FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012 -- WHO AM I (2)

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Romans 8.  It contains so many sentences that speak of amazingly encouraging and helpful words from God about our life with God in recovery.  These are words that tell me who I am.  I often forget.  I need to regularly remind myself to "buck up" and live into these words.  I have had to reject ugly things from my head and heart that don't belong there based on these words.  What freedom this little practice has brought me -- naming who God says I am.

I am free from all accusation and condemnation.  Any sound that accuses me is not the sound of God and I have every right to ignore it and call it for what it is -- a lie that has no power over me.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to .  (Romans 8:1-2)

I am free from the control of sinful desires.  When my mind is drawn to harmful thoughts, I can call on the Spirit of God who will come close to me and lead me to life and peace.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace ...  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (Romans 8:5-6, 9)

Nothing can separate me from God's love -- no harm done to me nor any failure on my part.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39)