Living Free - March 2, 2017
Compartmentalizing God
Today's Scripture
"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you." (Psalm 37:5 NLT)
Thoughts for Today
A fresh start involves repentance. It may be repentance for your part (if any) in what caused your setback. It may be repentance for unforgiveness and allowing yourself to be controlled by something that was done to you. Or it may be repentance for the way you have been living your life. But we can't start over if we aren't ready to make a change.
If you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, that should be the first step to your fresh start.
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:22-25 NLT)
If you are already a Christian but have sinned, Jesus is waiting with open arms to forgive you. "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9 NLT).
Consider this …
Through Christ, a fresh start involves every aspect of our life. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).
This radical change is the experience of all who have received Christ as Savior. Whether you have just received Jesus Christ as your Savior or recently rededicated your life, a "new person" (fresh start) means you are a new creation, not in just one compartment of your life but in your entire being. His plan is to renew every area of your life—your family, employment, lifestyle, relationships. It is vital for you to place everything under his guidance and loving care.
Do you compartmentalize God . . . or is he involved in all facets of your life? Choose today to commit everything you do to him.
Father, I know I've been holding back some areas of my life from you. Help me to commit everything I do and everything I am to you. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …
Free to Grow: Overcoming Setbacks and Disappointments by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. The purpose of this group study is to help people overcome disappointments and setbacks that have arrested or are presently hindering their emotional and spiritual development. The group study will help participants understand how to be set free so that they can grow and become all that God has designed them to be. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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