The dark moments in the past have a strange way of remaining alive and, while I’d thought moving ahead meant leaving them behind—discarded in the emotional trash heap–I’ve discovered the unexpected. God can use all of it.
In His hands, anything—and anyone—becomes new…restored…redeemed. Whatever the sin. No matter the regret.
Beauty!
Sometimes, though, I’m captured by the enemy’s lies. Instead of receiving God’s promises—I live as if the lies are true. Who do you think you are to tell people about Jesus? If they knew the truth about you…well, no one would listen.

 And a mental recording plays over and over—untruths spilling into my heart.  Unworthy. Unchangeable. Unloved.

 But when I heed those messages then I discount everything Jesus did for me—trading His perfection for my failures. Heavenly hope for my humanness. Sacred separation for my Divine acceptance.
Have you, too, grabbed hold of the adversary’s lies? Believed God is unable to do His work in you? Found that you’re stuck in unbelief and losing spiritual momentum? Remember, dear Friend, if you are in Christ then you were called for a purpose…on purpose. It’s time for us to throw off those hindrances and follow after Him—each step taking us deeper and further into those places that are less about our hang-ups and habits and more about Jesus.

This is the day to believe truth.

 
 Scripture for Reflection
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him.
(MSG 2 Cor. 5:17-19)
PatriciaHolbrook_RW_button3A-e1485727161169  LIVEFREETHURSDAY