you have done all this evil . . .

"Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil.
Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty."
I Samuel 12:20-21

Sometimes you read the Bible and certain verses just jump off the page at you.  These are such verses.  They meet me right where I am.
I have done this evil (confession)
Yet (hope)
do not turn aside from following the Lord (renewed focus)
do not turn aside to empty things (renewed perspective)

There is hope for all of us.  We don't down-play our sin.  We have done this evil, but we simply need to confess our sin and believe in the hope we have in our Lord.  Renew our focus on him and maintain a Christ-centered perspective that will weed out all the empty things that tempt us.