The Rest of My Time

1 Peter 4:2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

I can't even put into words the person that I used to be. It seems as if that was not even me. My life before Christ was one filled with sin so much that I don't even like talking about that person at all. Many people have told me that I should never forget who I was before Christ and I understand their words. But if there were things that I wanted to erase from my memory it would be the days I took the Lord's name in vain. With tears today I tell you that the words that came from my mouth were so wicked. The actions of that person were vile. My heart still breaks today because I drown myself in the sins of sex, alcohol, fighting, cursing. I was so messed up by sin. Peace was something that I could never find. It breaks my heart! I cry and weep always because of that person. Not because I'm not forgiven and not because I struggle with it today, but because I never wanted to be that person. I was so lost without Christ. I was so close to death without Him.

When Christ saved me, this scripture came to me. "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." No longer seeking the desire of my flesh. NO longer sleeping around! NO longer drinking it up! NO longer cussing like a sailor! NO longer fighting to prove my manliness! But now and forever living for the will of God.

God, my soul cries out to you this morning! Thank you for saving me. Thank you for your forgiveness. You never said that I had gone too far. You never said that you could forgive me of everything except... No you forgave it all. You died for it all. God, I feel your presence in my life right now. You took a vile sinner and made him clean and new. You took someone who loved his flesh and now leads him to walk in your will.  Will you please do the same for my friends who are reading this right now? Help them to no longer live in the flesh, because if they do they will die in the flesh. But help them now to decide to walk in your will so that when you call them home they will go home in your will and in your arms.

Sing with me this morning before you head out to work...

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day,
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away!
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away!