Even though I wrote yesterday about my need to praise God in the midst of crisis, it wasn’t until today that I could actually give God praise. I know that God uses all things to His honor and glory as we give them to Him. Yet, in the midst of “all things” giving praise to God doesn’t even enter my mind. All I can see is my need to not enter into the crisis unless I’m nudged to do so and surrender the crisis to God and keep doing this until I’m released from its bondage on me.

The day did end and sleep came quickly as I went to bed. Today I do thank God and praise Him. One of the counseling sessions yesterday had me listening to some very ugly things about someone I have cared deeply for. Forgiveness was on the top of my thinking, but the person talking wasn’t ready to hear that word until they had finished unloading. It was one of those God moments when this person was able to say they forgive.

When God forgives our sin as we confess, He no longer sees the sin for He than sees Christ in us. For God, that sin is cast away never to be seen again. Man, on the other hand, doesn’t so quickly forget. When we forgive something our memory seems to be in tact. We rarely see Christ in the person needing forgiveness. We forgive out of obedience. However, if we will continue to allow God to work in us, that act of obedience will let the sting of the memory/act eventually fade and we can learn to not trust man the way we trust God. Trusting God is the right thing to always do. Trusting man, knowing his flesh is still alive, is the wise thing to do.