Read
Strategy 5: Your Past (pages 93-104)
The evil one loves to whisper lies to my heart.
Sometimes, it’s my past from before I really knew Christ. More often, it’s my not so distant past — the one in which I knew better yet continued to make bad choices. The older I get in the faith, the deeper my sin grieves me (as it should). But I must be hyper-vigilant of satan’s tactics (masquerading for conviction over sin) to bring me down.
You’ll never be good enough. You’ve gone too far. God is ashamed of you!
Ladies! This is not grief over sin, these are accusations which have no place in the life of a Christian. So when I begin to recognize these deceitful whispers, I must immediately fight the lies with three biblical truths.
My debt is paid. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Romans 8:1}. Jesus took on my every sin {1 Peter 2:24}. Today’s. Yesterday’s. Tomorrow’s. Every bad attitude, evil thought, and inappropriate action has already been paid for — in full.
My righteousness is Christ’s. Not only did Jesus take away my sin (a great act of mercy), He then gave me His right-standing before God (an incredible act of grace). When God looks at me, He sees the perfect obedience of Jesus, not my sinful disobedience {2 Corinthians 5:21}. This one’s so hard for me to understand, but Scripture is clear: I am a new creation. Adopted daughter. Beloved heir.
My salvation is based on God’s character, not mine. The only part I play in salvation is faith — drawing near to God as my only hope. God did not accept me based on my merit. My acceptance is based on His glorious grace {Ephesians 2:8-9}. So when my behavior falters, I remember that God knew of every sin I had already trespassed and every offense I would go on to do. He made a way for me to experience Him, anyway.
In Fervent, Priscilla Shirer says, “So now, instead of being a reason for endless shame, guilt, and regret, our past is a reason for endless worship and free-flowing testimony” (page 99). When the evil one whispers lies, I must turn them into fuel for praise and declare all that is true of me, because of the work of Christ. Because that’s what stops the evil one in his tracks: the power of Jesus.
What’s Next
For Wednesday, read Strategy 6: Your Fears
Subscribe to Friday’s live chat here!
Discuss
Which of these three truths do you have the hardest time believing? How would clinging to that truth change your prayer life?
[linebreak]
An enthusiastic and dedicated teacher and speaker, Katie Orr is passionate about equipping women to walk with God for a lifetime. A former Campus Crusade for Christ staff member, and mother to three young children, she and pastor-husband, Chris, are part of the church revitalization movement in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Visit katieorr.me to learn more about Katie and her FOCUSed15 Bible studies which will teach you how to peel back the layers of Scripture one at a time, resulting in a deep and significant time in the Bible even the busiest of women can enjoy.
I believe all three truths, as those truths are given to us by God. I am very thankful for HIs love and His mercy.
Me, too, Melissa!
It’s so beautiful that God would take someone so unworthy as me & use for His glory. Now, that’s the unmerited favor that only He can give. Even when I mess up…He’s there. ..drawing me near to Him. I am eternally thankful.
It is an amazing thing to be used by God for anything good, isn’t it?!
I loved Priscilla’s metaphor: “Wipe your tears away. That road is behind you now. I (God) have other roads in store for you in the future. . .”
We can actually get trapped by our past if we don’t surrender it to Christ.
I have found that the most reliable defense against this lie is heavy doses of truth. Romans 8:1 starts off as an anthem to celebrate the future and all God wants to do: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus . . .”
I do think we have trouble with Romans 8:31, we continue to condemn ourselves when it is the enemy’s lie and we just can’t look at ourselves the way God sees us. We should be using John 3:16 and 17.
I believe the three truths and thank the Lord for his mercy. I have trouble sometimes, actually a lot, with the guilt I feel when I make the same error again and again. My sin is overspending and I confess and repent and then when I do the same thing I feel horrible and not worthy of his love. I don’t have the money to buy anymore so that should solve the problem and I feel like laying at his feet and begging for his mercy and forgiveness again. I know it is Satan that is leading me in these lies to myself and I need to ask God for protection from the tricks and lies of Satan. This is a book that is really talking to me, excellent book!!
You are not alone in the struggle with going back to the same patterns. It is from this base of truth and prayer that we then take action. It is His will for you to be rid of these sin patterns, He will provide a way out and the strength to follow in obedience!
Thank you Katie for reinforcing what I believe.
I really struggle to remember that my debt has already been paid, and that my salvation is based on God’s character, not mine. I was raised in a very judgmental, works-based circle, so the enemy has lots of misused Scripture and past experience to replay. I loved her response to Satan pointing out our past failings… “Isn’t it amazing that God forgave *that?!*” Turning into a moment of wonder and glory, instead of a moment of senseless shame.
Yes! A perspective shift from blame to worship. Love it!
Its hard to remember that we are saved by grace. I feel bad for some of the stuff I have done to myself and others before I was saved, but remembering that THAT. WAS. FORGIVEN, is really hard to do sometimes. The grace of God is so overwhelming that when you receive it you have no choice but to pray out of gratefulness and humility. I feel I am compelled to pray all the more.
Overwhelming, indeed! Thankful for His grace!
Thank you, Katie, for this amazing post and to all who posted. Thank you and praise to our Savior, Jesus Christ for His great mercy. I struggle so much in this place and try to remember that if God is for us who can be against us? For each of us is a conqueror as we surrender to His grace. He empowers us to stand firm, though it is so hard at times, and see His deliverance. Praying that each of us has His peace.
Katie,
The evil one is crafty! He can bring up my past and drive me crazy with condemnation and guilt. I hear “stupid, not good enough, not smart enough”. At times I tend to believe it–even though I know the truths of God.
Blessings 🙂
As I read along through this chapter, I couldn’t help but grab my zippered pouch of highlighters and colored pencils! I highlighted this portion of Priscilla’s words: “despite our best efforts, we keep feeding our enemy new clips of failure to choose from and compile. ….” Wow, that passage hit me like lightning! How true! I do that to myself so often. I allow past regrets and mistakes, (that I have already asked and been given forgiveness for) to creep back into my consciousness. Reading Priscilla’s suggestions and being aware of “The Call to Prayer” helps to keep me reminded of the best way to continually combat the dirty tactics that Satan uses!