The Struggle with Self-Condemnation.....By Jennifer Waddle

 The Struggle with Self-Condemnation

By Jennifer Waddle

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. (Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV)

Shame is one of the biggest deterrents of a Christian’s freedom in Christ. Self-condemnation holds people back from living, serving, and enjoying the abundant life Jesus offered. When we mess up, we feel like we are bound by our mistakes and unable to truly move past them.

But the Bible reminds us that when we fall, we are not utterly cast down. The Lord upholds us with His hand. His grace is sufficient, for when we are weak, His power is made perfect. (2 Corinthians 12:9) So, why do we struggle with self-condemnation?

Every chance he gets, the adversary comes in and shoots his arrows deep into our minds so that we are reminded of past shame and regret. In turn, this cycle of condemnation keeps us bound by failure, unable to live in the glorious freedom given us by Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Dear fellow believers, this should not be! The Bible reassures us that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive. (1 John 1:9) And again, in Isaiah, chapter 43, the Lord says,

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;

And I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV)

If God, who is all-knowing, can forget our sins, why do we hang on to them and let them condemn us over and over again?

Take heart today. Your sins, once the color of scarlet, have been washed clean—white as snow. There is now no condemnation for you in Christ Jesus. Put on the full armor of God so that when the arrows of the enemy come, (and they will), you will be ready to deflect them straight back at him. It is time to rise up and say “no” to Satan’s lies. And, it is time to begin living the amazing, abundant life Jesus offered.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Overcome Evil with Good.....Denison Ministries

 Overcome Evil with Good

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This week we’re going to take a look at seven principles found in Romans 12 that describe the marks of a true Christian. The intent of studying this passage is not to condemn or lead you to comparison. Instead, let Paul’s teaching fill you with a deep, transformative longing to wholeheartedly pursue the life God intends for you. Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees you, to see the grace he’s placed upon your life by the blood of Jesus so that you might walk more fully in the power and anointing of the Spirit. Open your heart to God, and let him do a mighty work in you. He is near to you, ready to mold and shape you into a disciple filled with and fueled by his incredible love. May you discover God’s grace and perspective this week as you examine your life in light of this powerful passage of Scripture.

Scripture:“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Devotional:    

The world is filled with the destruction that sin and separation from God has caused. All around us are signs of the enemy’s hand working tirelessly to keep God’s children from the abundant life our Father longs to give. Even when looking at the state of the church, you see lives still impacted by either their own sin or the sin of others. Reflect for a minute on your own life. What are your struggles? What are the struggles you see in the lives of other believers around you? What about the world around you?

The last command God gives us in the Romans 12 passage we’ve been studying this week says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).The idea of overcoming the world is a consistent concept throughout the entire New Testament. Scripture is clear that through the death of Christ we’ve been given the power and authority to overcome the work of the enemy in our own lives and lead others to freedom. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Conquering the enemy is our destiny as God’s people. In Matthew 10:6-8 Jesus says, “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.”

God gives us an important piece of his battle plan for the war against evil in Romans 12: we are to triumph over our enemy with good as our weapon. God doesn’t fight evil with evil; he fights evil with love. It’s the love of God that will lead you to victory over the enemy in your own life, and it’s God’s love that will be the weapon you use to lead other people to victory as well. God’s goodness will draw you out of pursuing the world and lead you to victory as Revelation 12:11 says, “They loved not their own lives even unto death.” And it is God’s goodness that anoints you to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers” and “cast out demons” as Matthew 10 says. The goodness of God will always be more powerful than the enemy. His love will always triumph over the power of sin.

So, how can you“overcome evil with good” in your own life? James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Because of the authority of your heavenly Father, when you put up a fight with the enemy, you will win. He will flee from you. That’s God’s promise to you. You have victory over the enemy in Christ because “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Greater is the Spirit who lives inside of you than the enemy who wages war against you. Finally, Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Christ has set you free from bondage to the world. But you are free to choose who you submit yourself to. Experiencing consistent victory requires you to submit yourself to God and not to the world. You have to wake up and choose to live every day for God. You have to choose being successful in God’s eyes instead of society’s. You have to choose to live your life in light of eternity. But God promises if you will simply make that choice, he will lead you to victory over sin and its destructive effects and anoint you to help others do the same. In choosing God, you will discover the incredible life he has in store for those “who love God” and “are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Choose God today, and overcome evil with the goodness of restored relationship with your heavenly Father.  

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s promise to you of victory over the enemy.

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

2. Reflect on the areas of your life in which you need to overcome your enemy. Where do you struggle with sin? Where do you need victory today?

3. Now renew your mind to the truth of God’s word while focusing on that area. Use God’s truth as the sword to defeat the lies of your enemy.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Overcoming sin is a daily battle. But it is a battle that’s already won. Experiencing the victory available to you will happen as you spend time with God every day meditating on his word and experiencing his goodness. Choose to place spending time with him above every other priority, and you will walk in victory over your enemy.

Extended Reading: Romans 12

When You’re NOT Almost There.....JENNIFER DUKES LEE

 When You’re NOT Almost There

JENNIFER DUKES LEE

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

My lungs burned. I didn’t think I would make it. Each exhausting step made it clear that I hadn’t trained enough for my first ever half-marathon.

I was on mile 11 of 13.1. The spectators lining the streets could see my struggle. One person shouted, “You’re doing great! You’re almost there!” And then another and another. Each one told me the same thing: “You’re almost there!”

Except that I wasn’t almost there. I was 2 miles away. To me, finishing sounded about as easy as pole vaulting over the moon.

I realize how ungrateful this will make me sound, but every time someone told me I was “almost there,” my whiny self wanted to shout back, “No, I’m not!”

Just then, I saw a dude dressed up like a clown waving a sign that said, “You are NOT almost there!” Even though my lungs hurt, I laughed out loud. The clown ran onto the route, running alongside me until I got to the top of the hill. He encouraged me with every step.

Perhaps oddly, this was the precise motivation I needed — to know that the finish line was nowhere in sight. Turns out, that clown was a trained marathoner, and he knew what I needed to hear: that I was not, in fact, almost there but that finishing was possible if I kept moving forward.

Two miles later, my “not almost there” turned into a very relieved “I’m finally here!”

What’s true on a half-marathon course is true in life. We find ourselves trudging along wearily, and that’s when we “almost there” ourselves. The “finish line” seems a million miles away, and we wonder if we should be further along. Maybe for you, it’s looked like this: The healing hasn’t happened. The prayer hasn’t been answered. Your hard work hasn’t paid off.

When we’re barely able to take another step, we don’t need false assurances of “almost there.” More than anything, we need someone to remind us that almost everything in life … takes time.

That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul reminds us — without the clown costume, of course.

In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul says, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” 

When Paul says “I have not achieved it,” he’s saying that becoming like Jesus is a lifelong journey, taken step by step. And the only way to finish is to “press on” in faith.

That’s true in nearly every area of life — our spirituality, relationships, businesses, even our healing and grieving. Most things take time.

In a way, that’s really good news for us all. Because when we are trudging up the hills of this life — when everything hurts and we want to quit — we’ll find Jesus right beside us. Even though we’re miles from the destination, Jesus gives us courage to press on.

And He won’t leave us alone but will take every step alongside us.

Dear Lord, when life gets hard and the finish line seems miles away, I want to know You’re here. I ask for Your strength to press on until the very end. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Resting in the Faithfulness of God.....Dr. Charles Stanley

 Resting in the Faithfulness of God

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

When plans are frustrated or life just seems to fall apart in some way, people often wonder, Has God deserted me? Why hasn't He answered my prayers? The Bible offers encouragement for such times by assuring us of the Father's faithfulness: "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deut 7:9).

