For the past couple of weeks, a war has waged in my heart: a war between the Spirit and my flesh (which has found an ally in the whispered lies of the enemy). There have been moments that I have gratefully sought shelter in the shadow of the Cross and moments that I have tried to climb up on that Cross and blasphemously become my own messiah.
As I have listened to hymns and praise songs, the words of the songs washed over me. One song in particular was Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). As I sang the words, the enemy (and my heart) condemned me saying, you can't sing those words honestly...you still have some pretty heavy chains. Isn't it just like Satan to try to dictate to our hearts?
But then...
Grace spoke. The Holy Spirit shut the mouth of the enemy and my heart. He said, yes, your chains ARE gone. Jesus, God wrapped in flesh, Emmanuel, came and lived the life you should have but couldn't and died the death you should have but won't. And that's not all. He rose and intercedes for you even now.
"for whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything." (1 John 3:20)
AND HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
He knows my ugly thoughts. He knows the self-righteousness I've felt. And yet He does not condemn me!
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1 - 4)
My chains ARE gone!
I HAVE been set free!
My God MY Savior has ransomed me!
And like a flood, His MERCY reigns...
Unending love, amazing GRACE!
As I have listened to hymns and praise songs, the words of the songs washed over me. One song in particular was Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). As I sang the words, the enemy (and my heart) condemned me saying, you can't sing those words honestly...you still have some pretty heavy chains. Isn't it just like Satan to try to dictate to our hearts?
But then...
Grace spoke. The Holy Spirit shut the mouth of the enemy and my heart. He said, yes, your chains ARE gone. Jesus, God wrapped in flesh, Emmanuel, came and lived the life you should have but couldn't and died the death you should have but won't. And that's not all. He rose and intercedes for you even now.
"for whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything." (1 John 3:20)
AND HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
He knows my ugly thoughts. He knows the self-righteousness I've felt. And yet He does not condemn me!
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1 - 4)
My chains ARE gone!
I HAVE been set free!
My God MY Savior has ransomed me!
And like a flood, His MERCY reigns...
Unending love, amazing GRACE!
Gail,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Praise God for His abundant grace that flows freely to us. Marilyn
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ReplyDeleteI could listen to that song continually all day long! Every time it makes me cry. Thank you for sharing your heart.
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Dian
In 2008 our church went through the Experiencing God Day by Day book. I still read that most mornings. I wanted to share a little of today's message: The title is Praise before Victory.
ReplyDeletePraise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God.
You ought to rejoice when God asks you to proceed in the work of His kingdom because you know the victory has already secured. Don't focus on the problems and failures of others. Focus on God's assurance of victory. If you have trouble praising God with a song in your heart as you serve Him, it may be that your focus is not on God, but on your circumstances.
Dian
What a reminder, Dian, to keep our eyes focused on WHO God is and what He has already done. In the book, One Thousand Gifts, she says over and over, "Eucharisteo (Thanksgiving) ALWAYS proceeds the miracle. In other words, as I said a couple of weeks ago, when we give thanks we SEE the goodness of God and we EXPERIENCE the goodness of God. I am learning - all over again - to keep my eyes on CHRIST. So hard....
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