My one word for 2018 is REST. I have been a christian for almost 15 years. During this time, I have always felt the need to work hard to make up for my past. I always felt that I was not good enough, or that I just didn’t measure up to what a christian should be, but if I felt guilty enough, or asked for forgiveness a thousand times, or did not commit the same sin today, then somehow I would be closer to hitting the mark. This will wear you out. I can’t do something that only Christ was meant to do. When He went to the cross, He said “it is finished”. So when I asked Christ into my heart, I started at the finish line. I don’t have to run the race, but I praise God, I get to. My REST does not mean that I am going to be less busy, but I am going ot REST in the knowledge that Jesus has done it for me. My Salvation is secure, When I am tempted to fall back into my old life, I am going to REST in Him. When I fall into temptation, instead of wearing myself out with guilt, I am going to REST in Him. There is nothing I can do to be more to Him than i am right now. When God looks at me He sees the blood of Jesus, not my brokenness.
My verse is this Ephesians 1:7
In Him I (we) have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of my (our) trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.
I don’t need to keep trying to make up yesterday, it is gone, I am a new creation, the old has passed away. Satan can’t hold me prisoner any longer with guilt. I am so not perfect, but praise God, I am not what I used to be.