"A Clear Conscience"

Day #105 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live." Job 27:6 NIV

Whenever I hear the word 'conscience', my first thought is of the movie Pinocchio, where lil' Jiminy Cricket is Pinocchio's conscience. When Pinocchio chose to do wrong, Jiminy was upset, but had to let Pinocchio undergo the consequences because of his choice. Jiminy Cricket was there for Pinocchio, yet the temptations of the characters Lampwick and Honest John led him to follow evil desires, which led him to captivity with Stromboli, and life as a 'donkey boy' at Pleasure Island, instead of freedom and great living with his creator Geppetto.

WOW! It isn't until you think about things, and allow 'revelation from the Spirit' to become part of your thinking. Obviously your first thought is Pinocchio is like Jonah, who gets swallowed by a fish and lives to tell about it... but really it pertains to every person today. Pinocchio of course is the easiest to compare with, as he is just like us. Every man, woman, boy and girl has been created, and has choices to make. Geppetto of course is like God, he is the creator and loves his little Pinocchio no matter what. Jiminy Cricket & the Blue Fairy are a bit of the Holy Spirit, and the Son. Holy Spirit has been given to us to keep us making the correct choices in life, when we follow the will of the Father, we are making correct choices -- however when we make wrong choices and follow evil desires, we then have a guilty conscience, as Jiminy felt guilty for leaving him in his time of need. (Holy Spirit never leaves us -- same as Jiminy tried to search everywhere for him, and stuck beside him in the end) Stromboli is similar in sorts to the devil, and of course 'Pleasure Island' is like hell. Lampy and Honest John and the sort are just evil temptations that come our way from the devil himself. We will be held captive in our sin, and eventually fall into life in 'Pleasure Island' -- what seems pleasureable to the world, yet is a place of gnashing teeth and no pleasure at all.

Super cool thoughts eh? Obviously I do believe that Disney put alliterations into his movies, and one can pull different spiritual ideas into even things that are not so nice. Disney movies are a great 'fight' for the Christian and Non-Christian alike. People are always heard complaining about the 'evil' and the 'darkness', etc in the movies -- but its the truth of what is in the world, shown in a way to get even a young child to understand. Watching the movie Pinocchio for example, would make a young child today say, 'Well duh don't talk to strangers!', but our teens  & adults today are led by evil desires that drag them away and entice them, and they laugh at movies like Pinocchio, 'well that wouldn't happen in real life'... but in fact it is!

There's a Scripture in the Bible that says, "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:13-15) 

When your conscience/righteousness/integrity is questioned because of choices you have made, you need to try to make it right. We need to try to maintain our conscience/righteousness/integrity throughout whatever circumstances may befall us. Even when in cases where we are 'disciplined' for our actions, thoughts or words, we need to maintain our thoughts, words and actions and do not continue to choose 'wrong' thoughts, words or deeds. We need to walk in forgiveness and repentance, not bitterness. In everything we do, we need to choose to be 'better', not 'bitter'. (A saying that has come and gone and come around again in the Christian sphere, so I don't know who to give credit to, except I know it was 'Holy Spirit inspired' -- how come we don't write that, why do we always have to give credit to 'man'? ~~ another thought, another devotional.)

To keep a clear conscience we need to study the Word of God, and keep right relationship with the Creator, our Father in Heaven. Pinocchio had a great relationship with his father, but because of the relationships he had with Lampwick, Honest John, and Stromboli the feelings of guilt and unworthiness come up -- his integrity and character is now in question. He thinks his father won't love him anymore -- he lies to make himself feel better, and that makes his nose grow, and others can see that one lie leads to another, which leads further into sin. But one touch of the truth changes the circumstances, which leads him back into his father's loving arms, and then the Blue Fairy comes to make him a 'real boy'. When we allow God to love us for who we are and not what we've done, we become 'real' with God -- He clothes us in His robes of salvation and righteousness, and we again can have a truly unique relationship with the Father. Which brings us into another parable from the Bible - the Prodigal Son. No matter what the one son chose to do, or what kind of trouble he was in, he returned to the father, and the father ran to him with open arms accepting him back into the relationship that was once (and always will be) his. In the case of Pinocchio, I guess 'Figaro' could be seen as the other brother. LOL!

So no matter what we've done, or what we are tempted by - sin is sin and we have to figure out what our own temptations are, or where our own 'boiling points' are, what 'buttons' can be pushed to make us choose the wrong choices our of frustration. "Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or removes your relish for spiritual things -- that is sin to you." ~ Susanna Wesley

So allow God to cleanse and restore you, if you are on the road to 'Pleasure Island', or in the captivity of 'Stromboli'... and even if you are just walking with 'Lampy' or 'Honest John'... or tempted to walk with them -- Let God and His Holy Spirit lead, guide, direct and comfort you. Sometimes we feel discouraged in times of discipline or correction, but in the end we know it is done out of love, and that God our Father has BIG plans for us, and He can't wait until we choose His way and walk those out!

