Is Help Available to Overcome Painful Consequences?

Few things are more disturbing emotionally than suspicion because joy and peace of mind are threatened. Suspicion is bonded to betrayal, whether real or imagined, for everyone tends to hide certain aspects of their behavior and personality that are disconcerting.

We are now conditioned to expect cover-ups and deceitfulness from those who serve us politically, as Jeremiah 17:9 explains, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Deceit and secrets are a choice, as are truth and honesty.

Jeremiah 17:10 offers hope for reconciliation: “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man [or woman] according to his [or her] conduct.” God provides helpful opportunities for openness and honesty, so new beginnings become possible, including hope and strength for facing painful consequences of past choices and behavior. He is a God of forgiveness and reconciliation. 

__________ 

Then submit to God. Resist the devil and he will run away from you. Come close to God and he will come close to you.

~James 4:7-8 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week. 

Don't Dance with the Devil! - Part 2

Balaam, an Old Testament believer in God, portrays an unusual personality. His belief system allowed him to mix unacceptable behavior with God’s truth. God permitted Balaam to explore the unrighteousness of evil, which he did with such eagerness and disregard for God’s boundaries that he provoked God to anger.

Yet God sent an angel to prevent his fall into destruction. The moment he sees the angel Balaam confesses his sin. Yet he is still trying to find a loophole so he can proceed with this allurement into unrighteousness? Satan's grip can ratchet down the heart, soul, and mind so tightly that escape from his captivity seems impossible.

A short time later Balaam is beating his donkey, urging her onward because he refuses to turn loose of what’s driving him to go against God's purpose and will. Great damage is done to oneself and others when repentance is not sincere and real. What God desires is a broken and contrite heart. This paves the way for mercy and forgiveness.  
________________________________

To coordinate with KHCB’s “Five Days of Christmas” programming, I will post special Christmas thoughts on my blog Wednesday-Sunday, December 21-25. On those days, KHCB will air only Christmas music and short thoughts from the programmers. 

On Monday, December 19, and again beginning December 26, my blog posts will coordinate with the radio broadcast schedule of Attitudes/Answers that airs at 5:45 PM on KHCB radio at 105.7FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, and FL, you may click on the KHCB link in the "About Me" section of this page.