Thank God I Slipped; Again I Sinned!

Thank God I Slipped; Again I Sinned!

If we ever fail thinking that our demeanor is perfect we will become like St. Peter who heard the rooster crow after denying Christ three times.  Rejoice in the fact that pride does not take over and we find a need for strength through grace.

Not as though we are so perfect that a cloud of grace seems to hover over us no matter what happens during our trek that leads us to holiness.  We are finite in essence and therefore need the only attribute we do not have to be close to God; a touch of grace that cannot be achieved without a strong faith.  

What then can any of us do which will become a shield of strength keeping the probability of succumbing to the weaknesses that seem to reach in and cause our failure on a constant approach to sin?  

It is by using the most familiar manner of reaching God called prayer.  Did you ever read about how Jesus often went away for a short time to pray to his Father?  Perhaps the call he felt to converse with his Father was whenever the most severe instances became a trial of weakness even for Jesus.  Do not forget in spite of both natures under one person Jesus’s divine nature could not overcome the need of his human nature.  Both natures worked together at all times and human needs also were susceptible to human attributes.  Only his human obligation to find holiness was his ability to avoid sin.   The same human weakness that contributes to our failure was the avenue the devil attempted to use when tempting Jesus.  His human concern for obeying his Father became the shield against the devil, then and throughout his ministry.

Using prayer is the ominous condition that opens a conversation with our Father and never retreats from his help, regardless of the seemingly size of the needs.  Do not forget that God never shuns our failings and is always present to come to our aid.  Jesus knew this and constantly reminded his disciples to do the same.

Prayer is our closest way of reaching God since we become a person to person conversation and allow the Lord a moment to respond to anything that seems to hold us without an answer.  Contemplative prayer is the best path to hear the voice of God and if we remain silent for a few moments we will hear a voice that has been waiting for us to listen in lieu of talking and asking.  I have found that God has a lot to say if we do as Jesus said; ,”go to your inner room, close the door, and  pray to your Father in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”  (Mt 6: 6). 

Ralph B. Hathaway