Who I Am In Christ Devotionals

  And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. Isaiah 35:8 Christ has made me clean, so I get to use it. This verse is new to me. I've read it before, but I never really noticed it. I like it because I'm in it. It's about a highway. The unclean can't use it. But Christ has made me clean, so I get to! Then, it says, "It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray." That's me! I'm a fool. I'm not saying that I'm stupid, but I fall into "quicksin"... I mean quicksand so easily. And he rescues me. Sometimes, I feel like I must wear him out. I fall, I'm convicted, I repent, I get back on the road. He keeps helping me. He doesn't tell me (like AAA) that I only get four rescues a year. I get unlimited. Sometimes, I feel like I m

  > For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 Things work out, even very painful things, in His time. I am His workmanship. That means He put thought and wisdom into making me. He knew what He was doing when He made me, when He saved me, and made me new. I am now a new creation. I have heard many testimonies of people who got saved and still struggled with their hurts, habits, and hang-ups. But God kept working. Things work out, even very painful things, in His time. I am His workmanship. Part of that is that He is teaching me, patiently. Good works don't save me; He saved me so I could do them. I was created for good works. But those good works don't save me. He saved me so I could do them. I used to get a cold feeling from that verse. Who wants to go around doing good works all the time? I thought. The Adam in me rebelled against the notion. But the changed me wanted it. The

  Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4 Seems Like a Rotten Thing to Say to an Anxious Person I find it fascinating and annoying that the scripture often says, "Fear not." At first, it seems like such a rotten thing to say to someone who is anxious! Just stop that freight train of anxiety. Stop it. But it's a FREIGHT TRAIN. I can't stop it. Still, I believe the Word with all my heart. When I read seemingly impossible commands in scripture, I must be missing something. I'll confess this today: I have consistently downplayed the potential of the power of God in my life. Yet His power abides. He might tell me that I'm not realizing blessings because I'm not forgiving, staying angry, or even holding on to shame when He died for my sin. Even then He works. Here's the thing I've noticed. He's usually simply asking me

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! Psalm 119:124‭-‬125 According to His Steadfast Love I am a child of the one true God. I am His servant. The songwriter of this Psalm just up and says, "Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love." Oh, I want to have the faith and courage to talk to God like that. I mean, the psalmist almost sounds demanding! Of course, he is not. He simply knows God so well that He can ask and He will receive. This becomes a model for me when I pray. I so want God to deal with me according to His steadfast love. What a beautiful idea! Yes God, deal with me like that. Zooms By Like a Speeding Corvette And teach me your statutes, your word, and what you want me to do. Teach me that. Wait. I can ask God to teach me things! And He listens? Yes. The bible is a treasure of truth that I can read and it zooms right by me like a s

  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7 Every Believer As a believer in Jesus, how much grace do I get? And what about everyone else? It says "each one." That's every believer. Each. That means me. I get grace. I don't deserve it. That's part of what grace is: it's an undeserved blessing. And He uses it to turn me, like a potter turns a lump of clay, into His workmanship. And my friends who are believers get it too. We each are getting this grace all at the same time. Plus every other believer on the planet. Of course, He has targeted non-believers with His grace too, they just don't know it yet; He lovingly draws them. He Does Not Get Spread Thin If He's spreading all that grace around, He must be getting spread thin (like me when I take on too much), right? No. He doesn't get spread too thin. This grace gets spread around to each according to the measure of Christ's gift. I'm not go

  But now, thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1 I Can Sometimes Forget Who I Am I am a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, but I can forget who I am: His bondservant. He owns me. If I think I can be a Christian and not BELONG to Him, I am wrong, wrong, wrong. And He'll show me. Ouch. He formed me. And smack dab in the middle of my messy rebellion, He redeemed me (bought me) out of the darkness into His glorious light. This is no group role call. And I'm not sure who heard it (the host of heaven maybe). He called me by my name. This is a person to person transaction. He says, "You are mine." To me. And He used my name when He did it. And He says to me, "Do not fear." I Belong To The One Who Formed Me Why? When you belong to the one who formed you and everything else in the universe, you get His eternal protection. You get to

The Pain, Hurt, Anger, Worry I struggle. Some days feel like it's all about the pain, hurt, anger, worry. God is faithful. He doesn't leave me alone in the fight. He encourages me directly through His word. Directly. He reminds me that I am loved. That I am His child, chosen. He revives me. Breathes encouragement into my fragmented thoughts. I can read a verse, and it leaps out at me. Like this one above. It shows me that God is full of lovingkindness which He is ready to shower on me. Why? So that I may keep the testimonies of His mouth. That I may keep His word. (Plus, He builds that desire in me.) That I may obey Him. And when I obey, I am filled with joy. Usefulness too. He Didn't Say It Would Be Easy When I keep His word, His testimonies, my relationships are healthier, more loving. The verse also gives me a clue about how to pray. I get to ask Him to revive me. The implication is that He will do it. I get to confess my hurts, my cries, my disappointments, in fact I mu

  Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-‬25 Crucified The Flesh I am Christ's. I am a believer. He wrote my name in the Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world. Amen! I have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That's what the verse says. I have crucified, past tense. So, why do I put on that old rotten corpse of my flesh again to try to serve Him, to battle sin, or even do this thing called life? Makes no sense! But I have crucified the flesh. And I do need reminders! I am not a child of the Devil. I am a child of God. No matter how much the Devil lies to me. No matter how much I have carried unhelpful shame. I AM A CHILD OF GOD! Hallelujah! Now, I live in the Spirit. That's the truth. That's the reality. I know it. I believe it. The verse says, "Let us also walk in the Spirit." Walk. Move my feet. That's me ac

Glory in His holy name; let the heart rejoice for those who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continuously. Psalms 105:3‭-‬4 It's A Big Claim I always knew I wanted to be a serious believer. Then, I'd see verses like this and my heart would sink. Here's why: the first part is fine, glory in His holy name, okay. Then, let the heart rejoice for those who seek the Lord. Still, I'm with it. Seek the Lord and His strength. Yes. I can do that. Now here it comes. Seek His presence continuously. Wait. What did that say? It's like that verse that says - pray without ceasing. Apostles and prophets must not know me, nor the millions of other believers who know that this isn't possible. Right? So, I've let these verses go in one ear and out the other. But recently, I realized that God is talking to all believers. I am a believer. Jesus has saved me from my sins. That's not just a future thing that happens after I die. It's now. Wit

 

 

 

  Glory in His holy name; let the heart rejoice for those who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continuously. - Psalms 105:3‭-‬4

 

  Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. Acts 19:18