I once lived a broken life, certain that I had been judged and found lacking in every way. See, I had been taught all my life that I wasn’t worth time or effort, that I was ugly and unwanted, that the only reason for my existence was to be used and tossed aside. And all of that was my fault.

I believed deeply that the treatment I received was the result of things I had done right or wrong. Thus, the painful, hurtful things were my fault, and the treatment was what God had condemned me to.

In my early faithwalk, I believed that God judged my every move and if I didn’t DO all sorts of things for Him, I was BAD, and thus condemned.

One day I discovered this gem tucked into the book of Romans. In the portion of this letter from Paul just prior to these words, Paul explained how he battled with wanting to do the right thing and ending up doing the wrong. Doing the right thing was hard at times, even for the Apostle Paul. After his lamentation over this truth, Paul wrote these words, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Believer, you do NOT bear ANY condemnation for your past. None. Not the tiniest iota. Jesus cleared that away with His sacrifice on Calvary. God is not punishing you for the things you did before you were washed in the blood of His Son. You may bear the consequences of that (injuries, imprisonment, etc), but you are not condemned.

If you are overrun with thoughts that your hard times or difficulties or the horrid actions of others are punishment from God, resist and rebuke them. Bring those thoughts under control with this simple truth. If there was ever a scripture to memorize, this one is it.

The enemy loves to throw our past up in our faces. He calls out na-nee-na-nee-boo-boo as he reminds us of how we faltered and failed. He even utilizes the abuse we have suffered as a weapon, using the words of our abusers, “You deserved it!”

As for the sins after your salvation? Incorporate 1 John 1:9 into your everyday. Agree with God that what you did was wrong and turn away from it. He is faithful. He is just. He will cleanse you from everything that holds you from being in right standing with God. E V E R Y T H I N G.

Are you living in a pit of despair because your past is filled with bad choices?
Today is your day!
Look to the Lord, my friend. He is not holding you in condemnation. He is holding you in great love, value, and protection.

Are you living in the muck and mire of a past filled with trauma and abuse, certain that you deserved it?
Today is your day!
Look to the Lord, beloved child of God.
He has not condemned you.
That’s the work of the enemy who has sought for a long time to destroy you.
Rest in the nail-scarred hands of the Savior. Lay every burden, every ache, pain, and heartache on Him.
He’s waiting and willing to take it from you.

Coffee, Bible, Journal.

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