No Longer Separated

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 (New King James Version)

So there I stood with my decisions made and feeling I was able to do some things I really wanted to do. That sense of well being lasted a couple hours until I began to notice some distance between God and me. What I wanted so badly was not His desire for me and the sense of His withdrawal was both evident and painful. I had a choice….hold on to my will or exchange it for His will. I will not revisit the many times I chose the first, for it never turned out well. But I will say, I have been on this journey long enough to know nothing (absolutely nothing) is worth more than close, intimate fellowship with my Heavenly Father. I have also been on this journey long enough to know that God is always ready and willing to forgive the wrong choices I make. He received my words, my tears, and my repentance. Even before I could act upon what I knew I had to do, His forgiveness was extended and received. Reconciliation is a wonderful part of being His child!

I want to make something very clear. The things I had decided to do were not sin in themselves, but they were sinful choices in that they were not God’s will for me. He has certain things He is doing in my life and a specific journey He has me on. In order to be the beneficiary of both those things I must embrace His will at all times and at all costs. When I place His will and opinion second to anything I am in the wrong. And according to Isaiah, that will be enough to separate me from Him as well as cause Him to hide His face from me and close His ears to me. As His child I will be able to tell when that has taken place and there will be no rest or peace until I return to Him. My salvation is not lost but the intimacy and communion are!

I do not want to lose the sensitivity His Spirit has birthed in me. At the first sign of His withdrawal I want it to be enough to get my attention and cooperation. How I thank Him that each time I stray He chooses to redirect my steps and my eyes back in His direction. Today I have tasted the bitter fruit of disobedience and the precious fruit of reconciliation. I walk satisfied!

Father, closeness to You is what I crave! Thank you that all barriers to that closeness are easily removed by Your grace. Amen.