Be proud of where the Lord has brought you from. I’ve been around individuals (including myself not too long ago) which have been absolutely ashamed of their past. They come to Jesus, but yet the thoughts of the past still haunt them day after day. However, true reality is far from their reality. True reality lies in forgiveness and the supernatural experience of God’s love. Our Father has forgiven us, but sometimes we haven’t forgiven ourselves. Forgiveness of self is just as important as forgiveness from our Father. The Word of God says, “who the son sets free, is free indeed,” but often times we stand in our own way of freedom. Jesus has already done the work, claim it!
As I was spending time in my devotionals this week, I came across a passage I have read countless times, but yet this time it was different. (That’s why it’s called the ‘living word.’) 1 Corinthians 7:17 says, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to them, and to which God has called him.” Wow! This really hit me hard. So many times, people feel the need to clean up their past before they enter church, or even before they give their life to Jesus! No, don’t attempt this! Jesus meets all of us where we are, and he is asking us to live the life HE assigned FOR US!
Our life, regardless of where we have been is to be used with purpose. “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Everything Satan meant for harm is going to be used to glorify and uphold the name of Jesus. That drug you did… yup, your testimony. The men in your life that were just to try to fulfill your empty heart…yup your testimony. When you found Jesus and he became your all and all… yup, your testimony.
Jesus loves you so much that he died on that cross not only to take our sins, but to erase our sins and everything that came before him! Your life is brand new! “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). You are in Christ! When God looks at you, he sees Jesus. You are now the righteousness of God. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Don’t change your testimony. Release it. The Word of God says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11). Without your testimony many souls will be missed. Be proud of where the Lord has brought you from. Be bold, yet humble. Don’t mind the naysayers, they will always be just that. You do what the Lord has called you to do and use what he has placed in your hands, your testimony.
Remember, “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20). You are precious in the eyes of the Lord, a chosen vessel. Don’t stand in the way of the work God our Father wants to do in and through you!
Blessings,
Lacy Leasure
This is a guest blog written by Lacy Leasure, owner of Lacy C Photography. She is a lifestyle photographer based out of Washington, PA. You can find her photography at Lacy C Photography on Facebook and/or Instagram. You can also visit her personal blog at www.blessedisshepress.wordpress.com
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