BECAUSE I CAN'T GET RID OF IT

For today's devotion I want to talk about my born again experience. When I initially received Jesus as my savior and Lord it started off good. But as time went on the 'newness' of my salvation seemed to wear off and frustration set in.  One of the reasons was because I just couldn't get rid of a certain sin. In addition, a lot of the people who got saved with me were no longer saved. And when I would ask them what happened they would say things like, I'm just a sinner. Meaning there are just things that I either refuse to give up or I don't know how to give up. Cuz one thing people will do, especially church people, is remind you that you're supposed to be saved. And saved people don't behave a certain way. You know I'm right. Let's continue. So I used to think...if I could just stop doing this sin here. This one sin is messing me up. If I can just not do that then I've got it. Here's the problem with thinking that way. If I could've gotten rid of that sin then I wouldn't need Jesus. And when I actually thought about what I was thinking about I asked myself, whose thought is this?  Let me say it this way, who does this thought process benefit? It puts expectation to deal with sin...which has already been nailed to the cross... back on me, which is nullifying the work of Jesus. It's one of the biggest lies Satan says in the name of God. Because God would never say this. God knows we are a mess. We gave our lives to God because we recognize how much of a mess we are. But Satan tells you fix it. Then he condemns you about it. He tells you to hide it or you'll be judged. Then he will condemn you for hiding it and make you feel ashamed. Am I the only one Satan lied to like this? In saying this, God never asked us to fix our life but to lay it down. Our new creation spirit with our new heart enables us to do just this. Since sin grows in the dark the first step of dealing with it is exposing it with someone trusted. Shining a light on it with someone who can be trusted takes the sting out of it.  Pray with someone you trust. Let someone walk with you through it.  But dealing with sin is an ongoing work of the cross coupled with your willingness to keep exposing it in a safe space with someone safe. Don't let the devil condemn you out of your salvation. Who am I talking to today. If this is you today I touch and agree that God would send you safe people in safe spaces who are willing to walk with you as you partner with God and contend for freedom. Today is a great day to get rid of guilt and shame and be made whole. God needs you. So I partner with your freedom in Jesus name. Grace.