Acknowledge is the First Step

Jeremiah 3: ¹² Go, proclaim this message toward the north:

“‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will frown on you no longer,
for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will not be angry forever.
¹³ Only acknowledge your guilt—
    you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods
    under every spreading tree,
    and have not obeyed me,’”
declares the Lord.

¹⁴ “Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. ¹⁵ Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.

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Staring at the manual I felt lost. Barely making it out of school and having no guidance put me in a losing position. I had to acknowledge that I did not know what I was doing and needed help.

• There are times when I need help.
• There are times when I do not know what I am doing.
• There are times when I am walking down a path and have no idea where the path will lead.

After asking for help, my boss’s boss sent me to training. I absorbed all that I could and went back to the department soon to become one of the best. Grace was bestowed on me and I am thankful.

• GOD asks me to “Only acknowledge my guilt” so HE can provide help for me.
• GOD asks me to say how I rebelled against HIM so I can accept the strange way HE heals me.
• GOD asks me to admit going my own way so HE can put me on the right path.

Acknowledgement is difficult. It says to the higher authority, “I need your grace.” GOD freely gives grace, mercy and love. HE keeps HIS promise and accepts anyone who acknowledges HIS power. GOD welcomes me when I return to HIM.

• Are you busy trying to justify your actions?
• Are you tired of being stuck where you are?
• Will you acknowledge how you have turned from GOD today?
• Will you allow HIM to heal you in HIS strange way?