I know that God has a different plan for everyone and many times that includes marriage to the one He has for you. Someday, maybe He will bless me with that but if not, I know He will fill my every need without a human husband. I'm saying this because I don't want you to feel offended by what I'm saying or that I'm against marriage or something. I'm not, and trust me, I'm not bitter. Believe me, I used to get very very bitter when it came to relationships. When I wasn't in one, I strongly disliked them and therefore, offended many people who were in them. So I guess you could say that this is me assuring you that if you are married to the one God gave to you then that's great and praise God for that blessing.
From the time I was in about eighth grade I sought attention from boys because I thought that it would make me feel better about myself. I thought I could find belonging if boys thought I was attractive, etc. I thought I would find my worth. From that point on, in relationships with boys is where I believed I would find everything I needed. Throughout many years I was in and out of unhealthy relationships with guys that couldn't care any less for me. I was so blinded by what the world told me. Think about all the movies you watched as a little girl. Disney movies told us that in a man, you find your worth. When you are in distress, don't worry, your prince will come and rescue you. (Our REAL Prince is Jesus Christ, but more on that later.) As a girl, I wanted to feel wanted. I became aware of what boys were looking for and this goes for the boys that are still truly boys even into their 20s and 30s and probably older.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." - 1 Corinthians 13:11
Where are the people who claim freedom in Christ and truly live it out in a radical way? In a bold, not ashamed, against the evil in this world way?
I admit completely that I fail at this. I'm nowhere near perfect and I struggle to be bold much more often than I should. In such a fallen world it's hard. It's hard when the media is obsessed with "celebrities" and the "sex sells" attitude. It's hard when the evil in this world seems to overcome good. But alas, ultimately it does not. Christ has overcome evil, He has overcome death, He has overcome the world.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”- John 16:33
So even though this evil world can be difficult to live in, we can always have the hope that God is in control, nothing can take Him from us.
If Christ is in us then we have also overcome evil. We just need to learn to truly rest in the peace of that. We must remember that Christ has beaten death and if we are His children, we have also.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" - Galatians 5:1
With Christ in us, we are no longer burdened by evil, we are free.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36
My Prince has come.
He has made me free. He has forgiven me for all the things I have done against Him. All the years I tried to find my worth in a man when all along Jesus was reaching His hand out to me, waiting for me to reach to Him and take it. All the years I turned my back on Him and thought I could do things by my own strength or the strength of a man beside me. If that were true and possible, tell me, why has it always failed? Is it because we gave up to easily or never truly cared enough for one another. I suppose that's part of it. But ultimately, it was because God wasn't welcomed in the relationship. I have always tried hard to make something work because I thought that then, and only then, would I feel worthy of life. Nothing could be further from the truth.
And the truth is, it is ONLY in Jesus Christ that I have found my worth. It is ONLY in Jesus Christ that I am free from living a life of pain, misery, depression, unworthiness...
Walking with Christ doesn't mean that I don't have hard days or days when I get down in the dumps. But it does mean that even on those days, I know who is in control. I know who holds tomorrow. I know who created the world, who created me, who created you. I know who is holding all things together. Jesus NEVER fails. I can look into the night sky, captured by the moon and stars that He has placed there for our enjoyment. In them, I see a small glimpse of Him and His beauty. I can't begin to imagine what it will be like to see Him face to Face. I look forward to that day. And while I'm here on this earth that He has created, I have a hope and a joy that no man can take from me. I have a hope and a joy that no man can give to me. A hope, a love, a joy, that ONLY comes from Jesus. And it was a gift given to me. Nothing I earned. Looking back at my life, if I thought I could earn this gift from God. The gift of eternal life, I would come no where close. I would be in the depth of hell forever. I am overwhelmingly thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ. I am saved, rescued. You can be too. The gift is offered to you as well. God created you and He loves you. He loves you more than any man ever could. He is different then any other man you've known. Don't compare Him to the experiences you've had with other men. Even the most godly man can't compare to Who Christ is.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," - Ephesians 2:8
Jesus Christ came to this world as a baby, a helpless, humble child. He came because He loves you and wants to have you with Him in His Kingdom for eternity.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." - John 5:39
"For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” - John 6:40
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." - John 10:28
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." - Romans 6:22
"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." - John 17:24
Now I ask you, look back on your life. Where have you found your worth? Are you truly fulfilled with that? Has it never failed? Does it/he/she offer hope, love, grace, mercy, eternal life?
You have a choice to make. A new year is coming, make it a year that counts for eternity.
Choose Christ. He chose you even when your back is turned to Him.
Brit
No comments:
Post a Comment