Redeemed

I called on your name, O LORD,
from the depths of the pit;
you heard my plea,
‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’
You came near when I called on you,
you said, ‘Do not fear!’
You have taken up my cause, O LORD;You have redeemed my life.
– Lamentations 3:55-58

‘Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives not all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
– Psalm 103:2-5 -

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
– Galatians 4:5 -

Jesus Christ came to do the His Father’s will,
He gave His life. To pay the price for my sin.
He is my Redeemer.
Because of His grace, through faith I am saved.

I don’t want to continue living this life in fear, guilt, shame, or enslaved to anything in this world.
“For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
– Galatians 5:1 -

I want to live victoriously.
“for God gave us a spirit no of fear
but of power and love and self-control.”
– 2 Timothy 1:7 –

I don’t want to continue just “making it through the day”
Days are hard, life is full of trouble and trials.
In Scripture we have been told of this and we see how others went through
the trials and felt the pain, grief, overwhelming loss, depression, etc.
But then we also see how Christ was their,
Comforter, Counselor, Friend, Redeemer, Refuge, Rock, Hope, and Savior.
He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
He is always there. His Spirit lives within me and is my Helper.
I don’t have to make it through this day on my own.
I don’t have to continue struggling, failing, or living in the pit of sin.
I can call out to Him. Confess my sins to Him.
He is faithful and just.
Will wash my sins away, ‘as far as the east is from the west’
Oh how great is His love and grace.

In Hebrews 4:15-16 it says,
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

So I run to Him. Seek Him.
“And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.”

the anxiety antidote.

so many days are filled with anxious thoughts.
how many minutes, even hours are wasted by worry.
It accomplishes nothing.
it only keeps my mind in constant motion.
it only adds burdens and stress to my life.
that God doesn’t call for me to bear.

just a quick glimpse in His Word and I know that He gives peace.
It says:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
-(Philippians 4:6-7)-

Oh these verses are known by many and quoted often.
so why do you i continue to let my mind be filled with anxious thoughts?
because I may be able to quote the verse…. but don’t let it sink down to my heart or truly believe its for me.

So I pray now, that I may trust you Lord.
Believe that you care for me.
That I may have faith and cast these anxious thoughts and concerns upon You.
Lord, I pray that I may be filled with your peace, “which surpasses all understanding”.
To be able to rest in Your presence.
To experience your “fullness of joy”
Knowing ‘You hold my lot”
And “in you book were written, every one one them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16b)

I am so easily distracted by the worries of this world.
May I take these thoughts captive.
Turn my temptations into prayers -
and think about things above.
to walk today – in a manner worthy of the gospel – to please You.
And to bring You Glory and Honor.

she gave it all.

The widow dropped in two coins.
Only two coins.
And yet, Jesus said she gave the greater gift.
Why?
Because she gave all she had.
think of that.
ALL she had.
Every last cent.
she gave to Him. Lord of All.

So I say I trust God to provide.
Know in my head that He owns it all.
That He entrusts me with things now- so I can be a good steward.
Yet, I had to stop and think.

Would I give it all??
Really. Honestly.
Would I give it ALL?

All – my time, my money, my reputation, my comfortable “American” lifestyle?
To follow Him? to take up my cross daily?
putting aside my selfish desires, to live for Christ?

Because if I did…. It might change my life.
I would stop and lend a hand to someone in need.
Take a break from rushing down my “to do” list – to call a friend and pray with them.
My checkbook statement or credit card balance would reflect a change.
Share the gospel with those I know, instead of being afraid of what they may think.
Be willing to live with less today…. to give for the glory of God.

Could you tell by looking, where my heart is?
Am I striving endlessly for the success and things of the world.
Or am I striving to glorify God in all that i do?

She dropped them in.
Two coins.
But they reveal so much about her heart.

She trusted God to provide. To meet her every need.
She knew the eternal reward was far better than any material item here on earth.
She loved Him with her whole heart, soul and mind.
Because she was willing to give all she had.

in my weakness – Your Power Revealed.

Asking for help and strength
to get through today.
to do this task.
I feel inadequate and unprepared.
shaky hands. trembling voice.
I cry out to You.
For help in this time of need.

You meet me here.
You fulfill Your promises.
You provide and give me strength.

Beforehand and during the tests,
i admit my weakness.
and know it is only by Your power and Grace,
that i can make it through these trials and tasks.
You have given me the gifts and skills I need.

So why do I do claim the credit?
when the praise from people comes.
why do i let it boost my ego?
why do i let pride take hold and boast about my talent?

I ask, time and time again.
for blessings, success, or strength.
to only receive the credit myself.

Your Word says.
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,
and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
so that, just as it is written,
LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IS THE LORD.”
(1 Corinth. 1:30-31)

You have given me weakness – so that Your strength and Power can be revealed.
Forgive me for accepting credit or praise – that is should only be given to You.
You are the Creator, Sustainer of this earth and everything in it.
You grant me my every breath.
May I live and breathe to sing praises to You
each and everyday.

more than words

the words i love you.
softly spoken in a prayer.
they are true.
but my actions don’t match my words.
i scale my sin down to an acceptable size.
rationalize it away.
cast it aside.
I can tell myself, its only one small problem in my life.
nothing compared to all those “other sins”.

yet digging into Your Word.
you say, “be holy, for I am holy.”
you say, ” if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”
you told the the woman caught in sin, ” go now and leave your life of sin.”

its seems so hard. to make such a sacrifice.
to live life differently. to say no to temptation and my sinful ways.
yet. if i think about your gift.
your gift of grace. Your son died for me.
Willing walked the hill carrying His own cross to die on.
for my sin.
Thats my sin nailing Him to the cross.

Sin has no other name. but sin.
for sin has no ranking.
There shall be no acceptance of it in my life.

So i confess these lies I have be believed.
Repent of these “petty” sins.
For they aren’t petty at all.
Your word says,
” For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

You see my heart.
You see through the empty words.
For if i say I love You – I will obey You.
and Seek to live each day – abiding in You.
And remember what Your Word says, is truth.

” In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do no let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness,
but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life;
and offer the parts of you body to him as instruments of righteousness.
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law,
but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14)