It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. -1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)

Everyone has that one big mistake they wish they could do over in life. If you’re like me, you may have several big mistakes your mind sometimes revisits…or you’re reminded of by another person.

It’s very easy to wallow in defeat…to live in past errors. It’s easy to call yourself a screwup. It’s easy to think that everything you touch crumbles…that you’re poison.

Maybe you think you’ve made too many mistakes. Maybe the consequences of your mistakes are still happening now. Maybe even after God has changed you, after you’ve accepted Jesus and watched Him transform your heart, everyone has turned their back on you because they only see the old you’s mistakes.

You are not the screwup that you or anyone else says you are. As a child of God, you can stand tall, free and forgiven. And if you trust Him, now God will build you a backbone so you can walk upright and even boldly.

You can’t take back what’s been done, but you can pray that God may show you how He will use even your mistakes for the good of His children. As you walk…as you pray…look up at Him always, not across the choppy waves. Listen to Him, not the howling winds and scornful words.

He is all the strength and support we need. There’s no need to take back the past, but watch the great future God can atop it!

Today’s soundtrack

MercyMe’s “Greater” reminds us that, thanks to Jesus’ work, we are holy, righteous, and redeemed.

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. -Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed. -Oswald Chambers

If you’ve reached that turning point in your life where you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, your life began an amazing transformation for the better. He opened your eyes to truths that you never could see before, because you were blinded by what the world (and its ruler) told you was true and right.

But with that transformation likely came another one: resistance, and maybe even hostility, from those who previously walked along with you. Since your path diverged from theirs, you became alien to them, and they might lash out and remind you of your past mistakes. They will tell you what a terrible person and hypocrite you are to call yourself a follower of Christ, considering your past.

The enemy may do the same, whispering in your ear, making you doubt your new identity in Christ. Satan may get you to rewind the clock in your mind, reliving your past mistakes, tripping you up and tricking you into condemning yourself and wallowing in shame and remorse.

But your new identity in Christ frees you from condemnation, frees you from your past. You are forgiven and free. And unlike the old you, who might bash yourself into a pulp for your mistakes, you now have a Father to whom you can directly confess and repent of your sin, and be forgiven.

Christ is your constant in this world, no matter if everyone on this earth turns away from you. You do not live to please anyone but the Lord. To please Him, bless those who curse you…the ones who want you to rewind to the old person they want you to be again. Pray for them. Do good to them, and love them.

We live and love for Christ, and He will carry us no matter what happens here on earth. And what I believe you will find, fellow true believer, is that while some may turn away from you, others will come to you as you walk in His truth. We were made to worship, not win a popularity contest.

Today’s soundtrack

Chris Tomlin’s “Made To Worship” reminds us of our purpose here on earth.

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Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. -Colossians 3:10 (NLT)

The change in your heart that occurs when you’ve been saved is stark. You see the world differently. You see people differently. There’s a layer of compassion you never could muster or possess on your own, but He now blankets you with it.

Sometimes you shrug it off when you’re in the midst of severe pain. Just remember that the walk toward Christlikeness is a journey, not an instant thing. You’ll sometimes have to put on your new nature again after having doffed it in moments when you’re less than Christlike. It happens to all of us.

Just be honest with yourself and with God that you stumbled. Confess and repent to give Him your burdens, and you will once again walk unencumbered with the lightest garment you have ever worn: your new nature, bought for you at a heavy price.

Following a crippling betrayal, a fellow agent wrote this poem after Jesus helped heal their heart by showing them how to see through His eyes:

Yesterday/Today

Yesterday, my world was turned upside down
Today, my Savior gave me Hope

Yesterday, I dwelled in darkness and solitude
Today, the Son has given me His Light and Friendship

Yesterday, my soul drowned in tears
Today, my lips sing of His unfailing Love

Yesterday, my heart pumped with anger
Today, it beats with Compassion and Forgiveness

Today, with my Redeemer’s help I will press onward and forget, Yesterday

And with this Christlike view, God could work through the human hurt and heal that agent’s relationship, when nonbelievers would very conveniently lick their own wounds and dismiss the betrayer as irredeemable.

This excerpt from John Piper Ministries speaks to putting on the new man, and the six layers of corruption apart from Christ:

And so after you hear the voice of Christ and are made alive and brought to faith in him and enter into his school to let him teach you how to live, the first thing he says to you is: “change your clothes.” Take off the old person and put on the new person.

Read the whole devotional »

Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), Brazil

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. -1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭18-19‬ (NIV)

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. -Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭22-24‬ (NIV)

I have to remind myself of this often, when my flesh rises up. My mind thinks back to some grave mistake I made. I can’t take it back, and I start the downward spiral of remorse, regret, and wallowing.

The enemy is loving this: a follower of Christ, who already stumbled in the sin being recalled—but already forgiven for it—is still stumbling over a memory of it. I’ve basically taken the pieces of the sin, which God already separated from me as far as the east is from the west, and reassembled them.

I’m a sinner like you. We have all made mistakes that are judged here on earth as little or big in the eyes of men, but sin is sin in the Lord’s eyes.

Remember the heavy price God paid to sacrifice His only son to redeem and justify us. Redemption is forgiveness for our sins, and justification is righteousness given us, and the freedom bought for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

All that to say: when you sin, you confess it to God. You repent. And you give that burden to Him. Jesus did not die for us so we’d crush ourselves under the weight of our own sins through wallowing and regret. That’s dishonoring Jesus’ work and God’s love, so I then confess and repent of my selfishness in my wallowing and regret, for I’ve taken my eyes off Him…again.

So, the next time you think back on, or are reminded of, a past sin…whether recent or old…remember Jesus’ work for you before you drag yourself down. You’ve been forgiven. Now honor Him and forgive yourself so you can continue to glorify Him in your unencumbered walk. God’s got great plans for you.

Today’s soundtrack

“I am Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave reminds us that we are shackled and imprisoned by sin, but His loving redemption lets us shake off the chains, because we aren’t who we used to be!

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. -Psalm 68:19 (NIV)

Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

In the ACTS prayer model, which covers the essential elements of prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication), confession of sin is necessary to lighten our souls and cleanse them before coming to God with any petitions.

Imagine your sins and burdens as physical luggage

It helps me when I come to the Father and picture myself unloading physical burdens and loads I’ve been carrying on my back. I think of them sometimes as bricks that I take out of a heavy sack or backpack, and I lay them on the ground before me. And with each one I pray up, my load on my back is that much lighter. When I’m done, I’m unencumbered by the sins and burdens I’ve been carrying around in my own strength. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making it possible to go directly to the Father!

Remember that each of us is a living work in Christ. Yes, we all fall short (Romans 3:23), and He always loves us through it all. He’s not done with us yet. This is a journey toward Christlikeness, climbs, stumbles, mountaintops, valleys, and all. And we have the very best guide and companion in Christ the entire way.

This Our Daily Bread video on redemption shows what it feels like to put down the burden of sin and follow Christ.

I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. -Matthew 12:36

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. -Psalm 103:12

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! -Psalm 32:1

A fellow agent taught me an amazing technique: stopping bullets.

When I speak of bullets, I mean the condemnation and accusation that the enemy, and those around us may level against us. They may be personal attacks, slander, guiltmongering, etc.

As humans, we naturally will let people’s words—especially those closest to us—hit us hard, because our guard is down. But the fact is, our armor should always be close at hand…even with those closest to us, unfortunately.

The key, however, is not to bear the brunt of the bullets or absorb them…or get hit at all! It’s not even about dodging or evading them. It’s about them never reaching you.

Answer these questions

1. Are you a sinner?
2. How far has God removed you from your sin?
3. Are your sins forgiven?

Shields up

If you answered that you are indeed a sinner; that God has cast your sins as far as the east is from the west; and that your sins are forgiven, then you have your shield.

The next time someone fires bullets at you, whether it’s an individual one or a rapid-fire barrage, it won’t matter. Remind yourself that you are forgiven and redeemed, and free from condemnation, and the bullets will simply hit a wall in front of you and drop. God’s promises are your shield!

When you do this (and it takes some practice), you’re exercising your faith as if you were exercising a muscle, and putting that shield up will become effortless and second nature. The one raining bullets on you will see you curiously unfazed and calm. It might enrage them more, but it won’t matter, because you have His peace and assurance that you are redeemed.

Today’s soundtrack

Casting Crown’s “East to West” will remind you how the Lamb’s blood covers our sins and cleanses us as white as snow.