the truth I need
One of the hopes that I have for this new year is to actually live like the things that I believe are true. Reading through my last 10 years of blog posts reminded me of what a perpetual struggle it has been for me to maintain an integrity between the freeing truths of the gospel and the practical ways that I live out my daily life. I say that I believe that God will supply all of my needs according to His riches in Christ, but I live in constant fear that I will be lacking and inadequate. I know that difficulty and trial is something that the Lord uses for His good purposes, but I work very hard to steer clear of as much discomfort as possible and throw a fit when things don’t happen how I want them to. I say that I believe that there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ and that my sins are forgiven forever, but I find myself quickly demoralized by my failure and unwilling to come to Him until I get my act together. These strongholds of thinking have led me to waste so much time living apart from the freedom that Christ already died for me to have. They’ve led me to doubt and forget the overwhelming love of the One who traded His perfect life and obedience for my sin and judgment of death, and has, through the cross, given me everything my soul has ever longed for.
Something I am trying to practice this year is to meditate on these following truths daily. They’re adapted from a devotional from Paul David Tripp called New Morning Mercies, and I’ve added a couple verses from Scripture with each truth.
Today,
I don’t have to strive or stress to earn God’s love, because out of His overwhelming grace, God has credited all of Christ’s perfect obedience and righteousness to me.
… he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. - Colossians 1:22
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God - 2 Corinthians 5:21
I don’t have to live in shame or guilt when I sin or fall short, because every one of my sins and weaknesses has already been paid for by Jesus’s blood. I can repent of my sins quickly and instantly receive His forgiveness, to live in the freedom He died for.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9
I do not have to fear that I won’t have what it takes, because my Savior gives me all that I need to do what He’s called me to do. He is my very present Help in times of trouble.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
I don’t need to worry that I’m alone or unseen, because God has made me the place where He dwells.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:20
Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? - 1 Cor. 3:16
I don’t have to search for identity, meaning, or purpose because God has made me His beloved child and called me to His glorious purpose, with good works that He has specifically prepared for me to do.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. - Acts 20:24
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them - Ephesians 2:10
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. - 1 John 3:1
I don’t need to worry about the future, because all of the mysteries of what is to come are held in His sovereign, good, and loving hands.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. -Psalm 139:16
I don’t have to fear trouble, difficulty, or suffering, because my Savior uses all of these things for my good, my eternal joy, and His glory.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. - Hebrews 12:11
Every repetitive and seemingly menial thing I do today has eternal and weighty significance, because the work I do in His name is never in vain.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain - 1 Corinthians 15:58
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24
May the Lord root these truths deep in my heart to overflow into my life, and even on the days when I don’t believe them, I’m grateful that they remain true because of who He is.
