But my people…have stumbled off the ancient highways and walk in muddy paths. (Jeremiah 18:15)

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.  (1 Timothy 1:19)

One sure way to ruin a perfectly clean conscience, is to deliberately ignore it. Once done, it – like the Holy Spirit – will quietly walk away. The conscience, like an often ignored puppy, will soon ignore you and fall asleep in the corner of your mind. Once this happens, your belief system has to alter; you can no longer handle the discrepancy between your conscience and your behavior. One of them has to go. So if you kick out your conscience and do whatever your flesh dictates, you sail right into the storm, wrecking your faith and wreaking havoc in your life. Shipwrecked? Seared conscience? Pray this:

Father,

I have anesthetized my conscience and it no longer speaks to me. I hardly know what is right from what is wrong. I have fooled myself into thinking that I can create my own rules and laws and life. That is partially true. I can, because you have given me a sovereign will to design the life of my choosing. But my choices have become revolting to me and to You. I ask for your forgiveness. My sin is ever before me. Wash me and I will be clean. My sins have created a bloody mess, but your cleansing can make me white as snow again, fresh as a newborn baby. I receive your forgiveness and cleansing today. And I declare a new beginning over my life, out of the mud and back on track, the path of peace and joy that only You can give.

Amen.