Brokenness
Got this email from my friend, Dave, after my message on Sunday. He said it better than I could, so here you go. (Shared with Dave's permission, of course.)
Thanks for the great message as usual. I have found in my life that as often as I allow sin to get a hold again, I need to be broken and repent again. I think the people who are into "religion" think of repentance and brokenness as something that happened in the past when they came to Christ and now they are done with it. Pride blinds them from seeing the ongoing need for brokenness and repentance.
I have found it be a regular process in my life that renews God's grace and keeps it alive in me as I continue to allow Him to break me. It never gets fun or easy but it sure is a blessing that brings joy, as you said.
Sometimes I feel like I am continually playing musical chairs with God for the throne of my heart. I get off the throne and surrender to Him, then I push Him off and get back on it. Then I start the cycle over again. It's so hard to stay off that throne but it is so important to keep getting off of it when you find yourself back on it.
Amen, Dave.