There are often things that gnaw at our soul, but we don’t realize it or want to admit it. Sadly, these things erode our inner-self. The busyness of life, along with our concoctions of self-denial, keep us from stopping the subtle destruction. If we were honest, we have many many destructive secret thoughts… but we don’t want to be honest… with God… or anyone, for that matter.
Grudges, shame, unforgiveness, and guilt are feelings we care for like a sweet little house pet. We would rather keep those feelings than let them be replace with truth, reality, or God’s glory.
Think of it like this – have you ever had a mouse in your pantry? If so, you know that they keenly find something they can chew through and they begin to make a nice little hole in the bag or box. Seemingly without much effort, they find their way into a yummy bag of Dorito’s or a box of Captain Crunch so they may eat their fill. You may hear the crunching or see evidence on their uninvited entrance, but unless you insist on stopping it, they will continue to help themselves to your groceries until they are found. If you ignore them your grocery bill will inevitably grow and you may begin to think you have poppy seeds in nearly every dry food you buy. There are really only these two options: you could go on an enjoy their company OR resolve to rid your home of them by searching them out to the death.
So what are the rodents of your life that need to be removed through repentance? What are you holding against someone because you like the company of your bitter feelings more than the other person’s companionship that could come through reconciliation? What is that thing that is keeping you from praying because you love that thing more than God?
It is time to get it out. You must be honest, but not just for the sake of honesty. By getting it out you will start down the road of transformation that can come to those who allow God to work through their honesty.
