Recycle

It was just one word in todays' Jesus Calling devotional that caught my thoughts. Recycle. I mean we see the plastic boxes laid out on the front lawns, and the trash cans on major events begging for participation, and the go green advances being made each day, but never have I considered God to be a recycler, until I read this today. "Nothing is wasted when you walk close to me. Even your mistakes and sins can be recycled into something good, through my transforming grace." Jesus Calling, April 10th.

Man, we make those mistakes and then how many times do we hold onto them when the deed is done and the word is said and there is no way to replay only to regret. But the thought that God can and will recycle them into being something good, gives us all hope for forgiveness and also redemption.

There are many situations and words and actions that I so wish I could rewind and redo but looking back, I have seen where God, working through his grace and my faith has allowed good to come from them. I have seen it in my children too, when they have made dubious choices, and maybe they cannot always see the good or the blessings, but standing on the outskirts, looking in, I sure have.

It is a matter of trust, trusting God, moment by moment to work around us and through us and within us to peek our interest in him over self, and his sovereignty over our circumstances. I know easily said and harder done, but how cool is it that all we have to do is trust him with our used and abandoned words and actions and he will ultimately make the most out of it, if we offer him the remains of our abandoned efforts. No boxes, no distribution efforts or remembering what days to put out or take in etc. God is recycling 24-7 for his pattern of good for our lives as well as others and the reshaping of our lives. The more we are accountable to his ways, the more obvious His recycling efforts becomes.

When our day is spent and our actions noted, we all have some things we would like to discard and never have to think about again, but those very things that we did or didn't do are the ones that God uses to shape us and mold us. He incorporates his lessons of love, forgiveness, passes, and grace and soon the things that we most regretted will be but a treasured light in the sight of God. For he will have used them for his ultimate good. Those very things are the ones that might have brought you closer to him or helped you to have a better perspective when you submit judgement on others, or help you to see yourself a little more clearly rather than looking through the veil of self righteousness. You know I say these things not in accusation but in humble remittance of my own flaws.

Next time you see a recycle bin, or a sign that signifies a redistribution task, think about what God is doing in your life, today and what he has already done in the yesterdays and dream about the plans that he has in His future. He wants to be trusted in your every detail of life. It is a matter of putting full trust into his workings. Nothing done cannot be undone or recycled for God's glory. Blessed are we to have an overseer who not only cares for us but who helps us to be all that he has envisioned, in spite of our sins and our successes, but only through his grace.

Jeremiah 17:7
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him."


Dear Lord, Thank you for your recycling efforts on our behalf, and in view of your glory. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!