"God desires that we become spiritually healthy enough through faith to have a conscience that rightly interprets the work of the Holy Spirit." ~ Beth Moore

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

"Integrity: It's Always the Right Way"

Day #104 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall." Proverbs 10:9 NLT

People with integrity have firm footing, yet others who walk on crooked paths, may slip and fall... God will lead, guide and direct us through the power of His Holy Spirit. God always promises in His Word, and to us as Christians that He will protect and not allow us to slip or fall even on a stone... but when we choose to sin, God cannot live in the face of sin, so his hands are basically tied until we make the repentance call, and acknowledge His Name once again. He does give us a choice -- although He would like us to walk in His paths. His paths are straight and narrow, and because He is there with us, He will not allow us to slip, and we can rest in the shadow of His wings.

To maintain our integrity, we need to walk in uprightness of character. But sometimes our integrity is questioned, because of our thoughts, words or actions. Sometimes we may choose to think, say or do thingsout of character & in question because we are frustrated or already not in the right state of mind. But sometimes it may seem like we are doing something, which we really aren't, but can be 'perceived' by others as not right. The perceptions of men... they can lead to disappointment and feelings of guilt, especially if because of them, we need be disciplined for our so-called thoughts, words or actions. Because then it seems as if your 'accusers' are praised for their views, and your 'discipliners' also have a new perception of you. In watching 'America's Next Top Model' the last couple weeks (not sure if it was just last week's, because we watch it 'on demand') one of the 'models/contestants' chose to speak some words out of frustration, because in her eyes this other person was not 'worthy' of being a spokesperson (because of her 'stinky' attitude). Her words, which were then used against her, because she said them in the presence of the photographer (who is a judge) and also the client (whom they were taking the pictures for) changed the view of her judges and the client, and even the other photographer sitting in as a guest judge. Her character and integrity was just lessened in the eyes of those around her. She was now being judged... and her 'stinky' words and actions made her just as bad as the one with the 'stinky' attitude. But the one with the 'stinky' attitude was in fact praised for her handling of the situation.

Now you may be saying, well that's a silly reality show, and a little drama makes the show more popular, it doesn't happen in real life. Well welcome to the real world... that happens to all of us. Perceptions and views of others can be used against you, even if you are a Christian trying to live by honesty, integrity and discipline. Now agreeably, we do slip up sometimes... but there are times when what we say or do are perceived wrongly, and we must be corrected or disciplined for it. However, in reality the perception of men are nothing in comparison to the perception of God. God knows our thoughts, words, actions, and the motives behind them. Thankfully He sees and knows everything, and because He is everywhere can also touch the hearts, minds and spirits of those around us too. (God knows your accusers heart, spirit, mind, and motives too, and will take complete control of the situation.) We need to walk out the discipline/correction with integrity, and we need to show the love of God to those who have accused us in forgiveness. We need to rise above the 'accusations' and show that we have the integrity and a clear conscience to move on. As Christians we truly need to be 'set apart', and through Him we will overcome, and our integrity and character can be raised back up to the standard in the eyes of God and man.

In the case of 'America's Next Top Model', the one model doesn't realize her bad attitude affects the others (which is the funny part, but we do know its in there for the 'drama' of it all) -- the others have stepped up to talk to her, and she attacks them with words like, well why did you ask how I'm feeling if you don't really like me, if you don't care. (Paraphrased of course) -- well it is because of their 'character' and integrity. Each of us have a heart, and we still can and will care about others, even when they are 'stinky' in their thoughts, words, attitudes, or actions. However, the one model, now has to 'rise above' and show the judges her true character and try to 'get back in Tyra's good books'. She mentioned in the show that she was frustrated because the 'stinky' model was making her feel this way. Sometimes others will make us want to make wrong choices, but we need to release those all at Jesus' feet, and He will help us and make us new. (Obviously as a Christian I would want ALL those Top Model contestants, judges, photographers & clients to reach out to God in times of need -- as Hollywood glamour is not what it's all about.)

So step out and live a life of integrity... it's not always the easiest, but it's the best choice! Perceptions of others will always be there, and attacks from the devil will always be there, but with the help of the Lord we will have the victory! Remember, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Romans 12:14 NIV

When you 'dwell in the shelter of the Most High' He will send his angels concerning you so that you will not even trip on a stone. READ PSALM 91, and start CLAIMING IT over YOUR life today...

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, 'The LORD is my refuge,' and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 'Because he loves me,' says the LORD, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation'." AMEN & AMEN! Thank You Lord!!

"God never called us to naivete. He called us to integrity... The Biblical concept of integrity emphasizes mature innocence not childlike ignorance." ~ Beth Moore

Step out and say, "I will have the moral courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong." (Taken from a picture on the world wide web.)

Check out this continuing devotional, "A Clear Conscience"... and let God help you live a life of integrity!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!