I recently read in The Power of a Praying Woman that the author had seen "talented people succumb to sexual temptation and forfeit the promising life God had for them." She says "they fell like meteors and burned themselves out when they could have been a shining star today. Even though they have been redeemed and restored, I have never seen them regain the anointing and glory of God that was once upon them" (pg. 194).

I must say I was quite shocked by the last statement. Do the consequences of God make His power and glory in us

more faint, or, upon His redemption and forgiveness of our soul, does He shine all the more brightly? The Word of God does not seem to send the message that once you succumb to sin you are forever tainted. God makes us a new creation when we become a Christian, and every time He forgives us, He renews that promise.

My second concern with this section of the book was the emphasis on sexual sin. I am in complete agreement with the author that sexual sin seems to stalk us all in this day and age, but sin is sin. I do not think the author would say of a gossip that they lost their anointing when they succumbed to the temptation of gossip. We lose out on the blessing of growth God gives us in the face of temptation and the blessing of being spared consequences, but a consequence of sin is never permanent punishment from God.