who YOU say I am

Monday, November 2, 2020 (6:10 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

I come to You this morning, struggling with my thoughts. They are critical. Judgmental. Not at all what I believe YOU to be telling me.

According to my current way of thinking I am somehow to blame for much of everything that isn’t as I would have the world today. Although I realize this to be totally inaccurate, the internal condemnation continues.

Again I turn to You. And You do not disappoint!

Recognizing my thoughts to be filled with negative comparisons and self-blame, I bring it all to You and You fill my heart. While confessing to You I start singing, ♪There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus♪

Thank You Father. Praise You. Sitting up straighter. Standing more firmly. Staying my mind on Your Truth. Romans 8:1. Let me truly accept Your promises, Lord.

The Life Recovery Bible comment tells us, “This is one of the greatest affirmations of Scripture. We will never be condemned by God for our sins, because Jesus Christ has paid the price once and for all. When we turn our life over to God’s care, we can be confident that we will not be condemned by Him. If we have confessed our sins and accepted God’s forgiveness in Christ, there is ‘no condemnation.’”

I don’t have to keep beating myself up over my mistakes. Nor do I need to look to others for approval or signs that I am who I want to be. No! I want to keep looking to You. Asking to be reminded of who YOU say I am. Forgiven! Not forsaken.

Which brings me right back to the first song of this morning. ♪Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am… I am chosen, not forsaken I am who You say I am… You are for me not against me I am who You say I am♪

Praise You Father. Thank You.

Turning further to You and Your Word, I am directed deeper into this chapter. Verse 31. “What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Yes!

“8:31-39 Our security in life and recovery is based on God’s unshakeable love for us. The love God has for us is not just an emotion but a matter of historical record…” This recovery footnote reminds us that You willingly sent Jesus to suffer and die on our behalves. There is nothing that can separate me from Your love.

And with that Truth comes another song. ♪Your Love Never Fails Nothing can separate Even if I ran away Your love never fails I know I still make mistakes But You have new mercies for me everyday…♪ Oh thank and praise You Father.

You right, adjust and change my thinking. You put me back on the path of believing that I am truly loved by You. Every single mistake and all.

I love You Father. I need You. I ask You to comfort and guide me every single step of this day. I absolutely have no idea what is coming next. It is in and with and by and through Your Holy Spirit that I depend ‘to be lifted up to a new and righteous kind of living’ (Romans 8:9-11 Illustrated Bible Handbook).

“Our obligation is not to ‘try,’ but to trust the Spirit of God within us and let Him lead us (12-14). After all, we are God’s children now, and heirs to a righteousness which is His” (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

So who do You say I am? Your forgiven child. Do all You must that I would live this day as such. Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(645 words ~ 8:14 a.m.)