CLOSURE
II Samuel 12:19a, 20
"When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead .... So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, the set food before him and he ate."
David fasted in the hope that God would heal the child. But in God's providence, it was not to be. When the child died, it was a time of closure – for his sin and for the consequences of that sin. It closed the book on a sordid time in David's life. It was time to get on with life. Mourning is good because it shows a tender heart toward God and toward life. But there must come a time of closure, when there is nothing more I can do to change the situation. When his servants asked why he stopped fasting, he replied, "Now that the child is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?" (vs. 23). In other words, what's done is done and I can't change it. Hanging onto past grief does not accomplish anything, except cause turmoil in my own spirit. There must come a time when I close the book and get on with life. Then I can go into the house of the LORD and worship with a free spirit.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Hanging on to the past accomplishes nothing, and hinders my relationship with God.
[end]
Have a "closure" day. Love you.
II Samuel 12:19a, 20
"When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead .... So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, the set food before him and he ate."
David fasted in the hope that God would heal the child. But in God's providence, it was not to be. When the child died, it was a time of closure – for his sin and for the consequences of that sin. It closed the book on a sordid time in David's life. It was time to get on with life. Mourning is good because it shows a tender heart toward God and toward life. But there must come a time of closure, when there is nothing more I can do to change the situation. When his servants asked why he stopped fasting, he replied, "Now that the child is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?" (vs. 23). In other words, what's done is done and I can't change it. Hanging onto past grief does not accomplish anything, except cause turmoil in my own spirit. There must come a time when I close the book and get on with life. Then I can go into the house of the LORD and worship with a free spirit.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Hanging on to the past accomplishes nothing, and hinders my relationship with God.
[end]
Have a "closure" day. Love you.
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