Have you seen God as a dictator; some supreme being that bosses us around like a drill sergeant; bringing down His gavel of punishment when we don't comply? I knew God loved me and I knew my sins were forgiven, yet I lived in an unhealthy fear of Him; afraid He would reprimand me, afraid to make a wrong decision, and afraid to do anything at all for fear he would withhold blessings. I saw Him as my master, not a good Daddy.
God's intention is for children to grow up in a household with an earthly father who teaches them about Jesus, about who they are in Christ, and who loves on them with every form of love. He wants discipline for His children, for their own good, but He also wants them to be loved in the form of quality time, affirmations, and affection. This divine order was designed so that they'd know how to receive love from the Lord and to see Him as a loving father, not a heartless book of rules.
The law of Moses; the list of rules and laws that had to be upheld, was in place because Jesus had not yet come. God is perfect; there needed to be accountability and punishment for one's actions. But when Jesus came, it was not to give us rules to follow and standards to uphold. He came to fulfill all of the laws we couldn't, and to FREE us; He took our punishment! God no longer sets a bar for His children because JESUS met it for us and He represents us at ALL times.
If you are a child of God, He loves you and wants a relationship with you; not to treat you like a slave. If you are creating a bar or setting a standard for yourself, you're practicing religion. When Jesus said, "It is finished", do you not believe Him? Why do you think you have to do anything extra to receive God's blessings? What makes you think you can add to Jesus' finished work, in order to see miracles? Jesus said "IT. IS. FINISHED."; not "it is finished for now, but once you're saved, it's your responsibility to redeem yourself by doing spiritual disciplines."
Satan's plan is to manipulate you to keep you under condemnation; making you think you have to earn from God. Our flesh wants SO badly to have SOMETHING that measures our acts; a gauge with which we can say, "I did good today." It's been ingrained in us to think if we do this or do that, we'll be acceptable in God's eyes and He'll bless us. Condemnation is so sneaky; it makes you actually believe that even the bar you've set for yourself is reachable.
This self-righteousness hurts me (and the Lord) deeply. Jesus came here for us, to rescue us and save us. He allowed himself to be bludgeoned to death, so that we could rest in the grace of God. You don't have to pray every day in order to receive favor. You don't have to fast consistently in order to be effectual in prayer. You don't have to tithe in order to see financial blessings. No matter how many "good deeds" you do, it is NOT those deeds that cause the Lord to give you anything! God blesses you ONLY because of His love for you; because of what Jesus did.
If you're not receiving, it's not because the Lord isn't giving; it's because you are choosing not to receive because you're too busy trying to do the things you think you need to do in order to do so. The Lord does not want your duties, He wants your TRUST!
RESOURCES
If you are a child of God, He loves you and wants a relationship with you; not to treat you like a slave. If you are creating a bar or setting a standard for yourself, you're practicing religion. When Jesus said, "It is finished", do you not believe Him? Why do you think you have to do anything extra to receive God's blessings? What makes you think you can add to Jesus' finished work, in order to see miracles? Jesus said "IT. IS. FINISHED."; not "it is finished for now, but once you're saved, it's your responsibility to redeem yourself by doing spiritual disciplines."
Satan's plan is to manipulate you to keep you under condemnation; making you think you have to earn from God. Our flesh wants SO badly to have SOMETHING that measures our acts; a gauge with which we can say, "I did good today." It's been ingrained in us to think if we do this or do that, we'll be acceptable in God's eyes and He'll bless us. Condemnation is so sneaky; it makes you actually believe that even the bar you've set for yourself is reachable.
This self-righteousness hurts me (and the Lord) deeply. Jesus came here for us, to rescue us and save us. He allowed himself to be bludgeoned to death, so that we could rest in the grace of God. You don't have to pray every day in order to receive favor. You don't have to fast consistently in order to be effectual in prayer. You don't have to tithe in order to see financial blessings. No matter how many "good deeds" you do, it is NOT those deeds that cause the Lord to give you anything! God blesses you ONLY because of His love for you; because of what Jesus did.
If you're not receiving, it's not because the Lord isn't giving; it's because you are choosing not to receive because you're too busy trying to do the things you think you need to do in order to do so. The Lord does not want your duties, He wants your TRUST!
RESOURCES
What is Condemnation?
Examples of Condemnation Darts
It Doesn't Say, "They ate until God said that's enough"
Examples of Condemnation Darts
It Doesn't Say, "They ate until God said that's enough"
Amen and amen!! I thank GOD that he wants relationship!! Thank God for REST!!!!!
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