The fight for purity isn’t a once-in-a-life-time step but a day-by-day walk. And as I struggle some days more than others, I’ve been facing the memories of past mistakes, my own weaknesses and present failures and my desperation when I feel these sins have control over me. But there is a song that’ve been following me these past weeks, which reached out to me deeply with the truth it carries, and I want to share it with you, that it might bless you and encourage you too in your journey. I added my own thoughts in brackets. The song is called Redeemed, by Big Daddy Weave.
Seems like all I could see was the struggle [the present temptation]
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past [the past experiences]
Bound up in shackles of all my failures [the people I hurt, the failed relationships]
Wondering how long is this gonna last [I can’t get over my feeling of defeat]
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me [You really spoke to me]
“Son, stop fighting a fight that's already been won” [I set you free from sin!]
(Chorus)
I am redeemed [You forgave me]
You set me free [You paid the price of my sin]
So I'll shake off theses heavy chains [I don’t have to leave like I’m bound to sin]
Wipe away every stain [You don’t remember my sins no more]
Now I'm not who I used to be [A sinner who couldn’t chose not to sin]
I am redeemed [You forgave me]
I am redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy [this made me seek value and acceptance in others]
Named by the voice of my shame and regret [so I failed and felt ashamed]
But when I hear You whisper, “Child lift up your head” [You reached out to me]
I remember oh God, You're not done with me yet [and reminded me I’m not perfect, but you’re making me more like you each day]
I don't have to be the old man inside of me [I can live as a free person]
'Cause his day is long dead and gone [I’m not bound to sin anymore]
Because I've got a new name [I’m a new creature]
A new life I'm not the same [I have all I need in You]
And a hope that will carry me home [That you will finish your work]
This song reminds me that the main reason I fall and fail is that I believe in my imperfection, unworthiness, incapacity and inability to do right, but I forget to believe that I’m not by myself anymore - God loved me so much that He sent Jesus to forgive me, to pay the price of my sin, and Jesus Christ redeemed me, made me whole, brought me to life, broke my slavery to sin, and now I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me, guiding me and convincing me.
Every time I struggle now I bring my thoughts to WHO I AM IN CHRIST - loved, forgiven, cleaned, restored, sanctified, justified - REDEEMED!
I want to tell you, brothers and sisters, that the Enemy’s biggest weapon is deception! He wants you to feel that you need more than you already have, be more than you already are. Ephesians 1 says:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship 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. (1:3-7)
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession —to the praise of his glory. (1:11-14)
So hold on to what God says you are, and when temptation comes, shout: I’m gonna live for the praise of God, who gave me every spiritual blessing I need in Christ.
And whenever Satan come to say you’re unworthy, incapable of changing, to remind you of your past mistakes, shout: I am REDEEMED! I’m chosen, predestined, included in Christ, I’m sealed with the Holy Spirit - I’m God’s possession and you better back away, Satan, because I won’t fall for your deceiving words. I’ll believe in what God says to me. I’m His, I’m redeemed.
Your Sister
