and staying at home whenever possible. Please pray for wisdom and safety for them all, as they fight a war against the ‘invisible enemy’.

But today I’d like to mention another kind of cleansing that is different, but even more important. It’s the kind of ‘internal’ cleansing that only God can do. It happens when the heart of any person, recognizes that they have sinned against God in thought, word or deed; and asks for God’s forgiveness. Sin happens when we do things that violate God’s moral law given to man both in his own conscience and in the Holy Bible. This invisible sin-problem, which is common to us all (see Romans 3:23),  often has terrible earthly consequences for ourselves and others; but it always has deadly eternal consequences. But God provided a solution. Repentance ( Godly sorrow and turning away from sin) and the forgiveness God offers to all who come to personal faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus became God’s perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross of Calvary over 2,000 years ago. (see Romans 3:24-26) That’s what the Church commemorates on #goodfriday  In response to a question related to prayer found in the preceding verse, in Luke 11: 2-4 (NLT), Jesus Christ  is famously quoted (in what became known as the model for the “Lord’s Prayer”) for saying:

Father may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need and forgive us our sin, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.

As we are praying and seeking God’s merciful intervention regarding the #covid19 pandemic, it’s important to remember that the confession of sin (by simply asking God’s forgiveness for ourselves in prayer in the quiet of our own hearts) is the most important kind of cleansing for the human soul and spirit. It leads to peace in our life on this earth (no matter how short or how long that is), and eternity in heaven with God. 

James 4:7-10 (NLT) 

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

God forgive me, forgive all who come to you with sincere hearts, and forgive our nation from our many sins, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.