Drop 100 Pounds in 2010… Break Free from the Weight of Shame

On the TV show HEROES the other day, I heard Hayden Panettiere’s character say, "Freedom is what you do with what’s been taken away from you." Intriguing point. But from a spiritual sense, freedom is what you do with the grace that has been GIVEN to you by God through the sacrifice of Christ. 

On the TV show HEROES the other day, I heard Hayden Panettiere’s character say, "Freedom is what you do with what’s been taken away from you." Intriguing point. But from a spiritual sense, freedom is what you do with the grace that has been GIVEN to you by God through the sacrifice of Christ. 

The New Year has arrived! Doesn’t it seem like 2009 went by faster than any other year on record? I’ve made tons of resolutions and listed many goals for this year in my prayer journal. I’ve realized that the reason we rejoice over the New Year and we pile on the resolutions is because we harbor the hope that the next year will be better than the last.

This year, I’ve set some pretty exciting (and lofty) goals for myself, my ministry, my writing, my speaking ministry, and my relationships. Some are a bit intimidating, especially considering the fact that I have a six-month old baby. Each morning, I cry out to the Lord for help in expanding my borders and taking the message of Christ to the lost. But Satan has a way of worming his way into my thoughts sometimes and saying, "How are you going to accomplish that? Are you really qualified to do that? What makes you think that anyone cares what you have to say?"

Been there? I’m sure you have. For those of us involved in ministry, striking out confidently to do God’s work requires that we cling to the promise that THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST. How are we going to accomplish the work that He wants us to do? Through His grace, with humility. Are we really qualified to do this work? Maybe not, but He is, and He will give us the skills and stamina to carry it out. In our weakness, He is strong. And what makes us think that anyone cares what we have to say? Because we make our relationships with Christ and others our first priority. We model love to them. We make sacrifices to show them that we care. We care about their souls.  

We can live in freedom without condemnation because Jesus bore OUR condemnation on a cruel Roman cross. As I mentioned, the other day, I heard Hayden Panettiere’s character say, "Freedom is what you do with what’s been taken away from you." Intriguing point. But from a spiritual sense, freedom is what you do with the grace that has been GIVEN to you. You can live under grace, or you can continue to drag around the burden of shame that Jesus has already forgiven. It’s up to you! Why not enter 2010 about 100 pounds lighter by embracing His grace and choosing to live in the knowledge that THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE IN CHRIST? Cut that burden loose today.