Believing What God Says

And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:11 (21st Century King James Version)

As a believer in Christ, I am sanctified by God. That means I am set apart and pronounced clean! For one who use to walk in shame, regret, and unworthiness that is a thought I treasure. No matter what I might think of myself and no matter what others may think of me, I can rest in the words my Father has spoken over my life. If He says it, it is true! Describing myself with the language of Scripture is imperative.

Too often, even as believers, we have a tendency to look at our actions, sins, mistakes, failures, and shortcomings as ways to define ourselves (and others). We wear labels of disgust when all the while God is wanting us to hear and believe the truth He is pronouncing. God says I am a new creature in Christ. Do I believe it? God says I am precious in His sight. Do I accept that statement? God says I am the apple of His eye. Do I own those words for myself? God says I am forgiven. Do I rejoice in that truth? God says I am chosen by Him. Do I revel in that?

Part of walking by faith is taking the things God says about me and accepting them above my own feelings and thoughts about myself. God wants me to think of myself as He thinks of me. He wants me to see myself as He sees me. For years I could only accept the fact that God knew every disgusting detail of my life….I was an open book to Him. He was fully aware of each sin and shortcoming. That was predominant in my thinking so I felt it was predominant in His thinking. The enemy of my soul found pleasure in my self loathing and self condemnation. As long as I was convinced God was as repulsed with me as I was with myself, I was unable to live in the freedom and knowledge of the truth.

That began to change the day I realized what God’s unconditional love meant. It was that truth that allowed me the freedom to see the positive verses in Scripture as being something I could accept for myself. That feeling of “God merely tolerates me” had to be replaced with “God cherishes me.” It is His words and His voice that are changing me!

Father, I hunger to hear Your words spoken over my life. Today, I open my hands, ears, and heart to everything You say about me. Thank you for each truth You help me to digest. Amen.