Today, we focus on the importance of spiritual resilience during this season. We discuss how quickly we can rise after we stumble and how self-forgiveness plays a crucial role in our spiritual journey. Drawing from a quote by C.S. Lewis, we emphasize that being a Christian does not mean never falling, but rather having the ability to repent and start anew. I share practical tips for fostering spiritual strength, including the necessity of accepting God's forgiveness and the value of community support. Join us as we explore these themes and encourage one another to get back up and continue our walk of faith.

Takeaways:

1. Spiritual strength is essential during the Lenten season, as we strive to rise after our falls.
2. Forgiveness is a two-way street; we must accept God's forgiveness and forgive ourselves.
3. Engaging with scripture helps us understand God's love and fosters resilience in spiritual growth.
4. When we struggle to forgive ourselves, seeking support from friends and faith communities can be invaluable.
5. The ability to get back up after a setback reflects our spiritual health and commitment to growth.
6. Daily reflections and challenges can guide our journey during Lent, encouraging deeper connections with faith.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. www.bible805.com
2. bible805.com
3. amazon.com

Hi, welcome to the Hobo Soul podcast of road advice from the Bible and from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life. I'll talk to you every weekday for about five to 10 minutes, with periodic longer talks on serious Saturdays. Let's get started with our topic today,

Lenten Devotion number 13, Spiritual Strength Tips how well you get up

During this Lenten season, we're looking at the quotes and challenges from my devotional book and journal In Dying We Are Reborn that you can download for free on www.bible805.com. Each day there's a daily quote and challenge from the book, which I'll read to you and then share my comments on them.

Today's quote comes from C.S.Lewis, where he says,

"A Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again and after each stumble."

And here's today's challenge.

"Remember that Jesus told Peter he had to forgive 70 times 7, which meant an infinite number of times.

Remember, that's how much God will forgive you when you fall again and again and again. He's always ready to forgive."

Now let's talk about this a little bit more.

For older people, though I suppose it applies to anyone over the age of three or four, one of the signs of health is the ability to get off the floor by yourself. In other words, once you've fallen, can you immediately get back up?

Though we tend to focus on God's side of things when we talk about forgiveness. I've done that in previous podcasts and it's important, but it's also important to look at our side of it and look at how fast we get up.

We may be forgiven by God, but we can still be floundering on the floor, wallowing in our sin or sadness. And following are some suggestions that might help us get up.

When Jesus told Peter to forgive 70 times 7, I'm sure he included Peter forgiving himself in that. Because once God forgives us, we need to accept it. We need to forgive ourselves and move on. We often don't think about that.

We often don't think about the reality that we're not the only ones who benefit from this.

Suppose someone you love does something really rotten. Now, the reason isn't important, the actual event isn't important. But whatever it is, they did it.

Then they realize what they did and they asked for your forgiveness. You love them, you freely grant it, and you just want to go back to things being the way they were. But what happens next?

Maybe the person goes, "No, no, you shouldn't forgive me. I was really horrible. You've forgiven me so many times before. Do you really think you want to forgive me now? No, no, no, I don't want to be forgiven.

I'll just stay away. I'll punish myself. I'll just go somewhere till I feel like I'm worthy of your love. I'll of your forgiveness. I can't. I just can't."

Now wouldn't that hurt you? Now you get the idea, don't you? God the Father sent Jesus to die for your sins so he could forgive you.

Don't you think he wants you to accept it, to come back to him, to enter back into a relationship of love?

Now, let's look at this issue a little bit more and some things that might help us understand the whole situation and how we might react in the ways that we do and how we might get over it a little bit better. In preparing for the podcast, I googled the question, what does it indicate when an older person can't get up from the floor?

Now, I'll share the answers and then sort of some corresponding spiritual conditions and here's what it said. To understand what indicates when a person can't. What it indicates when an older person can't get up off the floor, consider the following points.

One, it may signal decreased strength or mobility. Two, it could indicate balance issues or risk of falls. Three, chronic health conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis may play a role.

It may reflect a need for assistance or adaptive equipment. Now I thought, what a great list.

And I think there are actually some very valid spiritual analogies to some of these reasons on why we might not forgive ourselves. Let's, let's give this a try.

First issue. It may signal decreased strength or mobility.

Now we don't have the resources to forgive ourselves. We do have reduced strength when it comes to self forgiveness. And even more, we a lot of times aren't strong enough to get up and grow spiritually after a major sin. But we're not alone.

And to correct that, remember the Bible tells us those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not be weary. They walk and not faint. God will renew your strength.

I have a sweatshirt that I just love that has the message on it. It says, I can't. And the T on there is in the shape of the cross.And then it goes on to say, but I know a guy.

We know Jesus, and he can give us strength to get up and move ahead.

The second thing it says is it could indicate balance issues or a risk of falls.

Now, balance issues in our spiritual life might mean that we're chasing after way too many things that push God out of first place, which is really the only safe place to be. It's the only realistic place to be. If that's the case, the anecdote is to seek first the kingdom as it reminds us in Matthew 6:33.

His kingdom, his way of living under the rule and lifestyle of Jesus. Not the comfort of self pity, but of working for and and with Him.

Number three, Chronic health conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis may play a role.

Now, the most chronic health condition spiritually is that we aren't spending enough time in the Word of God.

Because of that, we don't know the depths of God's love for us, his desire to forgive us the riches of his grace and how deep that is, and to learn these things, to know these things, so that we bounce back after sin and forgiveness. Get into your Bible now. If you don't know where to start, please check out my little book, Start Here, a plan for curious people to begin reading the Bible. It's on Amazon. It's got everything you need. Overviews of books, a schedule, journal pages, everything. Again, it's called Start Here.

Just check it out on Amazon and it'll help you out.

Next, it may reflect a need for assistance or adaptive equipment.

We can't get up oftentimes alone.

Nothing beats a trusted friend, an encouraging group, a church of fellow sinners who, as the saying goes, aren't perfect, but forgiven. Whatever the burden of sin that you feel today, whether it's a recent misdemeanor or a long standing regret, let go of it.

If you've confessed your sins to God, he's forgiven you. Jesus died to make that possible. Like he said to the paralytic, after you've done that, do you want to get well?

Or to paraphrase, do you want to be forgiven? Because you are. Now get up and walk.

In closing for this Lenten devotional, which is a special Hobo Soul series that I'm doing for Lent, I'd encourage you to pause. Take time to share. Share with Jesus your response, thoughts and prayers to what you just heard.

You can do this quietly in your heart, or you can write it out. I have a free journal with the quotes, challenges, and space for you to write in that you can download at www.bible805.com.

Let me close in prayer for you that as Jesus went into the wilderness to solidify his calling, that you, during this time, retreat to a place spiritually where God can significantly deepen your relationship with him, where he can speak to you regardless of the temptations and distractions in your life, and that you'll come out of it with a clear sense of his calling for you and a commitment to follow it. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.