Day Thirteen (of 31 Daily Reminders)

Who God Is…

God is Merciful!  (He doesn’t give us what we deserve)

[God showed His mercy and grace by loving the unlovable and by forgiving the unforgivable! He doesn’t give us what we deserve, rather He gives us life.]

 

Who I am/we are in Christ…

I am a new creation!   

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come.”
2 Cor 5:17

If anyone becomes a Christian, he is a new creation (a brand new person inside). They are not the same any more: the old way of life is bound in the past (it is finished; it is gone), a totally new way of living has begun (everything is new and fresh).

[Baptism! The daily dying and rising; the putting off the old and putting on the new has begun. We may still have to work through what has happened in the past, but this new life in Christ gives us a start…. I, {state your name}, have been and am being made new in Christ Jesus!]

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Gal 2:20

I have been put to death on the cross with Christ and as a result my present life is not my own, but the living Christ within me.

[Because of Jesus, I, {state your name}, have died with Him and now live with Him. My old nature has been put to death and I have been given a new nature – all this happened when I was baptized. I am living by faith, so there is always a tension inside me between my old and new natures. Thanks be to God who gives me the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ. ]

 

His promises for me/us today…

“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Mt 11:28-29

Come to Me all you who are tired and worn out, and I will give you rest. Place My yoke upon your shoulders and let Me teach you, for I am humble and gentle. Then you will find rest for your souls in Me. My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give is light.

[When we are constantly trying to save ourselves, the load is overwhelming and unbearable! Jesus invites us to experience the unforced rhythms of His grace instead…In Him alone, will I, {state your name}, experience true rest and refreshment.]

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.”
Heb 12:3

Think constantly of Jesus and all that He endured from sinful people; this will help you not to become discouraged or to give up completely.

[The Lord never gave up… remembering this will help me, {state your name}, to persevere when the race gets difficult.]

“If the Son of Man sets you free, you are free indeed.”
Jn 8:36

Because Jesus sets you free, you are really free!

[Because Jesus has set me free… I, {state your name}, and free to live for Him.]

 

His callings/my vocations…

As you reflect on these words from the Lord, what do you sense God calling you to be or to do? How do these words and promises from the Lord speak to you today with the particular joys and struggles that are part of your life and life of faith?

Think of the people who are closest to you in the vocations He has given you?  [husband/wife; family; friends; neighbors; others]. What are some of the “take aways” from these verses that you could share with them to encourage or support them in the challenges they face as they live in this broken world?

Now take a moment to pray, using the words of some of these Scriptures to shape your prayer, as you pray them back to Him. Pray them specifically for those things that you or those you love are dealing with today!

This is from the devotional tool, “31 Daily Reminders”, that I have designed to help you begin each day aware of Who God Is, of Who We Are In Christ, of His Promises That Sustain and Empower Us, and of the Various Callings/ Vocations He Has Given Us.  If you would like a hard copy of these devotions, just let me know!