There are many people in the kingdom of God, and everyone has a past. God can redeem the darkest decisions in the life of a saint, and Susie talks again with author and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs about what that looks like. We look at how God chose women with shady reputations – such as Rahab, Lot’s wife, and Delilah – and used them to advance His purposes.

Susie points out that women spend so much time trying to be good, but feeling bad, because we look to others to define us instead of God. Liz points out that both extremes lead to death. “Life with a capital L is in the middle – that middle is the center of God’s palm, a full awareness that God has us, our future, all of it in the palm of His hand.”

Sometimes we grieve over our past choices. Liz says, when we stand before God at the end of our life, He will wipe away not only our tears, but our regrets. Our repentance can overcome every past regret. Liz and Susie unpack the stories of women in Scripture who resisted God’s grace, whether for a moment, a season, or a lifetime.

• Lot’s wife: We can learn from her mistakes and choose not to look back on our past with longing or regret

 Sapphira: Sapphira and her husband were equally to blame, but they were judged separately; we can learn that God doesn’t judge us for giving less than a tithe in offerings, but He does judge us for being dishonest and seeking the approval of men instead of the praise of God. God struck them both down because they lied to the Holy Spirit. Liz says, in the wake of this event, the church grew. “God revealed His power. And they knew, this is the real God.”

Key Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 5:1-11; Genesis 19

Theme Song: Restoration by Misty Edwards

Highlight : When God uses ‘shady’ people

When God uses ‘shady’ people

Image: Flickr