White As Spring Flowers

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow….” Isaiah 1:18a (NKJV)

A couple of weeks back, I thought winter would never leave our southern New Jersey residence. It was dreadfully cold and gloomy for so long. We even had a snow forecast recently which, thankfully, never happened. Instead, there’s been a lot rain, which is normal for April. But I can finally wake up to bright sunshine, birds chirping, and flowers blooming. This is the season of growth and longer days.

During this time of year, I especially love looking out my bay window because we have a tree right in our front yard that always grows the same way. Before its leaves grow, there are these small pretty white flowers that grow all over its branches. My neighbor has a tree in her front yard as well, large enough to see from my window, but this one grows little red flowers. The branches of both trees overlap, and seeing both colors together from my living room reminded me of the scripture above.

In the scripture above, God uses the imagery of deep, dark shades like scarlet and crimson to describe the irremovable mark sin makes on our lives. Sin we could never fix on our own. But God also says that, even though we sin, He loves us enough to want to make us right with Him! He knows we’re not perfect; God doesn’t want perfection. He wants imperfect people who are willing to allow a perfect God to perfect us! He wants to “settle” us; making our sins white as snow. Or, in this case, white as Spring flowers. So, my friend, receive His offer and let God do His perfect will in your life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Lord, I give You glory. Father, I thank You and I bless Your holy name! I confess my sins and wrong thoughts to You, and I boldly accept Your forgiveness in the name of Jesus. Thank You for taking my sins and washing them away! Thank You, Lord, for the blood of Jesus that did away with my sin! You know me because You formed me in my mother’s womb. You know I am far from perfect, and yet You see it fit to love me anyway! Flaws and all, You want me and You want to draw near to me. Thank You for perfecting and protecting all that concerns me. I love You with all my mind, all my strength, and all my soul in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Weekly Wisdom Challenge: A wise woman recognizes that perfection is unrealistic. We were never meant to walk this life on our own and in our own strength. We know we need God every day of our lives because, without Him, we would be neck deep in sin! This week, write down your imperfections, your mistakes, your disobedient moments and then next to each one write “but He loves me anyway.” Because He does! Then ask Holy Spirit to give You His wisdom, peace, and strength to allow God to work on those things He wants to work out in you. I promise, you won’t regret it! Let me know how it goes!