We’ve all been there.  We’ve all been lost.  Maybe we’re still lost.  Being lost, in the dark, without light to show the way, not knowing which way to go, produces unsettling fear to most human hearts and minds.  If we stay lost, we live with fear as a part of life which causes us to react to others in unholy ways.  We accuse, judge and even blame others for making us who we are.  How can it be our problem?  We do life from this fear that is caused from being, well, lost.  We defend our lostness by covering it up with “I know where I’m going!” but we really don’t.  We think we have it all together but forget where we put it–our mantra for life. 

When we live a lost life, we have no hope.  We trust no one but ourselves.  When we fail, we are brought even lower in our thinking and behaving.  On the outside, we are proud, arrogant, and seek only to please ourselves.  We put on “the greatest show on earth” to show the world we have all things under control–but underneath it all, at the end of the day, fear seeps in to remind us we don’t really know who we are or where we are going.

We’ve heard of Jesus, but He can’t possibly be real.  Bad things still happen in the world with or without Jesus so we are hardened to anything that is Jesus.  It’s hard to be lost and hallow inside while keeping up the charade that we are “just fine”.  Church people don’t help much, for they seem to have the same problems we do in our lostness.  And boy, are they annoying.  Most church people seem to do all the same things we who are lost do.  They gossip about each other, hurt people with words, and fight among themselves.  They say “I’ll pray for you” but walk away without doing it.  They are a friendly bunch, but only with their cliques.  Their actions only make us feel more lost.  Our view is jaded because of our lostness.

FOUND

But then everything changed.  Someone was indeed praying for me.  The Light suddenly burst into my being, dispelling the darkness in my hard heart.  Jesus left the 99 to pull me out.  I was between a rock and hard place in my life.  Jesus spoke to my heart.  “Come, let me help you.”  I gave up all of me for all of Him.  All I knew at the time was I was lost but now I’m found.  Since being found by Jesus, saved by grace because of His mercy saturated with His unending, unchanging love, I don’t ever want to be lost again. 

I was blind but now I see.  God’s Word took on more meaning and began to be used as my lifeline for all of life.  When life stuff problems occurred, the answers were right there—all along.  His Holy Spirit convicted, corrected, comforted, encouraged, strengthened and pointed the way to real Life—not without problems but always with solutions. 

I am not perfect, never will be, but I know that I am perfectly forgiven.  ALL of us are who truly believe.

I was one of the 99 that Jesus relentless sought, to bring out of trouble, and to raise up from sin’s hold on me.  He grabbed me, embraced me, holding me tightly, sometimes kicking and screaming, never letting me go, until I knew He was the One and Only who could save me.  I let down all defenses, all fear and doubt.  Fear is a liar.  I then loved and embraced Him in return.  I have never regretted that decision.

Matthew—God’s Law Fulfilled

Matthew 17:12-14, NLT

Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹² “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? ¹³ And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

Abba, Father, Lord of my life,

You are my Shepherd.  You are all I need.  You let me rest in green meadows.  You lead me beside peaceful streams.  You renew my strength daily, hourly if needed.  You guide me along right paths, bringing honor to Your Name.  EVEN when I walk through the darkest valley, I will no longer be afraid for You are close beside me.  Your rod and Your staff pull me back to where it is safe, protecting me and comforting me.  You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies who want me to stay lost.  You honor me by anointing my head with Your healing oil that takes away the irritants of the world in my walk with You.  My cup of life overflows with blessings.  Surely, without doubt, Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.  And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.  Your promise.  My hope.  I will trust in You alone for I am no longer lost–but found.  To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen