“Unless we know the difference between flowers and weeds, we are not fit to take care of a garden. It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds. We must learn and labor to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities, which have a wicked propensity to choke the word of life.” — Clyde Francis Lytle

Psalm 32:1-11 NLT 1 Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the flood waters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. 8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. 11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Believe it or not, but yes, there is indeed joy in no longer hiding those things in our lives that keeps us from a complete and close relationship with God.  God knows what’s in our hearts and what we have done.  When we truthfully open our hearts and confess those things to Him to remove and cleanse us, we are then ready to experience the joy and peace of God.  Holding on to sin or to the cares and desires of this life is like swimming upstream with anchors tied to your feet.  God wants us to trust Him and relinquish control of our lives and hearts to Him.  We can’t truly love someone if we are not willing to open up to that person in total honesty.

Take the time today to give everything to God.  Trust Him with your secret thoughts, fears and desires and ask Him to purify your thoughts and heart. God is faithful to do just that.  Once we surrender all to God, He in turn will fill us with all of Him.

Now the key is believing God will not remember our past transgressions or hold them against us to someday, throw them in our face. Satan wants to keep our past in front of us so that we can never move forward to the glory and victory that is ours because of Christ.  But we must purpose in our hearts, that the Blood of Jesus, has indeed washed us and made us new and whole again.  We no longer have to worry about an Accuser, because our record has been wiped clean.  We have a new start, a fresh beginning in Christ.  Let me say that again; IN CHRIST.

The power of sin has been broken.  Live in the power of God’s love.  Its far much better there.

Dear Lord, we surrender all to you today. Take every part of our lives and make it new, refresh and pleasing to you. Remove those things in our lives that keeps us from a complete and total relationship with you. We desire more of you and less of this world. Renew our minds, change our hearts and strengthen our spirits to love you more.  This we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.