"My wayward children," says the Lord, "come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts."
Jeremiah 3:22
"When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and you stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone."
Psalm 32:3-5
"Create in me a new heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me... Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you."
Psalm 41:10,12
A tug-of-war with God
The rebel rejects the expectations, rules, and power of the organization or individual holding authority.
Rebellion can be good, as when we rebel against unjust or sinful societal pressure.
Rebellion is like a great tug-of-war; the authority figure holds one end of the rope while the rebel pulls on the other. The picture changes dramatically if we imagine the rebel's feet being mired in quicksand. Such is rebellion against God. God pulls on the rope, not to ruin our lives, but to lead us toward safe footing.
At times, God's Holy Spirit whispers in the stillness of your heart, "What are you doing here?"
How else can we know when God is speaking to us?
How else can we know when God is speaking to us?
God speaks to us through His word. (Psalm 119:105)
God speaks to us through circumstances (Psalm 119:67)
God speaks to through His peace (Colossians 3:15)
