What Did You Do!!!!!!!!!!!!

    What did you do???????  Something most of us have been asked at one time or another.  Came home and had to confess to or come up with an excuse why the car had a huge dent.  What did you do???????  The floor had just been mopped and you came in with mud on your shoes.  What did you do????????  You sinned so badly that God won't forgive you.
     So you've done something that God can't forgive.  You've sinned.  Then you felt guilt and shame.  Shame.  Chapter 9 of Robert S McGee's "The Search For Significance" starts out "I am what I am.  I cannot change.  I am hopeless."  Ever thought that?  You did something bad.  You lied.  You stole.  You cheated.  Oh boy did you feel guilty.  And then it happened.  To make yourself feel better, you did it again!  The guilt and shame built.  You didn't know what to do.  You felt so much shame.  And somehow you became convinced that you just couldn't do any better.
     McGee goes on to say "Is there anything about your life (past acts, something done to you, anything about your appearance) that you believe makes it impossible for you to ever experience consistent happiness, peace or joy?"  It just so sad.  You've done something that you just don't think God can forgive.  You hurt so badly that you have to do something.  But because you don't believe you can do any better, you become convinced that you enjoy that sin.  You're hurting.  And you think the only way to fix that hurt is to sin even more.  Soon one thing leads to another and you just can't stop.  You think you are not hurting anyone but yourself so it doesn't matter.
     But it does matter.  You matter.  Last night God was revealing things to me about standing in the gap (Love Standing) .  Things that I never realized.  When standing in the gap for someone, we must do it in love.  How?  By praying for mercy for our loved one.  You see, it doesn't matter what you've done. God loves you so much that He doesn't want to punish you.  But if you break His commandments He doesn't have a choice but to punish you just like a dad who loves his  disobedient child.  But God wants someone to intercede, to stand in the gap and pray for mercy.
     You know, when I got it, when I finally got the message that I was to pray for mercy when standing in the gap, it was like I saw God weeping!  It was as if God was finally able to do what He really wanted to do......not punish, but offer mercy!  All He wanted me to see all along was that He wanted to provide mercy but wanted someone to care enough to ask for it.  It was as if God was relieved that I finally understood how to stand in the gap!  He didn't want to discipline.  He wanted to offer mercy!
     What did you do that was so bad that God couldn't forgive?  Absolutely nothing.  There is not one thing that the pure blood of Jesus will not cover.  There is no sin that His forgiveness will not wash away and cause to sink to the bottom of His sea of forgetfulness.  He loves you so much!  He wants to give you mercy!  He wants to wrap His arms around you and hold you, His precious child.
      Have you found peace in repeating your sin?  Have you found peace in doing even more and more to take away the pain?  No.  You know you haven't.  Do you live every day with the shame of your choices?  Hiding behind lies and fake laughter.  Do you realize yet that people see past it?  They know you are not really happy.
     Do you have someone standing in the gap for you?  Thank God!  It's keeping you from suffering all the consequences of your sins.  God wants to get rid of your past and give you an amazing future.  No shame.  No guilt.  Can you even imagine?  Try to imagine just a little bit maybe.  He wants to turn your sorrow into joy.  Then people will be asking "what did you do" because they will see the new you.  Oh my!  Just imagine.....................