The Lord is my light and my salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
[Psalm 27:1 AMP]
You guys, how much have you loved working through the I Am Strong devotional kit? It’s been one of those studies for me that is much better worked through slowly and steadily. Through all of the busyness and distractions in life, it’s been such a relief to sit down with my pretty, happy supplies and to focus my mind and heart on God’s promises.
One of my favorite entries in the devotional booklet was the one titled “King.” It served as such a great reminder that even when it feels like the whole world is against me, “God will defend [me],” “God’s got [my] back,” and “[my] job is to quiet [my] mind and trust.”
If you’re one who is quick to judge and compare, maybe you (like me) find yourself transferring some of your own judgments onto yourself. Since you have experience with and often battle judgmental thoughts, accusations, and comparisons, you may feel like everyone else is doing it to you, too!
In a position like that, it’s so easy to get defensive. You find yourself feeling judged and misunderstood, and as a result you feel the need to explain yourself, to come up with excuses for your behavior, and to defend the choices you’ve made.
You aren’t living by the standards of the world anymore, though! When you make the choice to say or do something that God has put on your heart; when you choose to “say NO to the good so you can say YES to the best;”* when you choose to say YES to God; no explanation is required! You don’t need to defend yourself! As Wilna puts it, “you are already justified.”
You are already justified.
Those words are weighty, my friends.
To be justified means to be made righteous in the sight of God.
Righteous in the sight of God, not in the sight of your neighbors, friends, family, or even yourself! We can stop looking for approval from everyone else now — even if the whole world had a front-row seat to each of our failings, which would probably leave us feeling a little defensive, God would still consider us righteous through Christ.
God is your King. God is your Strength. He will defend you.
Of whom shall you be afraid?
xotawni
*John Maxwell
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