Forgiveness

Speak the truth! ''And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...'' - 1 Samuel 15:22-23

I learnt a proverb at school it goes like this: ''Speak the truth and speak it ever, cost it what it will. He who hides the wrong he did, does the wrong thing still.'' It's the same thing when it comes to prayer, it's imperative that we be both open and honest with God in our prayers. For God who reads both the heart and motive will bring all secret things into the light and there is nothing that can be hidden from Him.

Fall on Christ The Rock and be broken; never be afraid to confess to Him your sins and shortcomings. Need help? This is a prayer I prayed when I was in a deep need of forgiveness:

I have sinned and done this great evil in your sight. I am unworthy; I am ungrateful of your mercies, I am unthankful and I've become undone, but Lord you've told me that you can make everything new (2nd Corinthians 5:17) and that your faithful and just and will forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). You said to me though my sins be as scarlet that you can make them as white as snow, and though they be red like crimson, you can make them as wool. If I come to You willing and obedient You will give me to eat of the good of the land. (Isaiah 1: 18-19) Just and true are Your ways, King of Saints, I am unworthy to be called your child but You came into this world and died for the ungodly like me (Romans 5:6) You bleed and died to take away my sins, You set me free ( John 8:36) and delivered me out of the house of bondage ( Exodus 20:2)  to bring me back to You, yet I still leave You and go my own way time and time again ( Isaiah 53:6) But You came to be the good Shepherd, to seek and save that which was lost, to bring me back into your fold ( Luke 19:10) So Father, thank You! Thank You for being who You are! Thank You for being so loving and so merciful to me. Father, thank You for not giving up on me, thank You for making everything new and thank You that my sins are forgiven, now blot them out to be remembered no more. Thank You for giving me a new life an a new start. In Jesus, Your Sons' name I pray, Amen.

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“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 KJV

Happiness

Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.
Benjamin Franklin

I find this quote to be very true. While taking Spanish classes, I'd found that the Spanish word for ''happy'' can be translated as ''contento'', ironic that the apostle Paul said in his book to the Philippians that he had found the secret to true happiness is contentment.

Paul says ''I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me I know what its like not to have what I need. I also know what its like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.''-  Philippians 4:11-13