“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer. 29: 11-13
Today’s Christian Daily Devotional
It is always a tragic thing when any human life leaves this earth; especially when that person goes before their time. So many of us have become so busy and consumed with our daily tasks, that sometimes it is easy to let a week or a month slip by before we ever take the time to sit and think about the decisions in life that really matter. Nobody knows what transpired in that London apartment the moment that Amy Weinhouse’s soul left her body. But, one has to wonder if she was completely at peace and ready to meet her maker. God never expected her (or any of us) to be perfect. In fact, He loves all of us— regardless of all the choices we make–He loves the human sinner, not the sin. I cannot imagine how painful it is for Him to watch us do things that defile the body he gave us (with drugs and alcohol, and reckless sexual behavior). Think of how a mother feels as she watches her child rebell against her wishes and embrace a life of drugs and hard living over her wisdom and wishes. God loves each person more than a parent could ever love any of us. He painfully waits and He suffers with us—He is waiting for us to ask for His help. I cannot help but wonder if Amy cried out to God in her final hour. Nevertheless, another soul has moved on from this life into eternal life. Where is Amy right now? Because you have the time to make a choice, another more important question would be: Where would you be if you died instead of Amy?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Life has gotten busy. So busy, that another day has passed and I have not given much thought to the crucial things that really matter. Amy was rich and famous in this life–but you said in your word that the only riches we can take with us are the things that we do for others with a pure heart. That alone, makes me feel poor. Lord, there are so many mistakes and bad roads I have traveled. Somehow, I keep feeling I should “clean myself up” before I bow at your feet and ask for your mercy once again. I will not let this prideful thought stop me anymore. Here I am, Lord. Filthy, sinful and at times—I hate to admit–loving it. God, I know this is wrong, but sometimes I just don’t feel I have the power to stop myself. Please, God have mercy on me and change my heart. Help me to help myself. Strengthen me to lean on you, and if I never have before, I humbly say this from the bottom of my heart: Dear Heavenly Father, I accept the gift of sacrifice that Jesus gave for my sins. I accept that He died a horrible death so that I would not have to suffer eternal damnation. I repent of the sins that caused Him to suffer. I want to turn from them, help me. Thank you for your forgiveness. I accept that, and I accept that there are no more feelings of guilt for things that I have already been forgiven and cleansed of. I thank you that Jesus rose again after three days signifying victory over death and satan. I know that I can have this same victory over my own sinful nature because Christ lives in me now. Thank you, In Jesus’ precious name, cove me in the blood of Him, and baptize me in your Holy Spirit Amen.”