Not so much my mistakes from before I believed... I'm not proud of those things, but they don't consume me. Honestly, at the knowledge of His saving grace I readily drop my past at the foot of the cross and move on with Jesus and never go back.
It's the mis-steps and insufficiencies since becoming a Christian that trip me up. The thoughts of who I'm not and what things I have not yet overcome that distort my vision of me. It's the lingering sin... the issues that come and go and come yet again... these take me down.
I catch a glimpse in the mirror and wonder just what God will have to do with me... as if I might still shamefully wear the label "lost cause."
Satan loves this about me. I faithfully provide him a sea of opportunities to pollute my mind... to rock my security... to rob me of my worth and my joy.
I forget all to easily that I am new. I'm not talking about the new me from salvation. Beyond that, how I am being made new.... in active renewal status... sanctification... now and up until He comes for me.
When I stumble down this troubled, loathsome road I need only shift my eyes from me and onto Him to see the light again. He shines promise upon me...
"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:14 KJV
That's me that verse is talking about and you... His offering has perfected us FOREVER as we move ahead in the unfolding of sanctification.
And I suddenly wonder, what's the rush? This need for perfection here in this place. Because I know it won't come here and if I just cling to this path that I muddle along, slow as it seems, then I remain fixed in His plan... right where He wants me.
I'm reminded of this song by Jason Gray, I know you've all heard it...
I love the last lines that say...
Forgiven Beloved
Hidden in Christ
Made in the image of the giver of life
Righteous and Holy
Reborn and Remade
Accepted and Worthy
This is our new name
This is who we are now...
I often awake to those words echoing about in the deep of my mind... they serenade hope and promise to my wondering heart. And that's what it's all about... remembering who I am in Him. Forgetting what I'm not to the World and refusing to give my flesh the lead. Then in the great exchange of my weakness for His strength I have super-natural power to handle Satan's attacks. I can check the sand for footprints and follow Paul... "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead... heavenward" where I am not only made new... but my perfection is complete.
Beautiful Heidi! I love that song too. I am filled with hope knowing that I am given a new start every day. Our lives are a journey and every day is an opportunity to be shaped a little bit more into the person God wants us to become.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that song and Jason Grey.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Heidi! I am not perfect, but in Him, I am forgiven and made new.
Great song! I feel your emotional throughout this entire post. I think we are all lost causes... until God placed his hands on us. Once we said "yes" Jesus I want to follow you, then we were "found" and bore a new cause...the cause for Christ. I like when you said, "remembering who I am in Him. Forgetting what I'm not to the World and refusing to give my flesh the lead. This is a wonderful reminder.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to get consumed with what we are not, isn't it? I want to turn my eyes upward and see myself in Him. It's not who I am, it's Whose I am. Beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteTell the enemy this when he comes putting doubts into your head. Say satan I am not perfect but I surely am not what I use to be, glory to GOD!
ReplyDeleteBut you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.1Peter 2:9
For God did not give me the spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind, and the same mind that is in Christ Jesus is now in me. Glory to GOD
This was so for me. I have trouble on turning my focus to who I am instead of who I'm not. Perfection is my worst enemy. I hate all my imperfections, all the mistakes I make. The past has been forgotten but what about allt he mistakes I make now as a reborn Christian, surely He gets irritated but He doesn't, that's the beauty of it. His grace is sufficient and we're all in the process of learning and He's the great TEacher so I don't have to be afraid of Him dropping me. I love love love this post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYour not alone dear friend,, i to forget any let my flesh grip me for moments,, I will never be good enough in this world because I wasn't made for it. It is only in Christ that I feel whole, up to par, he's grace and love is so "Not of this world", I fall and get up, dust my pants off and tell Satan NO I am NOT falling,, I am made righteous through Christ wrapped in his salvation. Saints are believers that fall and get back up again... may you always get back up! Your beautiful and inspiring and so Real..love you!
ReplyDeleteWell said Heidi! It's hard not to get hung up on those mistakes and want to be perfect. We're so harsh on ourselves while God - who is all that matters - is patient and gentle. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement today!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
"Satan loves this about me. I faithfully provide him a sea of opportunities to pollute my mind... to rock my security... to rob me of my worth and my joy." I'm hearing so much of this from women lately. Why do we do this to ourselves? Great post, and great job of identifying with some of the same struggles of so many. God bless you, my friend and remember Who holds your hand.
ReplyDeletePraise God that I am made perfectly complete in Him!
ReplyDeleteI love that song as well Heidi, and like you I'm very much drawn to the lyrics at the end of the song as well. Sometimes it can be difficult to see ourselves as perfect in any way, but in Him, we're exactly who He intends us to be along the path.
ReplyDeleteHave a Blessed Day!
This is one of my favorite songs. Thank you Heidi for sharing. God has really been speaking this truth to me. I am new.
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