Too Much Time On My Hands
Posted by Dion Todd July 2nd, 2024 1,323 Views 26 Comments
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Don't throw me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalms 51:10–12 WEB.
King David strolled around his palace's rooftop terrace one lazy afternoon and spotted one of his neighbors bathing. Apparently, his balcony was above hers so he could look down on her. The woman was gorgeous, and she captivated him. So he sent someone to find out more about her. His messenger returned and told him plainly, "This is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah." Uriah the Hittite was one of David's trusted "mighty men," and he was away serving in the army.
Instead of being out leading the army like he usually was, David was at home and bored. Though he had many wives of his own, he couldn't stop thinking about Bathsheba. So he summoned her to the palace for an evening, and she returned home pregnant with his child. This complicated things for David because her husband was away in the military. In a few months, this would turn into a king-size scandal.
So David sent for Uriah and tried to get him drunk so that he would go home and sleep with his wife, Bathsheba. Then it would look like the child was his. But Uriah was so loyal he refused to do so. David was desperate and needed to cover this up. So he sent Uriah back to the battlefield carrying a sealed envelope to give to his commander Joab. It was an order for the death of Uriah.
Joab arranged for Uriah to be killed by the enemy and sent David the word, "Your servant, Uriah, is dead." Then King David brought Bathsheba to his palace and married her. It appeared to be such a noble act. The rich King David was taking in a poor widow that was pregnant with her war hero husband's child, except she wasn't. It was his.
A year quietly passed by, and Bathsheba gave birth to a son. One day, the prophet Nathan came to visit David. He told him about a rich man who had many sheep. When a visitor came to his house, instead of taking one of his own sheep to prepare for dinner, he sent for the only pet lamb a poor man had who lived nearby. The man had raised the lamb as his daughter, and it slept in his arms. Yet, the rich man took it away, and they ate her for dinner.
David burned with anger when he heard the story about the lamb, for he had once been a shepherd himself. He shouted, "That man deserves to die!" Then Nathan told him, "You are the man!" Those words had to burn David intensely. To be suddenly confronted with all that he had so carefully hidden, the sin he thought he had gotten away with. But facing it was the beginning of restoration.
David wrote later that his sin was always before him. He repented sincerely for what he had done. His prayer is recorded in Psalm 51. In verse 12, David asked God to restore the joy. The joy of the Lord was one of the first things that left him. Nothing is hidden from God. He just gives us space to repent before it finally catches up with us. There is a period between writing a check and clearing the bank, but the debt eventually hits your account.
When we mess up, it is best to get it over with immediately before it festers like a sore. A simple prayer and we can be forgiven. So be willing to stand up and say, "I am the one!" instead of waiting for God to confront you with it. We can choose to repent or to walk without His presence, sad and depressed the whole time. If you ask God, He will forgive you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy. You are long-suffering and understanding. I am sorry for the times I let You down and chose my way instead of Yours. Please forgive, restore, and help me live my life for You from this day forward. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
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David Krull commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Amen Lord. I am forgiven because of the Blood of Jesus. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. By His Stripes I am healed. Here I am Lord. Restore me Father in Jesus Christ Name.
Mari Kaufmann commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Amen God Holy Spirit bring me closer to God in the name of Jesus
Liesel aka lisa Wardle commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Amen and Amen!!! Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy! You are long suffering and understanding! I am so sorry for all the times that I let You down and chose my own way instead of Yours! Please forgive me, restore, and help me live my life for You from this day forward, in the holy name of Jesus Christ I ask and pray, Amen!!! 🙏
Schalk De beer commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Yes, amen Lord.
Marisa Jackson commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Amen 🙏❤️!! Amen 🙏 ❤️!! Amen ❤️❤️🙏🙏❤️❤️!!
Shara Abel commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Thank you, the heart of our Lord...
Liza Mena commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Amen! Thank you Father for your forgiveness and grace.
Sherry Mccosh commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy. You are long-suffering and understanding. I am sorry for the times I let You down and chose my way instead of Yours. Please forgive, restore, and help me live my life for You from this day forward. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Cathy Webb commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Thank you for Your forgiveness, Lord. Help me live my life for You. Amen!
Sylvia Todd commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Happy Tuesday, everyone, hope y'all are having a very blessed day 😀!
Yvette York commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Heavenly Father Please Forgive Me For All Of My Sins. Please Help Me Live The Way You Want Me To Amen Good Morning Everyone 😀
Wanda Pennington commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy. You are long-suffering and understanding. I am sorry for the times I let You down and chose my way instead of Yours. Please forgive, restore, and help me live my life for You from this day forward. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Theresa Bright commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Thank you for your forgiveness Lord when I have let you down, and thank you for hearing my prayers for forgiveness when I know I have done wrong. I thank you Lord in Jesus name. Please continue to guide me in all my ways, and to be pleasing to you. Amen
Bella Colliander commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Father, Instead of being on FB, I should be in Your Word. Forgive me and help me to put you first, in everything. Amen🕊️
Kevin J. Eck commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Heavenly Father, I pray. Thank you for your Mercy on my Soul! Forgive me for lusting for the things of this world and help me to be content with what you have given me. Help me to stay on the path of life that YOU have given me! In the name of our mighty Lord, Amen!
Lynn Brown commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Please forgive, restore, and help me live my life for You from this day forward. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Celeste Strenn commented on Dion Todd's blog post: Too Much Time On My Hands
2 months ago
Amen❣️thank you thank you so much for your amazing grace ❣️