I’m not always the most patient, loving or attentive wife. Or mother. Or friend, sister or daughter.

I don’t have even a hint singing or dancing talent.

I’m not a terribly skilled housekeeper.

I don’t always work out as much as I’d like or make the healthiest food choices and I’m certainly not the size or shape I’d like to be.

I’m not a published author and I don’t have hundred of thousands of followers on my blog.

I don’t always use my time as wisely as I should.

I’m not a missionary or a minister.

I’m not a very organized person.

I don’t volunteer to fill every need at my church or my boys’ school or in my community.

I don’t live a sinless life.

I don’t always love and honor God or others as faithfully as I should.
Maybe you are flawlessly accomplished in all those areas that I’m not. Or maybe you are just like me and find it easy to get tangled up in all the things you’re not.

The law and the world are excellent at pointing out our shortcomings, all the ways we fail to measure up, and all the times we fall short of God’s standard. They easily bind us in guilt, shame and regret.

The problem is that getting wrapped up in all that I am not, restrains me from being all the things that I am.
I am forgiven.

I am redeemed.

I am a child of God.

I am loved beyond my comprehension.

I am going to spend eternity worshipping my Lord and Savior.
What I am is far greater than all that I’m not.

All the things I’m not may hold me back, but focusing on what I am propels me forward.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and receive His Holy Spirit we are free from all condemnation under the law. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-2) Christ came because I could never be all that God requires me to be. He walked the earth in human form and kept the law perfectly. Yet, He was punished for all you and I are not. His Spirit redeems us from all the things we could never be. “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18)

Our flesh fails us, but surrendering to the Spirit frees us.

When I submit to the power of the Spirit in me I live with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Those are qualities I desperately want to cultivate in my life.

As long as God permits me to remain in this early body, my flesh will constantly strive against His Spirit. My sinful human nature will continue to draw me toward things I should avoid. I don’t expect perfection this side of eternity, but every step I take with the Spirit as my guide lessens the sting of what I’m not and leads me closer to all that I am in Him!

 

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You for all that You are and all that You have given me the power to be by Your Spirit. Forgive me when I let all the things I’m not distract me from what I am in Christ. Lead me to always walk according to Your Spirit. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25