Soar

I am not afraid of my sin.  That may sound odd, but it is one of the most freeing statements I could possibly make.  My idea of “sin” has been so radically transformed over the last few years, and in a way that’s hard to put into words, but I will try.

I have viewed sin in many ways over my lifetime.  When I was young, it was the forbidden fruit I wasn’t supposed to eat, but somehow knew would taste sooo good.  There was a time when I was paralyzed by all the sin I saw within me, so overwhelmed and broken over how far I was from God in my heart.  I was wrapped in fear, constantly working to root out any sin that might be lingering within me somewhere that would keep me from God.  It was exhausting!

What God has shown me as I’ve gone through deep challenges and trials, things I had thought to avoid by all that spiritual digging I described above, is that sin isn’t really my enemy.  It’s not what gets me “in trouble” with God; it’s not something I'm meant to whip myself with over and over again.  Sin is merely what gets in the way of me seeing the hand of God’s grace reaching toward me to lift me up and move me forward, to embrace His joy, peace, compassion and emotional freedom. 

Nowadays, I find my “sin” or mistakes or poor choices, past and present, freeing.  Why?  They propel me toward God’s amazing grace.  When I look down at who I am on my own, broken and scarred, weak and fallible, and then I lift my eyes to my God, who views me as sacred space, as special, precious, valuable, worthy and loved, it profoundly moves me.  Every time.  That He would love me so deeply, so completely, humbles me to my very core.  That He then turns around and leads me to beauty and transformation and joy in my personal life, giving me victory after victory, lifting me time and again from the ashes of my challenges, overwhelms me with gratitude words can’t express.

Don’t get me wrong.  I still hate sin.  I hate the damage it does to people, the way it limits us and cuts us off from a better way of life that Jesus Himself carved out for us. I believe that’s why God hates sin.  He hates to see us hurting.  In my own life what I hate about sin is how it takes my eyes off of God and puts them firmly on me.  When I’m fearful, angry, anxious and impatient, I lose some of that sense of connection I share with God, and the deep peace and joy only He can give.   

Yet now, I know without doubt God is greater than my sin, and Jesus has destroyed its power over me today and evermore.   I don’t have to worry about not seeing God’s hand.  He carries me in His arms, and my name is carved in the palm of His hand.  He knows how to break through and still reach me in the midst of my trials.  He lifts me up; He stoops down to make me great.  And that freedom, that sense of refuge, allows me to spread my wings and soar!

For Further Thought:  Every positive statement I shared is based on a scripture from the Bible.  I’ve listed several below*.  This week, take a moment each day to read these spiritual truths and claim them as your own.  The more you operate from a position of God’s love and strength, the higher you will find He is able to make YOU soar!

WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 40:27-31, Romans 8:38-39

THURSDAY: Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 103:11-12

FRIDAY: 1 John 3:19-20, Jeremiah 29:11

SATURDAY: Psalm 34:18, John 16:33

SUNDAY: Isaiah 49:16, Ephesians 3:18

MONDAY: Psalm 146:3-7, I John 4:4

TUESDAY: Psalm 18:35, Psalm 91:18-19, Ephesians 1:17-21

*Don’t own a Bible?  No worries!  Go to biblegateway.com, type in each scripture and it will appear.  You can even check out different translations of the same verse.  Super easy and quick :-)