This was the very thing I prayed for when seeking God's forgiveness in my life. I had made a complete mess of myself and I desperately wanted a re-do, a new chance to make better choices, a clean slate. A tall order, I know. One that would almost seem impossible, especially for the sinner that I was. But, it is what I prayed.
I had such regret and even more remorse for having two abortions. This prayer was response to the sorrow and anguish I was filled with. I did not know God at that time. I did not know His promises. All I knew was that the deep turmoil within my soul was crying out for something I knew I needed. The instinct of my spirit just did what seemed natural, I guess. Why wouldn't the despair in my soul cry out to the very One who created my soul? It all makes sense now, but I had no idea what was really going on back then. I just needed relief, I just needed forgiveness, and I just needed cleansing.
When I cried out to God for this, I honestly had yet to discover how much God was going to do as a result of that very prayer. I had yet to discover that by repenting, asking for forgiveness, and inviting Jesus into my heart to be the Lord of my life that I would be getting my "new chance" indeed!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
Jesus did receive me, cleanse me, and make me something new again. I became someone that was no longer recognizable. My response to this amazing gift I had been given was to give Him the very "new life" He had given me. My second chance was made His complete pallet from which to create. I was filled with passion for Jesus, and I have been ever since!
My second chance also became a driving force for everything else in my life. I knew it was something I would never take for granted and would be thankful for every day, but it became even more. My second chance became a determination to see to it that the bad negative things that I had experienced would stand for something and that the lives of my aborted children would not be in vain. My drive to honor God and my children in my second chance was translated to compassion I felt/feel for others that hurt from abortion. My second chance became my watchtower from which to carefully recognize other hurt and devastated people. My second chance is always on my mind.
So, where do you find yourself today? Are you in need of a second chance, too? If so, cry out to Jesus. Cry out with everything inside of you. Ask Him to forgive you. Tell Him to remake you and to be the Lord of your life. He is quick to respond! You will find the new life you're seeking, as well as a new focus and purpose for your life. Your second chance will not only remake you in every good possible way, it may also become the very thing that will lead another person to their second chance. Pretty amazing how that works, huh? And just think, this is just some of the good that can come from the bad in abortion. The mercy of our God takes my breath away!
Romans 8:28
And we know
that God causes all things
to work together for good
to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.
It's a "NEW" year!
