Self-effort
and self-reliance are delusional illusions provided by Satan to keep us from
totally trusting in God for our salvation, our fulfillment and our eternal
destination (Psalm 32:2).
Once
our spirit is Born Again through Christ in us, we experience His deliverance
from the chains of sin, which once attempted to keep us in bondage to this
earthly realm.
As
Saints, we are still living in this world, yet we persevere through the Spirit
of God and not our own human resources (Ephesians 1:13-14). We are free in
Christ and we enter into His rest (John 8:36; Hebrews 13:5).
In
our realization of our complete helplessness to control life, we turn to God
and find the true, lasting and total deliverance that only He can provide (Romans
7:24-25).
He
is our God in times of darkness and light; in fact, when darkness overtakes
God's Saints, His light comes in like a flood (Psalm 112). He forgives all of
our sins and heals our diseases for His glory (John 8:11).
Through
His Spirit, God transforms us by writing His laws on our heart as we read,
study and walk in the truth of His Word (Romans 8:2; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Jeremiah
31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-12).
Rather
than thinking that we are in this world to be a part of it, we realize that we
are foreigners and pilgrims. We do not belong here, because we are citizens of
heaven with a job to do for God while we live on this earth (1 Peter 2:11).
We
dwell here at the pleasure of our King alone. He has His purpose, will and way
for our existence as human beings (Ephesians 2:10). When we fulfill that plan,
He takes us home to dwell with Him for eternity. In fact, God delights in death
of His saints (Psalm 115:16).
Prayer:
Father
God, like Paul we often criticize our self-efforts to struggle to stay one step
ahead of sin (Romans 7), until we realize that Christ in us already won the
victory over both sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). All the power of Your
Trinity abides within us and we are victors and overcomers - no longer slaves
to sin and the flesh (Romans 6:6, 18).
Help
us to separate our affections for the things of this earth and to place them
instead on spiritual rewards (Colossians 3:2-17). Enable us to see Your purpose
for our life here on earth, rather than to slave and stress over a career to
make a meager living and amass this world's goods (John 15:3; Titus 1:15).
Thought
for the Day:
We
joyfully live to give God glory and honor through our every thought, word and
action on this earth; He will come for His Bride in time for the wedding in
which we will wear the fine linen woven from the Spirit-led, righteous acts of our
ministry in His name. - Revelation 19:7-8