Five attributes of God make this possible. First, He is omniscient, which means He knows everything, including our every need, thought, frailty, desire, and life situation in the past, present, and future. Next, the Lord is omnipotent, or all-powerful, so nothing is too hard for Him (Jer. 32:17). Then, He is omnipresent--since He exists everywhere at once, He is never beyond reach.

In addition, our heavenly Father cannot lie. Everything that He says is true and reliable. And lastly, God is unchanging. Our circumstances and the world around us may seem to be in a constant state of flux, and the Lord may even modify the way He chooses to interact with mankind in different generations. But His character is always the same. So when Scripture tells us that God is faithful, we can rest confidently upon that promise.

Circumstances can be painful. But even when situations seem overwhelming, believers can trust that our sovereign Lord knows all, is in control, and lovingly works everything for His children's good. We can rest confidently knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of us.

Dear Friend Who Is Battling Lies: Hold on to Truth.....By Debbie McDaniel

 Dear Friend Who Is Battling Lies: Hold on to Truth

By Debbie McDaniel

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Often, we can be our own worst enemy. We struggle with feelings of guilt and inadequacy, in parenting, in our marriages, in work, from the past to our present. We “instant replay” all of our mistakes in our hearts, in our minds. We feel like we’re not enough, we can’t get it all done. And the world can be really great at reminding us most days where we fall short. The enemy whispers his lies of defeat. He’s done it since the beginning of time. He’s a manipulator and deceiver. He’ll attack when we’re already down. He watches for our every weakness.

Comparison seeps in.

Feelings of being overwhelmed.

We sink right into that downward spiral of defeat and despair.

And, you may know the story well.

I do too.

But we don’t have to stay stuck there.

Dear friends in Christ, who work so hard, serve faithfully, love well, and make endless sacrifices for those you care about...

For those who don't always feel like you get it right, who struggle with guilt, insecurity, or deep feelings of failure...

God sees you.

He knows the burdens you carry.

He's aware of how you've tried so hard to be strong for those you love.He understands the pain you've faced and even without uttering a word, He knows.

He gets it, and you, and me too.

In our weakness, He is strong.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Come to Him, bring all that's on your heart and mind. He promises to give rest and peace. He's never asked us to carry it all. He doesn't expect us to be perfect and strong through our own strength.

But right smack in the middle of our weakness, He shows up Strong, Mighty, Powerful, True.

We can let go of the guilt, the defeat, the feelings that we're not enough, or the lies the enemy has whispered our way.

God gives us hope and a purpose, He renews our strength like the eagles, and He invites us to bring every care, every burden to Him.

And to leave it there.

Not in ourselves. In our own efforts or striving. Not in our image, our families, the way we look, or what we own. Not in what we do, or how many titles are behind our name.

Rest for the weary and strength for the overwhelmed are found only through Christ.

In the arms of Jesus.

Peace.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Choose today to come to Christ with every burden and care you’re holding onto today. He loves you more than you could ever know. Leave your cares, every concern, your struggles with guilt or defeat in His hands. He is faithful to carry our loads. He promises rest and peace.

Further Reading:
Jeremiah 29:11
Isaiah 40:31
Psalms 46:10
Proverbs 4:23

A Prayer for Wisdom in Parenting.....By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for Wisdom in Parenting

By: Emily Rose Massey

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” - Proverbs 22:6, NASB.

I have been studying parenting styles recently. In my understanding, raising kids with an intentional lack of guidance (a “do whatever makes you happy” kind of mentality) causes more harm to them in the end. Children need guidance from their parents; they are young and do not yet fully understand the world around them. “Free-range” style parenting is quite harmful to the psyche of a child. They are children, not chickens.

Parents, we should not be afraid to lovingly, yet firmly, set boundaries and tell our kids no and why, especially if you know it may become harmful or damaging to them now and even later in life. Small habits become behaviors, and behaviors become lifestyles.

They may be frustrated at you for a time, but honestly, it is the most loving thing a parent can do. I truly believe your children will thank you for it when they get older. We are raising the next generation. What do we want our world to look like as our children grow up?

