the.Sold.Out.Soul

Last year we reviewed some simple but valuable truths about our relationship with God.  These truths are so critical to our daily walk, and we should make sure to keep these promises in our back pockets when we encounter strange and difficult times as we have encountered recently. Let us take a moment in the midst of today's chaos to remind ourselves again of these truths.

There is a child-like joy many of us seem to lose once we have grown to know the world as it is. We might find it hard to notice the happiness and excitement available each day in the freedom Christ grants us.  Let us pursue the joy of our youth today, that we would live a life free from the weight of this world.

We can accomplish everything God desires of us if we do two simple things.  The problem is that those simple things require all that we have.  Therein lies the difficulty.  Let us seek God's power and revelation to do as He commands, that He would help us simplify the difficult things.

God has removed the scales from our eyes so that we can see the world around us with spiritual clarity.  One area in which this is crucial for us is that of life's trials and struggles.  Let us ask for wisdom and strength that we would see those storms for what they are and address them confidently in the power and authority we have in the Spirit. 

More holiness, more godliness, more growth; these should remain our pursuit.  God is calling the Church to progress today, and this message from last year lets me know He has been pursuing our continued transformation for some time.  Let this serve as our reminder to invite God to search us and cleanse us again today, tomorrow and the next.

Living in the Spirit and victoriously against the temptation of sin is an issue of the mind.  This is a choice that we make to submit that area of ourselves to God's Holy Spirit.  Mental renewal and transformation occurs not when the mind is under our control but his control.  Let us learn to practice this day by day and moment by moment that we would experience that victory continually.

We used to be slaves to sin, addicted to that which is evil and destructive.  Then, Jesus intervened and began leading us through a process of rehabilitation and recovery.  Perhaps viewing our Christian walk as rehabilitation from addiction will bring further revelation regarding this thing called sanctification and how we can be faithful in the process.

We come to Christ fired up to take on the world and the enemy.  It's a great attitude to have, but success requires preparation.  The same way an athlete must prepare and equip before the game, we must do the same if we are to stand a chance in this competition.  Let us seek the Lord for guidance on how we can prepare properly so that we taste victory daily.

The world is changing daily, and we have entered a time unlike any we have witnessed in our generation.  It might be hard to see God's sovereignty in all this, but it is important to come to that place and recognize that this is not merely chaos.  God knows what He's doing, and we must trust that He will work all things out for our good.

During this time when we celebrate our liberty, let us take a moment to meditate on what God's freedom looks like.  There is a true liberty to which He is calling the Church, walking in the freedom from sin and from the flesh that is available to us through grace.  Let us pursue freedom as God has designed, full and complete.