Anyone that knows anything about me knows this: I've led a jacked up life. Period. There's no denying it. I've had more moral failings than any several people most of you know.
Because of the guilt I carried around, because of the shame I let torture me, because of the belief that I was horribly wicked I had some incredible struggles...
- For years, I would literally wake up astonished that God didn't kill me while I slept...
- I almost expectantly looked over my shoulder waiting to get what I deserved...
- The guilt I felt about my deeds drove me to move and hide; no one could find me...
- And then while looking to comfort myself I'd spiral into behavior patterns that inflicted more pain... That's a crazy wacked-out cycle.
What really threw me over the edge was when 2 pastors sat me down at a restaurant and literally told me to my face how evil I was, how worthless I was, how disgusting I was, etc etc. You get the picture.
I spent the rest of the afternoon driving around thinking about how to end the game, how to take myself out, how to end the misery I doled out. How could I ever come back to God? How could I not burn in hell's fires. How could I not be who these men of God said I was?
If you've led a semi-charmed life, you probably won't get the depths of this post. If you've hit the bottom of the barrel, knocked it out, then kept on falling, then this is probably for you. Because what I found out drove me into the loving security of a God who cares for every single one of us, no matter what.
- This post is for people who have committed to live for Jesus but find that at times, maybe even all the time, they fight feeling like miserable sinners unworthy of the full mercy and grace of God.
- This article is for people who have decided to love Jesus with all their mind, and heart, and strength but because of their past struggle with identifying themselves by their past actions.
- This 3 part study on who God says you are will help you realize that you are not who people say you are but you are who God says you are.
- And finally, what I will be spending some time writing about is the almost oxymoronic truth that your belief about yourself doesn't determine your behavior.
You're Not The Same Old Sinner - You Are Accepted:
Let's take a look at what the Bible says about who we are, at who people who have had their lives changed (or in the process of change) through the message of the cross have become (through the power of Jesus).
- John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
The Bible clearly says it, if you have believed (not only mentally as a factoid but also living out what you believe) then you are a child of God. God loves his children just like a good parent would love their own kidz. - John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
You are not just a child of God but also a friend of God. It's way more than a Facebook friend request or clicking a Fan Page. You are on best of terms with the creator of the universe. - Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Justified is an old fashioned word that means you've been made right, basically. You were wrong with your relationship with God because of the filth of your sin, but you trusted in Jesus and He gave you peace about how your relationship. - 1 Corinthians 6:17
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
You and Jesus are like peas and carrots, you just go together. You are one just like members of a football team are one team. There's power in that. Security in that! - 1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
See above. - Ephesians 1:1
To the saints...
I like this old fashioned word, "SAINTS." We're not the same ole sinner, we're new, we're SAINTS or people set apart for God's use. We're dedicated to him! - Ephesians 1:5
he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
We're adopted as God's children. He sought us out, found us, and took us in! - Colossians 1:14
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
My life has been redeemed, like a Coke bottle, for something. But instead of cash, we've been redeemed for use by God, to be His child, His SAINT, His prized possession... Our sins are forgotten and even their weight is taken off of us... They're gone. We're free. - Colossians 2:10
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
We're no longer empty inside, we are filled in Jesus. We're filled with courage, conviction, and the counsel of God. We're able and ready to live up to all that God requires of us. We're on the Lord's side.
awesome!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Liz | June 28, 2009 at 01:48 PM