It is our job as parents to teach and guide our children and protect them the best we can. I know for me, as a mom, I most definitely cannot do this without God’s grace and wisdom. Learning from what He has to say about parenting has been so much better than all the world’s advice could offer me. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom and a familiar verse from chapter 22 gives us direction as parents:

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Early training secures lifelong habits. Parents must be diligent to guide their children, teaching them God’s Word and enforcing it with loving discipline, raising their children in the admonition of the Lord. The world is ready and willing to disciple your children, especially when they are young and impressionable.

It is best that they are discipled by you as the parent instead. It is loving to give your children boundaries and rules to follow, which will help shape their independence so they can make good decisions while they are still young. You are not alone in your parenting journey. There will be hard days and simple, strife-free days. May the Lord give you wisdom so you can steward the lives He has entrusted to your care! 

Heavenly Father, 

I know that You do not want children to raise themselves. You have given children their parents to train them in good, godly habits that will help shape them as adults. Most importantly, help me teach them more about You and glorious gospel. My hope is that they will long to love You and live for You all the days of their lives, spreading Your truth and love to the world and raising up the next godly generation. I lean on Your grace and ask for Your wisdom every single day. Thank You for guiding me and caring for me as Your child. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Life-Changing Power of the Cross and the Resurrection.....By Debbie McDaniel

 The Life-Changing Power of the Cross and the Resurrection

By Debbie McDaniel

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The cross is empty and so is the tomb.

You can try to bury Power, but it won't stay there. You can try to bury Truth, but it is not dead. You can try to bury Love, but it cannot be contained.

Jesus is alive, He won the victory of sin and death.  And He’s still the same, even in all the days after the Easter weekend. He never changes.

He made a way for us to live free.

No other truth in history has the ability to change our lives and affect our future like this. Yet so many still choose to reject Christ’s sacrifice and love. He offers us a choice today, and it’s the best decision you could ever make.

What Christ’s Death on the Cross and the Power of His Resurrection Offers:

-It provides a bridge, a way, to God. It gives us an opportunity to have a personal relationship with the very God who made us and loves us more than we could imagine. Without the cross, there is no way to cross over to the other side of relationship with him. Any attempt will fail. He is the Only Way.

-It provides opportunity for forgiveness of sin. Through the price that Jesus paid on Calvary, we have the chance to be forgiven of our own sin. He took our sin and shame upon his very shoulders. He took the blows on our behalf so we wouldn’t have to suffer. Such incredible love. Such amazing sacrifice.

-It provides freedom to all those who believe. Freedom from the shackles of sin. Freedom from shame. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from hopelessness. Freedom from despair. Freedom from addiction. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from darkness and eternal separation from God.

-It provides new life. We are not only forgiven and set free, but we have a whole new life and destiny through Christ. We are changed, from the inside. He renews our minds. He changes our hearts and desires. He gives us fresh purpose for every day set before us.

-It provides power for us to live today. When Jesus died on the cross, and was buried, it didn’t stop there. The final picture of all that the cross provides lies in the powerful Resurrection of our Lord. He won. He didn’t stay dead. His power broke through, and that same power is alive within us today. As believers, God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit, living and moving through us each day.

-It provides the way to have victory over the enemy. We don’t have to fear him or his attacks. As we live aware of his traps, the power of Christ over our lives gives us a covering and protection from his evil schemes. We’re not left to fend for ourselves. We don’t fight in our own strength. We can stand strong in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

-It provides for us an eternal heavenly home. We never need to fear about what will happen when we die. In Christ we have been given the gift of eternal life. This earth is only our temporary home. God is preparing a place for us, with him, to live forever. And you can be assured it will be far greater than we could ever imagine.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor.15:57

Intersecting Faith & Life: Dear God, thank you for your great gift of love and sacrifice, so that we can live free. Thank you for the power of the cross and the Resurrection. We ask that the truth of it all sinks deeply into our hearts and changes us forever. Fill us fresh with your Spirit today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Further Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:17
John 8:36
Ephesians 1:7
Acts 1:8