Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Have you ever made tried to sincerely make a good decision, only to watch it seemingly turn into a bad one? Have you ever had good intentions to do something good or fix a problem that instead, turned into a chaotic mess? Are you laughing or shaking your head at this question thinking, Only about a zillion times?! I think we all have. So, what do we do in times where we’ve blown it and made a mess of things? I can tell you what I do. I pray and ask God to bless my mess. I prayerfully ask Him to turn my good intentions that the devil is trying to turn for evil, for good!

Many of us frequently or at least occasionally, have to deal with people that can be mean and cold and do evil things. Over the years, I’ve had to deal with people that lie and cheat and steal to better their own position. I’ve had to work with and try to trust that people are going to do what they say they will. I have to drive along side of angry people filled with rage on the road. Even though my sins were washed away, and I’ve been forgiven and filled with God’s Holy Spirit, other people’s negative attitude or wrong behavior occasionally influence my behavior. I know better! I shouldn’t let that happen and try not to, but on occasion, I respond inappropriately. It’s always an indicator of the work I still have to do in my character! (And to be brutally honest, that’s painful to admit!) In one of those nonstellar moments, I try to pick myself back up, humbly apologize to the Lord and anyone else I should apologize to, pray that God will bless my mess, and move forward. This is something we should do and that I hope we all do.

I can honestly say that in those moments where I blow it, they are never out of malicious or sinful intent. I have changed my life in that way. I don’t purposely want to hurt anyone ever. It’s more about getting caught up in the moment. And in times like that, any of us can make a mess. 

God knows my humanity. He knows my weaknesses, my ignorance, and how I think through things. He knows me! He knows I will make mistakes. What child doesn’t? What person doesn’t? This is exactly why Jesus said the words, “…without me you can do nothing!” As confident as I am that I will make mistakes in life, I am also confident in God’s love, understanding, and mercy. Why? Because that is my Heavenly Father’s character. He is the best Father of all and He is merciful to those that are trying to live for Him. He is merciful to everyone even when they aren’t living for Him. The sacrifice Jesus made for every person that will every live in this earth is the eternal proof of His mercy and kindness!

Psalm 103:17-18 NKJV says, “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear (reverence) Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.”

I don’t know if you realize this or not but David created his share of messes. But, He loved God with all his heart and lived for Him the best he could. Consequently, God saved him from his messes.  God made a promise to David that reaches into the lives of his descendants who live by faith in Jesus Christ. That promise of God reaches to us–to you as a believer today! “Psalm 18:50 (NIV) says, “He gives his king great victories; He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” And Psalm 27:5 (NKJV) “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” And Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

If you are a parent, you know you would try to help your children out of any mess they got themselves into if you could. We may not always be able to but God can. This verse says God helps and gives victories to “His anointed” (that’s every believer of Christ) – “to his descendants forevermore”– again that’s you and I. Because of this promise, when I do blow it and create a mess, I ask God to “bless my mess.” In other words, I ask Him to help me through the trouble I’ve created and turn things around. Because you are a Bible reader, you’ve read countless stories of God helping His people in trouble because of bad choices and decisions. Unless they were rebellious, He always helped them in times of trouble. God asks us to seek His wisdom and make decisions in faith. Do the best you can. And if circumstances (which the devil is always meddling in) seems to make it look like a decision you made was wrong, remember that if you sought Him through His word and prayer in faith, He’ll be there to help make things right over time. Trust Him.

If there’s a mess because of my lapse in attitude or behavior, I do my part. I repent to Him whenever necessary. I repent and apologize to others where necessary. I make amends where they are needed. Then I trust God to work in the hearts of those that need help forgiving me.

Messes are never fun but they don’t have to be a dead end. I praise God that I know of His love and His willingness to bless my mess and help me out of them. I have confidence in His faithfulness and mercy, not in my ability to fix everything. And as God has taught me over time, I try walk in God’s wisdom and do what is right and stay out of them to begin with! And so can you!

Psalms 34:6 (NLT) “In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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