YOU ARE THE LORD'S DELIGHT

12/11/2023

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death" (Romans 8:1-2).

Repentance should not stop with being sad and sorrowful. Repentance is acknowledging your wrongdoing, changing contrary thoughts, and taking steps in the Word to avoid repeating the same offense. After you have done this, you are to embrace grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Wearing a sad face and feeling condemned robs you of God's best. Romans 8:1-2 declares, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death" (Romans 8:1-2). I love the way the Message Translation puts it: "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." Hallelujah! YOU ARE FREE! And he whom the Son of God has set free is free indeed! (John 8:36). "Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1). Glory to God! 

You are free in Jesus Christ! God is not mad at you! He is not having a bad day, and neither should you. He was not caught off guard when you slipped and made mistakes. He has extended His gracious arms towards you. No matter what wrong you may have done, confess it before Him and move forward with joy and peace. Jesus was more than enough payment for anything you could have ever done wrong. Receive His forgiveness and move forward with His grace. Condemning yourself for your wrongdoings or shortcomings is frustrating the grace of God. Apostle Paul called it ignorance in Romans 10:3: "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." 

You are the Lord's delight. "The Lord your God is in your midst, a Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy" (Zephaniah 3:17). His posture towards you is that of love; not anger or condemnation. He rejoices over you. He celebrates you with joy and singing. You are His priceless joy. The Bible says that because of you, Jesus was willing to endure the cross and suffer the shame (Hebrews 12:2). You are worth so much more than you would ever know. Look in the mirror and say, "I am the Lord's delight." Thinking and talking this way builds your confidence and creates around you an atmosphere of victory.

So celebrate your victories no matter how little, and for your shortcomings, forget the past and spring forward to what lies ahead. I see you winning. I see you prospering. I see you in health, peace, and joy, and I celebrate you because God celebrates you.

God bless you!

Faith Filled Confession: 

I am the Lord's delight. I am His joy. He sings over me. I have been forgiven and justified. I abide under His grace. Goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life. I live each day in victory, health, peace, joy, and prosperity, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer Points:

Psalm 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."

• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

• Pray against plans to use the crises in Israel to launch other attacks in the United States.

• Pray for Washington and all who are in positions of authority in the United States.

One-Year Reading Plan: Daniel 7-8; 1 John 5