As a Christian, have you ever felt that you are forgiven, but just not free? Perhaps you have assurance in your salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but you still feel an ongoing struggle that you will never be your best for God? Perhaps there is a perpetual sin where you believe you will never be free? Or perhaps, you believe that some confessed sin from your past will one day catch back up to you and overtake you? Or, you simply believe that you have ruined your future with God because He could never use someone like you?

When believers who are forgiven and abiding in Christ have these thoughts, there are two dominant emotions that pervade the landscape of our mind: Shame and Blame. We carry a badge of dishonor and repeat the thoughts of ,“I should have known better” and, “I deserve bad things in my life.” This leads to a victim mentality of blaming other people for why we arrived in this situation in the first place. We blame parents, pastors, coaches, teachers, friends and family in our desire to be released from this inner-turmoil.

The Good News of the Gospel declares that Jesus Christ is our Advocate and the propitiation of our sins. That means that Jesus himself has turned away God’s wrath and cleansed us from all sin. We are completely forgiven! Therefore, the enemy does everything he can possibly do to lie to us and make us think we can no longer be BRAVE in our walk with Christ.

In the midst of the devil’s lies, we can expose them with truth and recognize that God has forgiven us and there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We are completely forgiven by Him. So when the devil lies and accuses us, we may know that God himself is standing up for us. This is GREAT NEWS!!! Remember today, that God is for you, and as a believer you no longer need to listen to the lie.

PRAYER

Jesus. I have been listening to the lies of the enemy, which are keeping me from stepping out in faith with Christ. Lord, forgive me for listening to his lies and owning them as truth. Today I believe that You are for me and that no weapon formed against me will prosper because I am abiding in You. May You be glorified today in all I do. Amen.