02/04/2021
We often struggle with our position before God. We feel like we aren't good enough and maybe we never will be. Anybody with me in that?
I'm encouraged this morning by Richard Lovelace who reminds me:
1. I am accepted in Christ. God has chosen me as his son and he loves me completely.
2. I am delivered by Christ. Sin and addiction no longer control me. My thoughts no longer have hold of me. Satan doesn't have power over me. God has delivered me by the power of Jesus Christ.
3. I am not alone. So many of us live like we are alone and that leads to a defeatist attitude. We are not alone. Christ lives in us by the Holy Spirit. The presence of God is with us. Also, there are other people all around us having the same struggles and facing the same challenges. We are not alone.
4. I have authority. Jesus has given us authority. His power over sin and death flows through us via the life of the Holy Spirit.
So what does this mean for me(and maybe you):
1. We must live in the joy of acceptance and stop feeling that God isn't pleased. He accepts us because of who we are in Christ, not because of what we do for Christ.
2. We must stop wallowing in pity, shame, and guilt. We are victorious because Christ is victorious. His victory is our victory. The Father didn't bring us to the battle and say, "Good luck!" No, He brings us to the battle and says, "Watch this". We must trust him and not our ability.
3. We must not let the lies that we are the only ones like this or that we are all alone control us anymore. We are not alone in Christ. Christ is with us. A great "cloud of witnesses" is with us. Other people are with us.
4. We must walk in authority. There is not temptation that God cannot defeat. There is no battle that God cannot win. Trust his power and walk in his might.
I hope this encourages you as it encourages me.