KEEP ME FROM FALLING

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” Jude 1:24

Note: Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my thoughts, as often as I post them. Most of them are personal admonitions, rebuke, corrections and instructions to me. I share them with you all, because I believe some of you might be going through the same challenges, and need the encouragement I garner from my posts. Your comments and encouragement have helped me a lot. The apostles of old foretold “In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the spirit.” Jude 1:18-19.
They also urged us to build our most holy faith and pray in the Holy spirit. As we all continue in this journey to eternal life, may we be found faultless when Christ returns. Amen.

Lord, I want to thank you for my life, my friends, colleagues, family, and the world at large. I can’t deny the fact that you’ve been faithful to your word. You’ve kept to your part of the agreement that was signed from creation.
Even though it may not be wrong, but I’m tempted to say “we fall down but get up, for a saint is just a sinner that fell but got up.” I’m tempted to say “I’m not good enough, but you still love me” I’m not trying to brag, but I’m sure if I wasn’t good enough to be used by you, you won’t have considered me. At least, I’m not 100% useless.
There was something you saw in Saul before you chose Him as king over your chosen nation. There was also a little skill you saw in David before you used Him to defeat Goliath. I’m not sure what you saw in me, but I’m sure it was good enough for you to use. Your word said you created me and lavished me with knowledge and understanding. Thank you, Lord. I’m tired of publicly declaring my imperfection just to admit to the fact that I'm human and prone to sin. I certainly am not saying I’m perfect.

When we do succeed at something, and come out to testify of HIs goodness, we register every attempt of the devil to militate against ‘our’ skills and to make a folly of ‘our’ wisdom, then finally say “But I thank God that I finally got the Job or I’m healed.”
My question is: Must we always share our trials and challenges for several minutes and then end our testimonies with a few seconds of praise to God for breakthrough? Will it be a crime for me to stand and testify that “I found myself in situations where I could have easily compromised my faith, but the spirit of God stopped me from giving into the desires of the flesh in, and therefore I just want to thank Him”and then take a walk?

I’m not a fan of empty positive confessions, so I really think if we believe that when we fall, God is able to pick us up, then we should also believe that He is able to keep us from falling in the first place. Or do we intentionally skip that part of the scriptures? (Not judging)

Is God just a mender of broken hearts and not a sustainer of unbroken hearts? Is God just a healer and not a giver of divine health?

I really wish our prayer requests can change from “Lord, I have fallen again, please, restore me” to “Lord, I know times are hard and my environment is capable of making me fall, but please keep me from falling” or from “Lord, I just lied again, please forgive me. I know your grace is sufficient for me” to “Lord, let not the truth be far from my lips.” Or maybe your petition is “Lord, you know I was just following what that preacher told me. I didn’t know he was preaching a false doctrine, please forgive me.” when you could have easily prayed “Lord, help me to discern the truth from false messages carried around by prophets of doom.”

I’ve heard ‘Christians’ say “You’re young, so enjoy yourself now” or “Just do it this one time” Can we as Christians really stop giving the devil the opportunity of taking the glory for a minute? I mean, for every time we lie or commit any other sin, we give the devil an occasion to take some credit for productivity. But for every time we are confronted with compromising situations where we can easily tell a lie or defend one just to gain favour, and yet we don’t give in, he hits his head against the wall in bitterness, because of another failed attempt at gaining another disciple. Now this shows that the Word of God we read every day is actually effective in our lives. Moses said “Lord, if you will not go with us, don’t send us. How will we be distinguished from the rest, if your presence does not go with us?” We’d be like every other person that reads the bible like it’s a novel.

As much as it sounds unrealistic (but possible), is it not possible you and I to chase after holiness every minute? Isn’t it possible for us to be blameless? Must we always take advantage of the merciful side of God and not access his through-Christ-I-can-do-all-things side? Aren’t we tired of approaching the throne of mercy for forgiveness over things that we can discipline ourselves to get rid of; addictions that we can quit with faith in God. This is exactly why Paul said “shall we continue to sin that grace might abound? God forbid.”

How many of us can beat our chest and say “Well, you can toss me behind bars for all I care, I’m not bearing false witness against that dude” or “you can cut my stipend, I will NOT carry out your evil desires”? How many of us can stand in front of our bosses and say “Sir, I’d rather lose my job than to forge any document”? The truth is, not many of us can. As a matter of fact, we look at God’s grace as a get-out-of-jail-free card, so if we can just tell this ‘little white’ lie, we can pray to God to set us free from the clutches of the father of lies (Satan) at any point in time. From a ‘white lie’ we advance to a ‘blue’ one, then a ‘black’ one. Sooner or later, the truth becomes far from our lips.

I’ve discovered that the reason you and I fall (when we do) is because we’ve got free will; we have a choice, but we pick the wrong one.
I've done some really ugly stuff in d past, and sometimes when I think about them, the devil tries to coat me with guilt. But I thank God for another chance. I'm not about to blow it again.

After our daily morning devotion, can we just say “Lord, it is obvious that the end is nigh and all the evil things you spoke about is already in existence; people are compromising just to get by, but Lord, please do not let me fall victim of such evil in you sight. Please, show me favour, and let me see your hand in everything I do today. When people say there’s a casting down, I believe there’s a lifting up. I pray with thanksgiving”? Just like Micah Stampley wrote in His song ‘Take my life’ we can also add “Holiness is what I long for; Holiness is what I need; Holiness is what you want for me; therefore, lord, help me in my quest for holiness and righteousness.”

Finally, just say this short prayer with me:

Lord, create in me a clean heart…purify me…So I may worship you, daily. I desire to be blameless every day. Help me to resist sin, irrespective of the circumstance I find myself. Let me continually experience the joy of salvation which I experienced when you cut the shackles off my feet and delivered me from the chains of that ugly dude. I no longer want to struggle with sin. I believe, with you, it’s possible for me to stay on my feet, and not tossed around by every wave of doctrine and temptation. Therefore…please, keep me from falling! Thank you, Lord.

If we believe that ALL things are possible, this shouldn’t be an exception, right? Let’s be focused. Let’s boast in the Lord and declare that “we are not like the rest of them.”

May God help us!

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25


Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God