Yesterday or Today?

Too often we stir up (in our minds) the problems of yesterday - of who we once were perhaps making mistake after mistake in our choices for life. We remember the baggage we once had and tend to recall that to our mind's focus.

Rather, we need to be reminded of the new creation we are in Christ for us who believe. Who are we today?

Ephesians 1:3-14 Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11 In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of His glory. [emphasis mine]

Beth Moore in her book, Believing God, sights these truths from this passage:

• We are BLESSED
• CHOSEN
• ADOPTED
• ACCEPTED
• REDEEMED
• FORGIVEN

Do we believe it? Do we live like blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven people?

Remember who you are in Christ is no match for who you were before you received Him into your heart. He gives a clean slate, a new start!

Next time you are tempted to use the line, "that's just who I am," or "that's just the way God made me." Think again! He makes all things new! Even your heart!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie