Lifted Burdens

There are many things that we have control over and there are also many things we cannot control. We can control who we spend our time with, what lifestyle we will live and many more small daily decisions.. But we can’t make someone love us and we have no control over another persons decision making. So how do we handle the things we can’t control? When we give ourselves over to God completely, our burdens lift easily. But sometimes we do not have the faith we think we have in order to do this and even our salvation may need to be questioned. God can have control over our lives but we must be His in the first place in order for Him to do so. I have a friend who told me about how much different she was when she was younger. She said to me “I was so selfish and self centered yet I believed I was Christian. But the fruits of my life said otherwise.” Do the fruits of your life testify to your salvation? What does it really mean to be saved? These are important questions because many people think they have a strong relationship with the Lord but when they go into prayer they remain undelivered by their burdens.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,” Luke 4:18

What is your salvation story?

Does your story line up with what the gospel says it is and does?

If you are truly saved, but have strayed, are you willing to rededicate your life to Christ?

Have you been baptized by water and the spirit as Jesus says in John 3:5?

The truth is, many do not know the real gospel as there are many false gospels being preached. The popular phrase “God’s got me” does not mean He does just because you say it. How can God have you when you haven’t even become saved? Understand there is nothing you can do to earn salvation. Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that we can be reconciled back to God our creator, our father. He died for all so that we can become one again through him with the Father. Jesus said He came to bring us freedom and in John 10:10 give you an abundant life. When you accept salvation, you choose Jesus in faith, accept him as your Lord and by his example be baptized in both spirit and water. Loving Jesus and believing in him is not enough and I find many people say this is how they came to salvation. But that is not salvation. When we truly accept him as our savior and Lord and do as he commands we receive true salvation. Once you come into this truth your life should radically change. Our fruits of our life is how we live, who we surround ourselves with, the choices we make. These choices should reflect our faith in God and his son. When you put God first above all things he can move in and around you mightily. Then and only then can you have a discerning spirit and the strength to continue in this time of waiting. And guess what? You no longer have to be in control of anything because the Lord will take care of it all! What freedom! You can now know that God can guide your decisions making. All you have to do is focus on what is in your hands. No matter what others do you can have peace knowing God truly does have you.

Are you truly saved? Have you fallen away?

Prayer

For the first time in this devotional series I am going to give you a sample prayer. But let me preface this by saying it is best you pray from your own heart for your salvation. This sample prayer is just an example to show you how to pray for salvation in line with God’s word.

Lord, I have been trying to live my life according to my plans and wants. But God I am a sinner in need of a savior. I truly want to know your son and you. I want you to be Lord over my life and I want to follow your plans for it. I choose salvation in Jesus Christ. I choose you father. Please Lord help me to have an opportunity to be water baptized and baptized in the Holy Spirit. I do not want parts of your plan for salvation but all of it. I love you Lord and choose you over myself and the world. In Jesus Christ name Amen.

Christ Mindset

The Lord has a plan for me and it is good. He saved me through His son so I do not have to do this alone. I am a child of God because of Jesus Christ. God holds sovereignty over my life therefore I am free and safe. God loves me. Jesus loves me.