Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! Hope you are keeping warm! I’m not sure how much snow we got during the night but 3″ were predicted along with a strong wind… Al is glad we live in a place where it is plowed and shoveled already when we get up!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Have you ever felt like you were living a parable, and that your actions had a deeper significance? One day I was noticing the areas on our walls and woodwork that needed attention, even though I had scrubbed them. What they needed was fresh paint where they were worn thin or had dark marks. I wondered at first why had I not seen this earlier, but I had not paid close attention. I felt like the Lord was saying to me that there were areas of my heart that need attention. I couldn’t fix them myself and needed help.
I wondered at first how I was going to find the exact paint colors for the walls in each room if I was to fill in the dark spots. But someone else had the answer, for our handyman had the exact colors of paint for each room in our apartment that needed a fresh touch of paint. It brought to mind that we need someone beyond ourselves to fix us and to bring out our true colors. My own attempt to try to cleanse the area was not enough, for I needed the fresh coating of paint to cover it completely. This reminded me of Christ’s robe of righteousness that covers all our sins and makes us new. I turned to Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult io my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” What a wondrous gift!

Just as the paint covered the nicks and the dark blemishes, on occasion sandpaper has to be used first before applying the paint. Perhaps all of us have those areas that need a little extra prompting by the Holy Spirit, so we can ask for help and that deep healing can come. We must welcome the hand that brings the scrubbing, for then healing can follow.

After applying the exact paint to the areas in need, I looked around the apartment with new eyes. Everything seemed to shine and I was so thankful, while aware that this wasn’t the end: for soon I would need to tell the handyman again, “Please bring those paints!” We need the blood of Jesus every day of our lives and His blood covers ALL of our sin.

Challenge for today: Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He shows you areas of sin, repent and ask for His cleansing.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy