A Spirit of 3 Things

Just the other day...I was bound up in fear. I had a heart full of desire to help others, to share my life, and to live my faith "out loud", but the taunting lie that I believed over and over again was this...

"You're not good enough."

It was easier to believe that lie than it was to step out in faith.

So I buried my "talents", tried to funnel my desires in "safe" ways, while I prayed earnestly to find my life's calling.

God graciously led me to the blog of Ann Voskamp, a lady who also battled fear, only hers was, amazingly, worse than mine. If I was bound up in fear, she was completely paralyzed. In reading her stories of courage and obedience, I became inspired. Something new began to emerge in my own life...a gut-level, undeniable belief in the following verse for the first time in my life.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Tim 1:7

I had heard it my whole life - - "fear is not of the Lord".

That's true. It's not.

But I had to come to the point where my love for the Lord and my desire to obey Him overcame my desire to protect myself from impending doom and failure. Pride and self-love had to be put to death. I had to seriously decrease before He could increase!

I can't tell you how it happened. I can't point to an exact moment in time. All I know is that as God began gently prodding me to take baby steps out of fear, instead of no...instead of self-protection...I chose Him. I chose obedience.

I said YES...and I found Him to be faithful.

Each time I said, "yes"...no matter how scary the situation, He came through! As a result, I learned that He is good and that He is indeed, trustworthy.

The funny thing I realized is...I'm NOT good enough. I never was and never will be.

However, MY GOD IS GOOD ENOUGH! He is all-sufficient and because HE is enough, then I am, too.

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Truth #9 - You have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

Power - to go through any trial or persecution you may be facing.

Love - to love the Lord and your fellow man.

Sound Mind - to remain balanced, just, and prudent in all of your ways.

Fear tries so many times to raise it's ugly head against all of those...making you feel like you are alone in a trial, like you don't have what it takes, like the Lord doesn't really love you, like others dislike you, like you are unworthy of attention, like you'll never get it right, like you're going crazy, like you just can't take it one more day, etc. The list of satan's lies could go on and on and on.

Today...this day...is the day to put an end to it all!

Your birthright from God did not come stamped with the "spirit of fear"! It came fully-loaded with power, love, and a sound mind. That is your identity as a Christian. Trust in it! Live it!

Need to catch up on this series? 

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2, Truth #3, Truth #4, Truth #5, Truth #6, Truth #7, Truth #8

Last post in the series:

Truth #10

Linking up at:

A Pause on the Path

Soli Deo Gloria

Cornerstone Confessions

Women Living Well

Raising Homemakers

Salt and Light

Truth # 8 - You are salt and light.

Matthew 5: 13-16 says,

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Now, I rarely do this, but here is the same passage out of "The Message". I don't use "The Message" for my primary Bible reading, but I do love to see what it says sometimes...and I kind of love how it expresses these  particular verses.

"Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Honestly, after reading those two versions, I don't think there's much more that I can say to explain them, but I do want to encourage you, my sisters and brothers in Christ - -

Please, don't let the world shut you up! Don't allow the "political correctness" of your statements or actions be your measuring stick. The Word, coupled with the leading of the Holy Spirit, is to be your primary guide.

Imagine this - the moment you became a Christian, it's like a light switched on not only on the inside of you, but also on the outside. Just as the smallest candle can illuminate a room once full of darkness, the light of Christ inside of you is there to make a difference in this world!

Let me ask you: Are you making a difference? Are you a light to the people in your "sphere of influence"? Are you salt to them? 

If so, I believe you'd know it.

Imagine I was sitting right beside you. If I asked, I believe you should be able to tell me two things immediately: 1) how Christ has made a difference in your life, and 2) how He is using your life to make a difference in this world.

I can only make that statement and ask those questions because there are portions of my life that I know I was certainly NOT being "salt and light". I couldn't have answered those questions because I did not have a relationship with God, I had "religion". God was on the back-burner of my life and other things had become idols to me, more important than God. I used God for convenience and went to church out of duty. He was not "my everything", as He is now. I wish I could have that time back...wish I would have done things differently.

Don't be like I was...don't be lukewarm. Be HOT! Live a life of passion, overflowing with love for God and love for others! Ask God to open your eyes to see, daily, how He can use you as "salt and light" in this dark world. Stay yielded to Him. Be quick to obey.

Determine to make a difference because Christ has made a difference in you!

Need to catch up on this series? 

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2, Truth #3, Truth #4, Truth #5, Truth #6, Truth #7

Next post:

Truth #9

Linking up at:

Beholding Glory

Boldly

Truth #7 - You can approach the Lord boldly.

Just so you know, in preparation for this one, I was in tears. I have been reading and studying in the Old Testament this year like never before. The knowledge I've gained has been priceless. I now realize so much more about different things such as circumcision and various sacrifices. Most of all, I understand more about the "heart" behind it all. The symbolism that can be seen from one testament to the next is breath-taking! If you have neglected the Old Testament, like I did for so long, I implore you to get into it!! But, I digress.......

What I really want to show you comes from Ephesians 3:12 -

"In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him." (the "Him" there being Jesus)

The wonderful, magnificent, broken body of our Lord, Jesus Christ, changed our standing before God forever!

Let's look further -  

In the Old Testament, in Exodus 35 - 36; 39:1-31; and Leviticus 1 - 9, you can read all about the Tabernacle that the Israelites carried with them from place to place. I won't attempt to even begin to tell you all about it, but I do want to tell you about the Holy of Holies, or the Most High Place, that was housed within the Tabernacle.

The Holy of Holies held the very presence of Almighty God. Entering there literally meant entering into His glory. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only on one day a year, the Day of Atonement. Before his entrance, he had to meticulously prepare, making sure his own sins were covered. This day was extremely sacred, as the high priest pleaded for the forgiveness of the people's sins. 

There was a veil that shielded the Holy of Holies, protecting the awesomeness of God's presence from the ugliness of sinful men. The Lord's presence was never to be entered into flippantly or with irreverence. If a high priest did enter that way, if his sins were not covered, he would die.

Now let's jump to the New Testament and read Mark 15: 37-38 as the Messiah, on the cross, took His last breath:

"And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His life. And the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (Amplified Bible)

This is pretty much the point that my tears of gratefulness started overflowing.

Do you see it?!

Jesus made a way for us, those whose sins have been forgiven, to enter into the very presence of God!!! We don't need a high priest...Jesus, in those precious moments on the cross, became our high priest, once and for all!

Read in Hebrews with me:

"We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." (6: 19-20)

If your sins are forgiven and you are a child of the Most High, the Bible says there is no condemnation for you (Rom 8:1). Yes, there should be a healthy reverence for the Lord. Yes, you should go before Him realizing He is God, the Creator of all there is! However, there is no reason whatsoever to be timid or scared when approaching Him with your needs, your petitions, or your yearning to just "be" in His presence.

Jesus took care of that for you.

You can go boldly.

Hallelujah!!!!!!

To catch up on this series, start HERE and work backwards.

Next post in the series: Truth #8

Linking up at:
A Pause on the Path, Growing Home, Beholding Glory, Women Living Well, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, and Raising Homemakers

Fruity

I lost it with my kids the other day....completely, one-hundred percent lost it. I yelled at them for trashing the den while I was with their baby sister, trying desperately to get nap time on her mind. One started crying, the other came to hug me, and I had to say "I'm sorry" very quickly. I was not patient and long-suffering with my kids that day. I was not kind, gentle, and self-controlled. I chose to dig into the arsenal of my sinful flesh and I pulled out some very ugly weapons. Had I reached into the treasure trove of my fruit basket, things would have turned out much better.

Yep...you read that right. I said, "fruit basket"! And guess what? If you're a Christian, you have one, too!

 Truth #6 - You have the fruit of the Spirit.

In other words, you're fruity! :)

Galatians 5:22-23 identifies the contents of our baskets - 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law."

The Spirit, who dwells inside you, is constantly working on you! He's continually pruning you and reshaping you, so that you will bear much fruit! Just as a well-kept apple tree will produce a wonderful harvest, so will you, as the Spirit does His work.

Just beware, that you always have a choice. You are a new creation, you've been marvelously redeemed, and you have the Holy Spirit as your guide...but your rotten, stinky, fleshly-side must be crucified daily...even at times, moment-by-moment. Unfortunately, it will want to rear it's ugly head and you'll sometimes want to side with it, just like I did in the example above. 

Remember, Paul said,

"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me." Romans 7:21

"We have an indwelling desire to sin, but the Holy Spirit maintains within us a dominate desire for holiness." (quote from "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges)

There is no doubt, each one of us struggles with our flesh, but as Christians, our lives should be characterized by the fruits of the Spirit over and above it all!

The Bible says,

"You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Matt 7:16

In other words, your fruit should be showing...significantly!!

Is it???

Ask yourself some hard questions, and if you're brave enough, ask those closest to you to give you an honest assessment. Question them...

"Am I patient? Would you say that I am kind? Do you see me as a loving person? What about faithful? Self-controlled? Gentle? Good? Joyful? Peaceful?"

My guess is that if you're lacking in any area, you'll already know it. Those areas are probably some of the ones that the Holy Spirit is working with you on the most! And, aren't you so thankful that He doesn't give up?! Aren't you so thankful for His grace?

I know I am! I sure needed it the other day with my kids. I need it every day that comes!!

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Lord, help us all to be more fruity and fruitful for You! Help us to stay yielded to You as You work on us, pruning our lives and tilling up the soil of our souls. It is our sincere desire that as others view our lives from the outside, they will notice a difference in us by the way we deal with and relate to others. Would You help our lives to be so characterized by the fruits of the Spirit that we can witness to others without saying a word?

Need to catch up on this series? 

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2, Truth #3, Truth #4, Truth #5

Next post:

 Truth #7

Gifted

When I was in elementary school, I remember being taken into a room with a lady I hadn't ever seen before and for the next little bit, she administered a test. Believe me, I have never forgotten one of the questions I missed..."What does H2O represent?". For the life of me, I could not come up with the answer! After learning it was water, I definitely had one of those smack-my-forehead moments!

Somehow, it was determined that I was "gifted", and I was put in a special class for one day a week with the rest of my "gifted" peers. Although I was not as bright as the rest of the class and often wondered how I ever scored high enough to get in it, I have some wonderful friends that came out of the experience. To this day, my best friend, Jenny, and I reminisce about that class!

You may or may not realize it yet, but without even putting you through a test, I can guarantee this - -

Truth #5 - You are gifted.

1 Peter 4:10 says this,

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

The Lord has graciously given each Christian a gift (or gifts), to be used in serving the Body of Christ. These gifts are very special and if you're functioning in yours, you will more than likely know it. As you grow in Christ, I believe your gift(s) will come as naturally to you as the air you breathe! You may be young in the faith and you may not recognize your particular gift(s) just yet, but when it all starts to "click", you will understand that it's been yours all along. It will be part of the "why" behind some of the specific motivations at work in your life.

So what are the spiritual gifts? 

I'm glad you asked! Below, I'm going to share some of the main passages that speak of the gifts and  highlight the gifts in each one. Then, if you don't know your gift, I'm simply going to ask that you spend some time with the Lord, asking Him to reveal yours to you in the near future. While there are some tests out there that can be used to point you in the general direction of your gift(s), I think it's better to let God show you. I can tell you for a fact that while I do function in the areas a certain "spiritual gifts" test determined were mine, some of the lower scoring gifts on that test are the more predominate ones at work in my life today. Had I kept the mentality of "it's-not-my-gift" (according to some man-made test), I would not be who I am today. Obedience to God and stepping out in faith always has to come first, whether you think something is your gift or not!!! Like I said, let God show you. You can't go wrong with Him!

Here are the passages that speak of spiritual gifts:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8

"To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues." 1 Cor 12:8-10

"And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts." 1 Cor 12:28-30

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Eph 4:11-13

Aren't you thankful that the Lord chose to give you gifts so that you can serve specifically within the Body (church)?! I know I am!

Don't forget to spend time with the Lord, asking Him to reveal your gift(s) to you.

P.s. There are differing opinions on the gifts and their functions, so I encourage you to seek more information on the subject. I can only include so much here. It would benefit you to speak with your pastor about understanding the gifts more.

If you need to catch up on this series, click on the links below -

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2, Truth #3, Truth #4

Next post - 
Truth #6

Linking up at: Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers

Guide

I have wrestled over this one, big time, because the importance of it is so great! I desire for fellow Christians to "get this" so much!! Personally, when I began to understand this one, my life changed.

Truth #4 - You have a Guide.

John 16:13 says,

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." 

A sad fact that I have heard over and over again is that many Christians feel scared of God, thinking that their faith hinges on their ability to "be good"...to keep all of the commandments, and therefore, not anger God. Of course, when those Christians fail, as we all do, they seem to give over to the fact that they cannot be perfect, but feel happy enough with a "fire insurance" type of faith, thinking they are saved from hell. Being a "good person" and not committing any "big" sins pacifies them and mere church attendance seems like enough to keep an "angry God" off of their backs. Many, many Christians live like that is all there is to Christianity...filling a church pew and trying, at least, to be a "good" person (giving to the poor, not cussing, loving their families, etc). 

Let me be absolutely clear - that is not all there is!!!!

God did not tug on your heart and gloriously save your soul so that you would then go out and try, in vain, to live a "good" life and not anger Him.

The whole point of God, through the person of the Holy Spirit, living on the inside of you is for relationship. He wants to be your Guide, your Counselor, your Father, your Best Friend, your Lover, your King, your Everything...the One you turn to, every moment of every day. You were created to have a close, personal, and very intimate relationship with your Creator!

The question is...have you taken the time to learn to listen to His voice? When you do hear it, do you submit and obey?

I didn't really grow up in Christ until I started waiting in His presence and learning to listen. As things He would speak to me (in my mind/heart) were confirmed in obvious ways, as I compared what I was hearing to the Word, and as I watched things I somehow "knew" were going happen take place...I started to understand that I could TRUST Him to lead me through this life. Most importantly, I learned how sweet and beautiful and pure and loving and intimate He was. Soaking in His presence and being with Him became my desire and my delight...much different from my silly attempts to follow a list of do's and don'ts!! 

I learned to live life in Him and through Him, similar to these passages - 

"For in Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28a

and

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Gal 5:25

Now, I literally commune with the Holy Spirit at any time and at any point in my day, because I've learned His voice. (My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27) I know He will lead me, step by step, and that I can trust His heart. I know His plans are for good and not for evil, even when there's pain involved. I didn't learn any of this in church...there I only learned about God. I had to get to know Him personally...on my own...by myself.

My prayer today is that if you don't have this kind of intimate relationship with God, you'll start running to get alone in His presence every chance you get! I can assure you that He wants to teach you more about Himself, that He wants to love on you, and that He wants to guide you, as the verse says, into all truth! Ask Him to reveal the depths of His heart and His character to you. Tell Him you don't want mere religion, but you want a relationship that overflows into every aspect of your life!!!

Need to catch up on this series?

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2, Truth #3

Next post:

Truth #5 

Linking up at:

Beholding Glory

A Little R & R

Dwelling Place

A long time ago, when I was a small child in Children's Church, I remember singing this little song:

"Into my heart, into my heart,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus,

Come in today, come in to stay,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus."

As an adult, I've heard people say that it's not best to tell children to "ask Jesus to come into their hearts" because it might scare them, since they can't really understand the concept. I don't remember it frightening me one bit. I actually remember it comforting me! Certainly, I'm no expert, and this post is not about child evangelism...but I want you to know that in a sense, that little song is exactly right!

Truth #3 - You are a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

Does Christ come "into your heart"? Well, yes! He actually makes your entire body His home!

Read 1 Cor 6:19-20 -

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Then, Gal 2:20 says  -

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

And lastly, Col 1:27 says -

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Think about it...before Christ went to Heaven, He told His disciples that it was good and to their advantage that He go away (see Jn 16:7). Why would He say that?! Because the Holy Spirit was coming!!

If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ, having asked for forgiveness of your sins and having committed your life fully to Him, then you have the Holy Spirit dwelling...residing...living...on the inside of you!

Isn't that exciting?!?!

What reassurance, knowing that God, in Spirit form, is ALWAYS with us!

When you wake up to a sink full of dishes...He is there. When you forget to give the kids lunch money (again)...He is there. When you head out the door to run errands for the day...He is there. When the lies of the enemy come at you from every angle...He is there. When you walk into a room full of your greatest critics...He is there. When you're standing at the pinnacle of your life's greatest accomplishment...He is there. When you lay your head down at night, exhausted from another busy day...He is there.

He is there...in every moment and every situation...because you carry Him with you into every circumstance of your life.

You, my friend, are the very dwelling place of God.

The question is...do you tap into His power or do you try to handle things on your own? 

Think about that today.

(We'll discuss it next time!)

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Need to catch up on this series? Please visit the links below:

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2

Next post:
Truth #4

Linking up at:
The Better Mom, Raising Arrows, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers

Stranger

As a Christian, have you ever felt like you just didn't belong? Let's say you're at a family gathering, or your workplace, or your school, and as far as you know, there's no one else around you that professes to be a Christian. Sure, you love your friends, co-workers, or family, but the conversations they have, the things they do on the weekends, even the way they dress, carry themselves, and treat others...all of it is hard for you to take in.

Do you know why? Because as a new creation, you've been made different. It's not a "bad" kind of different, but a "good" kind of different! When the Holy Spirit of God comes to take up residence in your life and heart, you can't help but change!!

And you discover...

Truth #2 - You are a stranger in this world.

1 Peter 2:11 says this,

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."

The psalmist in Psalm 119:19 declares, "I am a stranger on earth..."

And in Hebrews 11:13, after the Word speaks about the faithful acts of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we read,

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth." 

Verse 16 goes on to say, "...they were longing for a better country - - a heavenly one." 

When we are sealed...marked...stamped...as a Christian, our desires change. We long for righteousness, goodness, peace, purity...things that are lovely and praiseworthy. Our heart's desire is to please God, to know Him more fully, to live completely for Him, and to bring glory to His name. Suddenly, just as the heroes of the faith, we long for Heaven...our true home! The Lord puts those longings in our hearts. You may not like it all the time, this "being different", and there may be times that you even feel like you don't fit in with certain groups of people, but honestly - - praise God for those feelings!! It simply means that you are experiencing the effects of your DNA as a born-again Child of God! I can assure you, there is nothing better!

One of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis is, "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."

It's true. We don't really belong here. We were made for another world, one that will be our eternal home with the Father. Ah, I can't wait to meet you all and worship with you there!! It's going to be an amazing place, beyond our wildest imaginations!

If going there means that I am a stranger here, so be it.

Lord, we are longing to be with You. You put eternity in our hearts and heaven on our minds. Thank you for the hope we have of that day when we will walk side-by-side with You, basking in Your awesome presence. While we are here though, we are strangers...at times peculiar and seemingly "weird" in world that does not understand You. Help us, strengthen us, and draw close to us in those moments when being a Christian means we take a difficult path, maybe even losing friends. Remind us, Lord, that by design being a stranger here only means that we are adopted "There". 

Once again, I was reminded of a song as I was writing this. It's one of my all-time favorites! Be forewarned, you will sing it all day long...but it will be a good reminder to you of Truth #2 - You are a stranger in this world. (P.s. If you're a subscriber, you'll have to hop on the blog to actually view it.)

My oldest brother, ages ago (sorry bro...we are getting old!), would listen to a song by Petra called, "Not of This World" that would apply here, too. It stuck in my head as a kid! Go to youtube and look it up:)

*In case you missed the first post in this series, go to - Truth #1

*The next post is - Truth #3

Linking up at: 

Imparting Grace

Beholding Glory 

Free

As a Christian, you have a true identity...one that God intended for you live out from the very moment you became His child. God is constantly working in your life, prompting you, whispering to you, encouraging you to walk in the fullness of those characteristics. In this study, we will examine and celebrate what it means to be a Christian! After all, isn't being a Christian...a new creation...something to celebrate?! Get ready to discover and/or revisit your DNA as a child of the King.

Truth #1 - You are free.

Romans 6:6-7 says this about you...

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been set free from sin."

Sin's power over you? Yep...you're free from that! (insert happy dance) 

Romans 6:18 says it again...

"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

You see, you still have to deal with your flesh. You are still tempted (being tempted is not a sin)...but the power and the urge to sin...the slavery to your old nature...that's gone. Instead, you have become a slave to something beautiful - - righteousness. Overwhelmingly, you want to live the right way, to do the right thing, and to live a sin-free life in honor of the Lord.

So, let that truth sink deep today. Meditate on it. You are free!!!

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 

Thank You, dear Father, for the freedom given to us through the sacrifice of Your Son. Help us Lord, to walk in that freedom. When we are influenced to go against Your Word, when we are staring temptation in the face, help us to immediately obey Your promptings to flee. Help us to turn, run away, and fall straight into Your arms of safety!

Here's a song to help us all celebrate being FREE! It might make you want to get up and really do the happy dance this time:)

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-UPDATE-
 All posts in this series now available:

Introduction, Truth #2, Truth #3, Truth #4, Truth #5, Truth #6, Truth #7, Truth #8, Truth #9, Truth #10

Linking up at:

 The Better Mom, Growing Home, A Pause on the Path, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers