We implore the mercy of God, not that He may leave us at peace in our vices, but that He may deliver us from them. (Blaise Pascal)
back it up with bible
Psalms 69:5,13a,14a O God, Thou knowest by foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee. But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink.
2 Peter 2:9a The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.
Job 33:27-30 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
Psalm 119:59,60 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments.
Psalms 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, & we are escaped.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Colossians 1:12, 13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.
core christianity
Issues, anyone?!
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Is that a trend or something? I don’t know what it is but I’ve heard that phrase said quite a bit. We were even walking down the Wal-Mart isle to pick up a few things before we left for Israel and my wife showed me a T-shirt with “I have issues” written across the front! I guess the world is coming to the sad reality that we really do have some issues.
It’s always good to realize this kind of thing — but realizing is only half the battle. It looks like the world has gone and just left it at that. What they’re really saying is “We have issues and we’re just going to let you know that up front — we’ll even be wearing a T-shirt to remind you so that you won’t be expecting much from us!”
Well guess what? We, as believers, don’t need to fall for that baloney! Yes, we all acquire issues in this sinful, painful world we live in — but it is possible to be free from those issues in Messiah! It’s not only possible — it’s crucial! We need to be wearing a T-shirt that says “We had issues, but the Lord delivered us and now we’re free — and hey — you too can be free!”
We are the ones who need to be leading the way to freedom, wouldn’t you agree? Let’s take a moment to celebrate our freedom in the Lord! Take all those issues, write them down on a scrap piece of paper and burn them to ashes! If we’ll be serious about getting free, God will be serious about setting us free! (Worthy Devotions)
previously published
100% New
Do you understand the thrilling concept of becoming a new creature? That means that you will be completely changed and will become something new and different, something that you never were before. I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you. It might take some time for you to recognize how you are new, how your heart is changing, how your thinking is changing, but eventually you will begin to see the beautiful results of My Spirit in your life. A man that acknowledges his need for salvation can never again be the same person that he once was. You have cast yourself upon Me, and I am taking you and turning you into something that you weren’t before. Where before there was greed, anger‚ hate‚ malice, and violence in you, I will turn you into a new person--a person filled with the aspects of My nature: Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Doesn’t that make you glad? Doesn’t it feel good to not have to be the person that you were before? It’s a wonderful gift. But wait, there’s more to My promise about being a new creature. Not only are you completely new, but also all the old things have passed away. That means that whatever you were before is gone. I have taken away the old you and I have given you a new heart. I’m in your heart now, and I threw out whatever was old, dirty, and darkened with sin.
Rejoice in your new man, your new life, and forget about what is in the past. It’s gone, dead and buried. I buried your sins and your old life. Now‚ if you stick with Me and you learn of Me‚ and learn how to live a new and better life, your old sins no longer have any meaning to you. I have forgiven and I have delivered. Whoever I make free shall be free indeed. (From Jesus With Love—Freedom Within!)
make it personal
Jesus, I thank you for deliverance, for freedom, for the salvation that You bring from petty issues, from nagging sins, from my “old man”. Thank you that you have brought us “out of the darkness into Your glorious light”! Thank you for the “new man” that I am and will yet be through You!
