Fanning The Flames Of Faith

Off The Wagon

Ramona Isler: Posted on Friday, November 15, 2013 1:24 PM

Off The Wagon

I seem to remember having a little red wagon when I was a little girl...

We used this wagon to carry around dolls, toys and books. We used to to transport dirt from one side of the field to the other for mud pie making and fake cake baking. It held leaves that we used to pretend were greens and Popsicle sticks we used for utensils and house-building. And we used to carry each other around too. The wagon was the ultimate childhood accessory. It allowed us to carry everything! My adult wagon seems to only carry around dirt these days; all of my issues and problems. My sins and transgressions. All of the stuff I want to hide away; hide from my friends and family, from myself and from God. Many of us are 'on the wagon' about some issue. For some of us it's alcohol or drugs or sex or men or women or whatever. Doesn't matter what it is. The problem is when you fall off. I fell off recently. And in that falling off, I have to deal with my own guilt and shame; the disappointment that I feel in myself and that nagging sense of unworthiness. I am supposed to be better than that right? It could eat me alive if I let it. But I am reminded that"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-2 Falling off the wagon automatically means that I "walked according to the flesh" that time. But I know that I try my best to "walk according to the Spirit" and it is in the trying that I am allowed to go to God and confess. I can pray for, and receive forgiveness. To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.Psalm 25:1-3

Every single one of us has fallen off of some wagon. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8 BUT... "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

I'm going to get up, dust myself off, thank the good Lord for his forgiveness, and His forgetfulness and keep it moving.

"I feel like going on"

In love,

Mona