hold on

In Christ: I Am Forgiven
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In Christ: I Am Forgiven

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 12 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day twenty-one with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, can be forgiven.

I Am Forgiven

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“
Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Is it easy or difficult for you to forgive others?  How about forgiving yourself?  Are there things that you expect from someone before you are willing to forgive them?  What role does repentance play in our forgiveness of others?  In our forgiveness from God?  Is our willingness to forgive others related to our forgiveness from God?  Should it be?

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I hate to be the one to let the cat out of the bag, but people can be mean and cruel, making it difficult to forgive them.  When that happens, it is important to remember where we were in relationship with God before we received forgiveness in Christ.  As you pray, ask God to help you to turn away from all sin in your life and seek forgiveness from Him.  Pray for the courage to forgive yourself and others with the same complete forgiveness that you have in Christ.  Pray that you would accept the repentance of others, even when it seems incomplete, with the same eagerness God accepts your repentance.  Pray that the people around you would know forgiveness.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Am Rescued
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In Christ: I Am Rescued

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 13 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day twenty with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have been rescued.

I Am Rescued

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“
Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Have you ever found yourself in need of being rescued?  What were the circumstances?  Who would you call if you needed rescued?  Why?  Does that answer change depending on what you need rescued from?  How bad do things have to get before you ask for help?

Some years ago I found myself sitting in my car alongside the interstate late one night with steam billowing from under the hood.  I had just finished up several days of teaching and was eager to get home but here I was, stranded in an unfamiliar area and going nowhere.  Fortunately, I wasn’t far from where I had been teaching so I called the friend I had been staying with and he came to my rescue!  As you pray, consider how far from home sin has taken you in your life and thank God for His willingness to come to your rescue in Christ.  Pray that you would daily live as one who has been rescued from the dominion of darkness.  Pray that the people around you would realize their need for genuine rescue from the dominion of darkness and that they would find that rescue in Jesus.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Can Approach God With Confidence
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In Christ: I Can Approach God With Confidence

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 14 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day nineteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, can have confidence in approaching God.

I Can Approach God With Confidence

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.“
Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

How comfortable are you in going to a boss or supervisor with a request or suggestion?  What types of things would make doing so easier? . . . More difficult?  What role do relationships have in your confidence to approach someone?  How about if you take someone with you that you know is always listened to?

When you want to talk to someone in authority, it is always nice to know someone with an inside connection.  It is also good to know that the one you are approaching will actually take the time to listen.  In Christ we have One who goes with us and gives us confidence to approach a listening God!  As you pray, ask God to fill you with faith in Jesus.  Pray that your faith in Jesus would give you the confidence to approach God as you offer yourself fully to Him.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would help you to trust in a loving God that longs for you to come to Him with all of your praise, requests, and needs.  Pray that those around you would look to Jesus for a confidence in approaching God.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Have Access To the Father
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In Christ: I Have Access To the Father

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 15 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day eighteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have access to the Father.

I Have Access To the Father

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.“
Ephesians 2:17-18 (NIV)

Have you ever tried to reach the top of a company’s chain of command in order to resolve a problem?  How easy has that been?  Did you wish you had an inside connection that would give you access to the top?  In your life, how accessible has your father been to you?  If you’re a parent, how accessible are you to your children?  Would they agree?

When things don’t go exactly as we had hoped or planned, most of us long for direct access to the person who can make things right.  In my life there are many times when things don’t go as I planned so it is comforting to know that in Christ I have access to the Father!  As you pray, thank God for the access you have to Him and ask that He would help you to maintain your side of that communication.  Pray that you would always value the access you have to God through Christ and never forget that the same access is available in Christ for all who would accept it.  Pray that you would always trust the counsel of the Father as you go to Him about everything.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Am Seated With Him
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In Christ: I Am Seated With Him

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 16 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day seventeen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have been seated with Christ.

I Am Seated With Christ

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.“
Ephesians 2:6 (NIV)

Where do you like to sit when you attend a concert, movie, or performance?  Are you more concerned about where you are seated or about who you are seated with?  Who is the most important person that you have ever been seated near?  How did that make you feel?  How would it make you feel to be invited to a seat of honor at an event?

There have been many times in my prayer ministry travels that I have longed to be seated with the first class passengers as I walk through on my way to coach seating.  While that has not yet happened, in Christ I have something better — I have been seated with Christ in the heavenly realms!  As you pray, ask God to help you remember that you have been invited and placed in a seat far above any first class accommodations.  Pray that you would never lose sight of the eternal reward that belongs to all who are in Christ.  Pray for a spirit of humility that would remind you that it is by God’s love, not by your goodness, that you have been seated with Christ.  Pray that others would also be seated with Christ.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Am Made Alive
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In Christ: I Am Made Alive

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 17 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day sixteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have been made alive.

I Am Made Alive

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.“
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

Are there activities or events that you participate in that make you feel more alive than at other times?  How often do you think about your sin bringing death into your life?  Do you know people who have normal vital signs yet live as if they’re dead?  Are there times when that describes you?  How often do you just slide into the motions of doing life without living as one who is fully alive?

Many people develop habits and routines that become so automatic that they slide into a lifestyle that would be described at best as ordinary with no indication of being fully alive.  In Christ we have been lifted out of the ordinary and made to be fully alive!  As you pray, ask God to help you live as one who is fully alive even in the midst of the normal and ordinary tasks of life.  Pray that you would be filled with hope as you realize that when you are dead in your sins, Christ has come to make you alive.  Pray for the courage to make the most of being alive in Christ as you interact with people who still need to know Him.  Pray that they too would be made alive in Christ.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Am Redeemed
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In Christ: I Am Redeemed

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 18 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day fifteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have been redeemed by God.

I Am Redeemed

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.“
Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV)

Have you ever lost something that you had to pay someone else for in order to get it returned to you?  Have you had a car impounded that required you to pay to get it back?  Perhaps a lost or runaway pet that you had to redeem from the pound in order to make it yours again?  How do you feel when you have to pay again for something that had already been yours?  How do you feel when you finally get it back?

While many don’t like to admit it, every person belongs to God from the beginning of life due to His role as creator.  Yet each one of us has gone astray and left the home and authority of our Father to serve a different master.  In His great love, God has paid the price to buy us back through the blood of Jesus.  As you pray, thank God for the great desire He has for you to be His child, that He would redeem you from the bondage of sin.  Pray that you would experience the fullness of God’s grace as one who has been bought back from sin.  Pray that the people around you would accept God’s desire to redeem them.

In prayer,

Tom  

In Christ: I Have Been Adopted
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In Christ: I Have Been Adopted

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 19 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day fourteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have been adopted into God’s family.

I Have Been Adopted

“In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.“
Ephesians 1:5-6 (NIV)

How do you feel about the family you are a part of?  How do you think they feel about you being part of the family?  What do you think your family members would say about your desire for them to be part of the family?  What do you think of when you hear the word adoption?  How would knowing that you are wanted make you feel?

Most of us know families, perhaps you are one of them, who have gone to great extremes to adopt a child.  Their desire and love for that child has no limits and they do whatever it takes to make them part of their family.  God has that same abounding love for us that He would spare no expense in adopting us into His family!  As you pray, ask God to help you understand the greatness of His love and desire for you.  Pray for a greater acceptance of the love God has for you that He longed to adopt you in Christ.  Pray that you would value your adoption and live as a true child of God.  Pray that the people around you would accept the love God has for them as they see that love expressed in God’s adoption of you.

In prayer,

Tom