Monday, September 28, 2009

Where is Your Focus?

Do you believe God?

I mean really believe Him?

Do you believe that you are a new creation in Christ Jesus, OR
are you still focusing more on your behavior and ways of living?

Do you believe that you are the righteousness of Christ in Jesus, OR
do you still see yourself as a pitiful sinner trying to do whats right?

Do you believe that when God looks at you He see's you covered in the blood of His Son, that He sees you perfect without spot or blemish, OR
do you believe that God is still waiting for you to clean up your act and get some things right before He can look at YOU this way?

I used to live in such bondage! I thought I believed God, I really did. Yet, I did not see myself through the light of any of the truths I just shared above, I always saw what comes after OR.

I thought that if I did not focus on cleaning up my act, God would certainly become displeased with me, if He wasn't already. I thought that the way to become better, more like Jesus, was to TRY HARDER...but I found after years of frustration and condemnation that this is completely WRONG!

Under the Old Covenant, yes, try harder, follow all of the laws, and then God would be pleased with you. Even then, they could not do it, they could not perfectly follow all of God's commands, or righteous ways of living.

But, under the New Covenant His life flows and lives through us as we begin to BELIEVE Him and what He says is truth about us!

If we focus on changing behavior, we will find ourselves in a vicious cycle of pride when we get it right, or think we got it right and condemnation when we feel that we have failed.

If we focus on Jesus and the truth, grace and freedom He came to give us, we find ourselves walking in those truths as we begin to REALLY believe them.

I forget where it is at this moment, but somewhere God tells us

"As a man thinks in His heart so is he."

So I ask, what do you think in your heart? What do you believe about yourself? Do you believe what Jesus says or do you believe what you think you see?

This truth has and is continually setting me free! The more I believe I am who Jesus says I am, because of what HE has done for me, the more I find myself walking in truth. Not because I am trying harder, I am actually not trying at all...yes, you read that right. I am learning to not try at all, but to trust.

To trust Him to flow in me and through me as I learn to believe Him. To trust that He has given me His Holy Spirit to work in me changing me from glory to glory one moment, one day, one year at a time.

Now, you might be thinking..."Come on Daveda, we can't just stop trying, we have to do things."

Sure we do, but they will naturally flow out us.

See, I have discovered that if we believe God, then we believe we are who God says we are. We are His! We have a new nature. We have been given new life and a new heart. It is only natural that we will be and act upon who we truly are!

Tigers instinctively do what tigers were created to do, they hunt, they sleep, they play, they mate, etc...

As they grow they mature in their ways, just as we do.

The question is...

Do you believe that you have a new nature, a new heart, a new instinct if you will, OR
do you still believe that you are the old person?

I am no way saying that I or anyone else for that matter, has it all right, or is skating on close to perfect.

I get many things wrong ALL THE TIME, everyday. I make mistakes, I yell at my kids, I get mad, I get frustrated with my husband, God reveals places in my heart where I still believe lies, etc...Just like you.

Only now, I do not get into a state of condemnation when I see these habits or unhealthy ways. Now, I do not look to God saying "How can you love me, I am a horrible person. Please, please forgive me and my sinfulness against you. If you will forgive me I will to never do that again. How can you ever use me when I make so many mistakes...ALL THE TIME"

Nope, not any more!

Now,I look to Jesus saying "Lord I know you love me, thank you for forgiving me Lord. I know you can change me and I know you want to. Help me believe what you say is truth. Give me a revelation of your love for me in this area and help me to be in tune with your Spirit as you bring about the changes that will set me free!"

See the difference?

A change of focus...

From what I could never do, to what He has already done and is bringing to maturity and fulfillment more and more everyday.

22 comments:

~*Michelle*~ said...

Hello??? Are you inside my head/heart??

Thanks so much Daveda for this most inspiring post (I think it is my fave so far!)

this is what I want to repeat for me...

"......Give me a revelation of your love for me in this area and help me to be in tune with your Spirit as you bring about the changes that will set me free!"

I was just saying that God loves us so much and will meet us whereever we are....but loves us enough to not keep us there or that way.

xox

HappyascanB said...

We just studied this chapter in Hebrews yesterday in SS!!! Ah the freedom of God's amazing grace!!

RCUBEs said...

It's amazing to realize that even Christians are still held by different bondage. I thank God for the righteousness we have in Christ. The Bible says, "by God's grace, I AM what I AM."

Thank you for those challenging questions at the start of your post. It helps us examine deep inside. Blessings to you Daveda.

Angela said...

The more I believe I am who Jesus says I am, because of what HE has done for me, the more I find myself walking in truth. Not because I am trying harder, I am actually not trying at all...yes, you read that right. I am learning to not try at all, but to trust.

To trust Him to flow in me and through me as I learn to believe Him. To trust that He has given me His Holy Spirit to work in me changing me from glory to glory one moment, one day, one year at a time


AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!! Can I say it again girl?

This is what I have learned this past year..oh my goodness sweet sister,,you and I have been travelling the same road and just didn't see each other for awhile..I LOVE how He has lead me to see you along this path of freedom. I am NOT the woman I was,,,I am who God says I am..and I'm BELIEVING it!!

I have also learned, the harder I try, the worse I get. When I let go and allow God to work in me, it is NO longer hard, no longer a struggle, there is peace and joy EVEN in the storms!!

Denise said...

Thank you for this awesome post.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Great post. I believe in God. I see God in my life all the time. I am always thankful to him at all times. Each thing that happens in my life I can see God's hands.

So you stopped by my blog. I was adding a follower yesterday and it said that I had reached my limit of 300. I was able to delete several that I never read and they don't read me so I took myself off.
So I checked out Google Reader and the same ones are already listed on it so I will have to see what happens when I get to 300 again.
I'm amazed that I do what I am doing on this computer and my blog.
I am not good with change.
Thanks for stopping over. Debby

Angela said...

It's so good to read these words of truth. Often the message among other Christians is to try harder. I've been down that road and it ended in exhaustion and depression. God's grace is truly amazing and His Life is freedom.

Thanks for saying this. I needed the reminder.

Heart2Heart said...

Daveda,

Thank you for using God's grace and love to finally set us free from binding ourselves to the lies the enemy feeds us. What a great post!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Andrea said...

I cling tightly to my Heavenly Father. Many days in my life, HE was all I had....I continue to stand amazed by HIS grace, mercy, and love.

Great post!

Blessings, andrea

Mama Bear said...

thank you sooooo much for a very thought provoking post. I sooo loved every part of it... You rock :-)

Karen Hossink said...

I don't know who said this, but I have heard, "God loves you just the way you are, but too much to let you stay there!"
So thankful for that Truth!

And this one comes from Jerry Bridges' book, Growing Your Faith (p.25) "Nothing you ever do will cause [God] to love you any more or any less. He loves you strictly by His grace given to you through Jesus."
Oh, the freedom that came to me when I understood God's love for me does not depend on me - but on HIM. *peaceful sigh*

christy rose said...

Daveda,
What a great post. You communicated God's heart toward us and our position before Him perfectly. You are hitting home with so many people. I am praying that this Truth will continue to set us all free.
Love,
Christy

Laurie said...

I love this Daveda! Such truth and wisdom. I have been transformed in a similar way by believing and not just "trying". I love how you explain the Old versus New Covenant too. We have so much in Christ! Blessings, Laurie

Charla (SHar-la) said...

GREAT POST, DAVEDA!! And thank you for your words on my post! I just love reading your blog...so uplifting!

David C Brown said...

"For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2: 10. As we are "In Christ Jesus" the works follow.

Pineapple Princess said...

I so love what you write!!

Billy Coffey said...

I'll admit that grace is something I still struggle with from time to time. You've hit on exactly the right point. It's easy for me as a Christian to KNOW these things, but not always easy to believe they apply to me.

I need that change of focus.

jhazmyn said...

This is so true, so often we try to make ourselves "good enough" for God, forgetting that we live by faith and not by works.

Thanks for the reminder. How are you doing dear

Deborah Ann said...

This is exactly where I am right now. Shifting the focus off how I view myself, and believing how God sees me. This was very beautifully written!

E @ Scottsville said...

Wow, I sure needed to hear this today. I'm so glad I popped over to check out your blog. =0)

Blessings!!!

Angela said...

If we focus on changing behavior, we will find ourselves in a vicious cycle of pride when we get it right, or think we got it right and condemnation when we feel that we have failed.

amen sis...

I have shared:when this happens and that happens,when I take the the 'ownership' of the success, who gets the glory? I do...

When we finally realize it is TOTALLY God's doing, this transformation, this change, this restoration, this freedom in our lives,when we finally acknowledge it is His doing,,He GETS the glory!!

This is such an awesome devotional. I'm so glad I came to 'visit' again and glean more truths from it tonight. ((hugs))

Michelle Garrison Hough said...

Daveda--
Thank you, thank you! I appreciate what you are sharing with your readers (the TRUTH that sets us free) and it is wonderfully refreshing to find your blog centered on GRACE, a concept that is changing my life. I also want to thank you for stopping by to read Meta Vie! I am following you now. :)

Michelle Garrison Hough