Tuesday 10 September 2013

Psalm 46:4 “There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.”

Psalm 1:3 “He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.”

History is a river.  When you were born you entered into the river of history.  And everything that happened prior to you affected the waters in which you were born.  You aren’t responsible for what was done before you.  But you are responsible for what you leave behind when your life is over and God removes you from the river.

Maybe your river is toxic, polluted and filled with waste chemicals.  Perhaps you were born into abuse, poverty, dysfunction or drugs.  Or maybe your river started pretty decent, but became polluted as life moved on.

From this moment forward, you will decide that the One in you is greater than the quality of the river in which you were born.  He is at work in you to clean you up on the inside, and to show you how you can begin to clean up the river.  You see, regardless of the quality of our river, we all have one challenge in Christ – leave it better off than you found it!

In these early days of the Fast we need to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to put His finger on things in our lives that He wants to change.  And for most of us these areas are linked to thing in our past.

Maybe something happened to you when you were younger, or you did something you regretted, but that situation has become like a rotten cadaver polluting the waters of your life.  It doesn’t have to be something way back in you life, hidden in the early years of life.  It could be something that happened last week, but that has a significant impact on your life.

Ask the Holy Spirit today to help you identify these things which toxify and pollute your thoughts, your feelings, and your desires.  Write these things down.  Then lay your hands on the list and confess that these things will no longer be the primary influence in your life.  Jesus Christ and His word are greater; and God is restoring your soul.