Falling

I’ve fallen into this one many times. Jesus came to save us from sin, and through His blood we are forever cleansed — but that does not erase the consequences of our actions.

If you’ve done wrong, should you expect repercussions? “But I have God,” you might say. Yes, you do — but He does not always remove the challenges that come as a direct result of your own choices, even when you regret them.

“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord dislikes those He loves as a Father the son He delights in.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Subtle Choices, Big Impact

We’ve all made choices we later regretted. I’m not talking about the obviously sinful ones — I mean the subtle ones that seem harmless, like staying with a friend group that influences you in ungodly ways. These influences creep into your life quietly if you’re not careful.

Two Steps to Guard Your Walk

1. Search What the Lord DislikesIf you can identify what the Lord dislikes, you can recognize areas in your life that need change. Tick off the ones you struggle with, and keep them in a separate list to revisit often. Reflect on whether you’ve been avoiding them. (A good starting list is provided in Chapter 11’s “Actions God Dislikes.”)
2. Apply What You LearnThis one is obvious, but without it, the first step is useless. Removing wrong actions and replacing them with godly ones is called wisdom — and wisdom comes from God.

Reaping and Sowing

Sin is part of being human. You’re not perfect, but remember — your actions have reactions and ripple effects. “A man shall reap what he sows.” Lean on the Lord; He gives wisdom, the application of knowledge. This is something we all grow in as we walk with Him.

A Short but Needed Reminder

This chapter is short because much of what it contains is already covered in earlier chapters. Watch what you do, follow His ways, and “surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”