Unending Grace

Well, reality hit today. After four days of intense teachings on the cross, we must come down the mountain and face reality. The Word tells us that when we clean house, when we confess and repent, when we are faced with the fullness of the cross, the enemy strikes seven-fold. And he does. I sinned today in ways I haven't in years. And I felt the sting of guilt and shame once again. And I felt the peace of God and the goodness of His grace once again. How awesome His love for us--sinners, dirty and unworthy of His acceptance. Driving the nails and thrusting the spear as we satisfy the sin nature in us. Yet, He pours out His grace. A good friend reminded me of that tonight after I confessed to her. She reminded me that our experience at the cross is not a one time deal, but that it continues every day. She reminded me that Christ struggled in the wilderness for forty days. I had thought that my struggles were gone now that I had experienced the fullness of the cross. Then, after my fall, I felt the familiar and unwelcome twinges of guilt and shame. But, she turned me back to the cross, where I fell into the river of blood that washes all that away. I have a long road to overcome, with promises of stronger attacks, but I also know that God's grace covers all. I may stumble, I may fall, but I must fall into the river that cleanses.