Continual Forgetfulness...

I wonder sometimes, how did the Israelites continue to turn away from the Lord. They saw his hand so many times!! And then I read the warnings to the people " Beware unless you forget",  "Stay alert, don't for a minute forget", "Don't forget what God, your God, has done".... Next I see "They forgot their God", "They soon forgot",  "They went out to look for lovers and forgot all about God".  Do you see,  God knows the human heart inside and out. He knows we get distracted and can have fickle hearts, so he continues to shout REMEMBER! DON'T FORGET!  STAY ATTENTIVE! What are we suppose to be remembering? We are to remember and recall what is true, who is true, and who we are in  Christ (1 Jhn. 5:20). 

What happens when we continually forget? What does is mean when we continually don't bring to mind the truths of God? If I am not remembering the truths of God that means my focus is elsewhere.... I would then  say I would be likened unto a prostitute...Yes I said it but stay with me, I will explain...  Let's look at Hosea. God told Hosea to go marry a prostitute and have children by her!  Now you may say "No way" well my answer is go read Hosea then come back :). Anyways, God told Hosea this to illustrate how Israel had turned against the Lord and went to worship other gods (Hosea 1:2).  Throughout the book it says that Israel had forgotten the Lord and continually turned to other lovers.  What can that look like in today's time? Well I can say for myself that can look like worrying about my career, worrying about life, being a people pleaser, being "too busy" to meditate on God and His Word...ect.  These actions really can be summed up into one word DISOBEDIENCE....what too harsh? 

**side note: Guys I am literally writing this and the Lord is just connecting the dots, Disobedience came to my mind and while I am typing I wince like "ouch!". But you know what, I want  the Lord to be able to expose me, clean me out, and mold me because the end result is growth!**

So disobedience. It is not harsh it is just truth! Lets back this up with scripture: 1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:25-34, Isaiah 41:13, Colossians 2:23,  Matthew 6:1,  Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 29:25, 1 Thessalonians 2:4,  Joshua 1:8, 2 Peter 3:18, Proverbs 8:18, Proverbs 3:6,  Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 29:13, Psalm 14:2. Theses verses and others tell me to not worry, please God, and draw close to Him.  Therefore, if God is telling to do these things and I don't then the word for that is disobedience.

 About a few weeks ago a lady named Shay Arthur posted a post that said " Disobedience exposes the mistrust you have towards God".  She said " we can know in our heads all day, the promises of God but if we really believed them we wouldn't have trust issues. Even if we are obeying 95% of what He spoke that other percent is things we haven't yielded to yet. Half-heartedness is disobedience still!"  Whooooo, like go back and read that one more time. When I first saw that I was like "ouch" alright Lord, but even now it is such a powerful word!! It is so true! 

So we have continual forgetfulness which leads to disobedience which is evidence of mistrust. Mistrust is one of the places the devil loves for people to be especially when it comes to the Lord.  Whether it stems from forgetfulness , doubt, hurt feelings, ect.., holding mistrust towards God will cause you to question his Words, wonder if there is an alternative motive and not fully obey what He says. All through out the Bible the devil questions the intentions and truthfulness of who God is so that he can detour people from knowing and believing who God is and who He has called them to be. From eve in the garden to Jesus in the desert (Gen. 3:1, Matt. 4:3). The devil questions if  people really know who God is and whether what God told them was actually correct. The devil wants people to feel uncertain in the only thing that is 100% certain and true. Isn't that just like the devil!! The one who doesn't have an honest space in his being begs the questions "CAN GOD REALLY BE TRUSTED?". You see how slick he is? He KNOWS what is true and does everything in his power to bring into question the intentions of the living God.

Even in my forgetfulness, half-heartedness, or disobedience the Lord is is still true, merciful, compassionate , filled with unfailing love and is good.  Yes the Lord is all these things including righteous, a honest judge, a perfect ruler, and perfect Father. But people have a choice, I have a choice and God will let me choose. The Father is true to His word, He loves you with all of His heart! He wants you! BUT the decision is up to us, each individually. Am I gonna trust the Lord? or am I gonna follow my own understanding?  (Prov. 3:5-6)

God is calling for people to turn and return to Him! The living God who knew you before you even gave a thought of Him is in the business of RESTORATION. No matter what is going on, no matter how deep or far you think you are, God is not deterred. He is not afraid of your mess! He just wants you! He knew humans would be messy, they would turn to their own wants instead of seeking Him. Even knowing this He created you! He has and had a plan from the beginning, to redeem the lost and heal the sick. He showed you His heart by sending Jesus his son as a way of redemption. The devil meant for your shame, hurt, loneliness, doubt, and mistrust to keep you from the only One who could make you truly whole and complete. BUT what the devil meant for harm the Lord can and will turn it around for good! (Gen. 50:20; Jhn. 3:16-18)

Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord for your mercy! Oh where would I be without your grace! Lord I repent of my own disobedience and mistrust! Thank you for being in the business of restoration and not being afraid to get in my mess! Help me to continually remember your Truth and authority you have given me. I want to be steadfast and consistent to You just as You are to me! I pray for any reader that you open their heart, ears, and eyes to who You are and who they are in You! 

In Jesus' name AMEN.