Live Redeemed
When I was little, I loved reading and writing stories. It was a favorite pastime that I carried with me throughout my life. As a young girl, one of my favorites to read was the Nancy Drew series. I loved a good mystery, the suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. Some of my friends would tell me how they would skip to the end of the book and read the last chapter so they knew it ended the way they wanted, and I could not even fathom such a thing. As much as I wanted the story to end well, I never wanted to ruin the anticipation and the journey that got me to that place.
The Bible is the only exception. Not only is it a great story, but every word of it is true. It’s the only Book that reads even better when you know how it ends!
Our Heavenly Father sent His only Son to earth to die for us on the cross and cleanse us from all our sins. God is our Redeemer. He’s promised to redeem the broken places in our lives. What better conclusion is there than that?
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. - Ephesians 1:7 NIV
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” - Isaiah 44:22 NIV
The question is do we live like it?
Do we live like God is the Author of our story, our Redeemer, Savior, Father, and Friend? Do we trust Him with every detail on the pages of our life? We’re all going to mess up, make mistakes, or take wrong turns. Our decisions will not always be right. But God has already so eloquently penned our redemption story. There is no room for guilt and condemnation in our hearts. We must forgive ourselves and others and allow God to fulfill His promise of redemption.
JOURNAL: Is there something that is holding you back from trusting God with your story? Maybe it’s past experiences, trauma, or heartache. Maybe you are holding onto guilt and self-condemnation. Maybe you cannot forgive yourself or others for a past event or season in your life. Letting go of those things begins with acknowledging they are there in the first place.
PRAYER: Once you’ve searched your heart for anything that is holding you back and have identified the guilt and condemnation you find there, ask God to take that from you, to “sweep away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.” (Isaiah 44:22) For He has redeemed you. Then live like it!
The Bible is the only exception. Not only is it a great story, but every word of it is true. It’s the only Book that reads even better when you know how it ends!
Our Heavenly Father sent His only Son to earth to die for us on the cross and cleanse us from all our sins. God is our Redeemer. He’s promised to redeem the broken places in our lives. What better conclusion is there than that?
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. - Ephesians 1:7 NIV
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” - Isaiah 44:22 NIV
The question is do we live like it?
Do we live like God is the Author of our story, our Redeemer, Savior, Father, and Friend? Do we trust Him with every detail on the pages of our life? We’re all going to mess up, make mistakes, or take wrong turns. Our decisions will not always be right. But God has already so eloquently penned our redemption story. There is no room for guilt and condemnation in our hearts. We must forgive ourselves and others and allow God to fulfill His promise of redemption.
JOURNAL: Is there something that is holding you back from trusting God with your story? Maybe it’s past experiences, trauma, or heartache. Maybe you are holding onto guilt and self-condemnation. Maybe you cannot forgive yourself or others for a past event or season in your life. Letting go of those things begins with acknowledging they are there in the first place.
PRAYER: Once you’ve searched your heart for anything that is holding you back and have identified the guilt and condemnation you find there, ask God to take that from you, to “sweep away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.” (Isaiah 44:22) For He has redeemed you. Then live like it!
1 Comment
What a beautiful way to wake up this morning!