I have been redeemed and forgiven.

The butterfly signifies freedom to me. Yet the process the butterfly goes through to become a butterfly isn’t an easy process. The butterfly starts as an egg, morphs into a caterpillar and finally becomes a butterfly. Has your past mistakes weigh you down? Perhaps, you buy clothes and place in the closet hoping your husband doesn’t find out. Perhaps, you stole merchandise as a child. Perhaps, you committed adultery. Perhaps, you have a problem with anger and you yell at your children or you have abused your children. Perhaps, you have overcharged your credit card.

When we accepted Christ as our savior, we were forgiven of all our sins. Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:8 says: “But God shows his love for us for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” So all we need to do is in Romans 10: 9-10  “Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you’re saved.” And then, Romans 11:36, “Determine in your heart to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today.’

Satan likes to use our past against us so he reminds us of our past mistakes and poor choices. He does not want us to experience freedom. He brings oppression and depression. If he can put these thoughts in your head, and you dwell on them, he will win. However, Psalms 103:12 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” and 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Beloved, only God has the power to read your mind, so we are to take every thought captive to the Lord. I am guilty at times of not doing this and so I suffer needlessly. Jesus’ fights Satan with the word of God. So as we hide God’s word in our heart then we can claim His word instead of believing the lie. I’m redeemed and forgiven. What about you?

What of your past do you need to pray to God, ask for forgiveness, and then let it go? Romans 8: 1-2 says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

In Christ we’re redeemed and forgiven. Remember this when those condemning thoughts threaten your mood. That is the truth because Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father without accepting Jesus. Beloved, you’re redeemed and forgiven.