Afflicted/Blessed

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I may learn your decrees.

Psalm 119:71

Afflicted – not a word I like. It makes me think of the lepers mentioned in the Bible. They were so afflicted that no one would have anything to do with them. I do not want to be afflicted, but at times I am. Sin brings me to affliction, an affliction which can distance me from God.

Psalm 119:71 puts the word “good” with the word “afflicted”. How can that be? I see no good in affliction – no good at all until I start looking up. My battle with sin can be called an affliction. When in the midst of this battle if I call on God that brings the good. Calling on him draws me closer to him. It gives me his courage to conquer anything. It changes me from afflicted to blessed.

As I draw near to him in my affliction, I learn his decrees. I pour over his words in my Bible to find out what he says about the specific sin I battle. Learning what he has to say about it gives me ammunition for the war I wage against that sin. 

Learning his decrees makes way for blessing when I choose obedience instead of sin. Although the battle rages on, depending on his words and revelations give me power I do not have on my own. 

God, I hate when I sin. I know sin does not bring out the best you have for me.  Thank you for giving me ammunition to wage this war on sin. Thank you for drawing me to you so I can learn more about your character and forgiveness. Although I do not like being afflicted by sin, thank you for the blessing of your wisdom to overcome it.  

Susan P.