How Does the Power of Secrets Dominate Your Life?

Human beings are exceptionally capable of creating problems and adversities that have long-term consequences. So much is publicized about the lives of celebrities since it’s impossible to hide from long-range camera lenses and the paparazzi’s investigative skills. However, most of our secrets are not subjected to this type of scrutiny.

Secrets have the potential to become destructive when saturated with guilt and shame, which then demand concealment from family and friends. The possibility of discovery creates heart-piercing anxiety about the truth getting exposed to the light for everyone to see.

An important blessing of life is knowing that our deepest, darkest secrets cannot be hidden from God. Listen to Psalm 90:8. “You, O God, have set our inequities before yourself. Our secret sins exist in the light of your presence.” When you realize that God knows your secrets, confess them and repent so he will forgive you and give you peace. 

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For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.  

~Mark 4:22-23 New Living Translation

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Has Your Joy Been Eclipsed?

Everyone longs for joy when it has been eclipsed by distractions. We mistake joy for pleasure and happiness, but joy’s deeper roots keep it alive when drought cycles through our lives. Joy can be overshadowed by distractions that are in conflict with Christian values.

C. S. Lewis explains how personal choice affects lasting joy. “In the final analysis there are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God will say, ‘Your will has been done’. Lewis then adds, “The souls who seriously seek joy will find it. To those who knock on the door of joy, it will be opened.”

David asked God to create in him a pure heart, to fill his mind with clean thoughts and right desires, to restore in him the joy of his salvation and the will to obey God. Confessing your sins permits God to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Now you may come into his presence to celebrate with joy and thanksgiving.  

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Sincerity and truth are what you require, O God; fill my  mind with your wisdom.

Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; and though you have crushed me and broken me, I will be happy once again.

~Psalm 51:6-8 Good News Bible

Making Peace with Yourself

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus addressed the issue of moral and spiritual responsibility with a call to righteous and ethical living. Knowing conflict is unavoidable, Jesus presented an alternative in Matthew 5:9 by stating, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God." 

The opposite of peace is chaos, turmoil and confusion brought on by envy, jealousy and hatred. Jesus challenges every believer to be a peacemaker even when the task seems overwhelming. Diane Katz in her book, Making Peace with Yourself and Others, believes you must first make peace with yourself before branching out to others.

When Hezekiah, king of Judah, was about thirty-seven years old, he became so sick, death seemed imminent. Isaiah the prophet came to his bedside and advised him to "get his house in order" by making peace with himself and God. Making peace is accomplished by confessing to God every sin, followed by repenting and making amends. Now go and correct whatever is wrong in your life.  

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Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.

When I did not confess my sins, I was worn out from crying all day long.

Then I confessed my sins to you; I did not conceal my wrongdoings.

I decided to confess them to you, and you forgave all my sins.

~Psalms 32:1,3,5 Good News Bible

Jesus: “I have told you these things, that you through union with me may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

Unlock a Door to Loneliness

Forgiveness has the potential for eradicating loneliness. Anger and striving, however, open the door to alienation and isolation. A mother had not seen her son for years because she was so controlling, she had made it impossible for him to choose a career, a wife or a place to live.

In college he dated a woman whom he planned to marry after graduation. His mother refused to attend the ceremony because she felt the young woman was unacceptable. When he decided to move to another state in pursuit of his career, his mother closed the door on their relationship.

After years of alienation her heart softened when her son sent pictures of her grandchildren. She realized she had to let go of unrealistic demands if she were to have a relationship with her son and his family. Seeking her son's forgiveness was difficult. Admitting she had been wrong didn't come easy, but eventually it unsealed the door to her isolation. Seeking forgiveness is only possible by confessing and repenting of deplorable behavior.  

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One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.

~Proverbs 18:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible

I am lonely and troubled. Show that you care and have pity on me. My awful worries keep growing. Rescue me from sadness. See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins.

~Psalm 25:16-17 Contemporary English Version

Face Conflict with Encouragement from God - Part 1

The Bible provides extensive examples of power struggles, conflicts and their solutions. Even heaven wasn’t exempt from power struggles. Isaiah 14:12 describes Lucifer, the shining star of all the angels, striving for power and control. A massive fight erupted in heaven, resulting in the expulsion of Lucifer and his followers from heaven.

Power and control, when appropriately allocated, don’t eradicate conflict but can keep it in check. Problems develop as we lust for and covet power. The tenth commandment is precise: “You shall not covet.” Coveting or lusting after anything is an inward compulsion to possess whatever from whomever, regardless of the cost.

          This commandment tends to produce conflict and power struggles because it’s extremely difficult to obey. However, Christians have an advocate who pleads our case before God the Father. Therefore, he forgives us as we confess and repent of this sin and then gives us a new beginning. Isn’t that good news?  I'm Olen Baker.

A Clear Conscience: Essential for Self-Respect - Part 3

What is the relationship between your conscience, the values you keep, and self-respect? I read an article about a young police officer who was assigned to drug enforcement. He served earnestly until, in a moment of weakness, he experimented with cocaine, which in turn evolved into a full-fledged addiction. He disregarded his conscience, which cheapened his self-respect.

What went wrong with his conscience that allowed this officer to take such a drastic turn in his behavior? He was aware of the consequences he’d experience later down the road. Why didn’t his conscience stop him from experimenting with cocaine in the first place? Surely his conscience made him aware of the wrong choices he was making.

Obviously, your conscience can be over-ridden and denied the power to stop disaster. Even so, your conscience doesn’t give up because God uses it to help you turn away from sin, even when self-respect is stuck in the gutter. Jesus is interested in your redemption and beckons you to turn around and come back to him, so why not do it now? 

Focus on Your Values - Part 1

I spent my elementary years of childhood growing up in a small farming community. My uncle owned a combination feed and grocery store there, in addition to being the postmaster and pharmacist. I can't remember crime being major concern, for safety and security seemed to be a given.

I cannot explain how I got this idea, except that human nature being as it is, it came naturally. When I was seven or eight, my cousin and I took some of my mother's hen eggs and sold them at my uncle's store. Sometime later I took a twenty-dollar bill from my mother's purse and hid it under our house. When my mom confronted me, I confessed and gave back her twenty dollars.

My mother confronted me because she loved me and what I did was wrong. Confronting weaknesses is a never-ending process. God’s word offers this challenge. "Continue to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Remain patient, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith."