I’m not against work or giving it everything I have. In fact I have believed for a long time that I could accomplish anything I put my mind and hands to.  This was my coping mechanism for  the rest of my life’s problems and my solution to all of them.  I was in fact a workaholic.  My answer to everything was to work harder.  I would watch Rocky intentionally so I could press on with what I was facing.  After that shot in the arm, I could go back in the trenches and hit it again.  But it always wore off. 

This method seemed to work most days, but not all.  When I was made aware that I had sinned against God, it’s no surprise that my first reaction was to try harder, but Even Rocky couldn’t solve this one. When it happened again, I turned my focus up another notch, and another and yet had the same result.  I had to figure out how to up my game in this battle.  

Eventually, after wearing myself, my mind, and my ego to the point of surrender, I was able to comprehend God’s provision for me through Jesus.  It was His finished work at the cross that rescued me.  My work was not enough. It was not possible in my own strength to fix my sin problem.  When I came to terms with that truth, not only was there an answer to my sin problem, there was a new relationship in my life that brought freedom.  

It’s amazing to me how much time I wasted because I had no understanding the first 3 words of this verse.  

“For with God, nothing shall be impossible” ~ Luke 1:37. 

 I had the second half down but it’s no longer truth when you drop the first part.   Don’t waste your time as I did.  Let go of the “I am the solution” mindset for a moment and see what God has done for you.  Invite Him to be your Lord today and you too will have the victory and freedom you desire.  Those three words change everything!

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Let us not be fooled.  Love is often paired with sacrifice on purpose as it is here.  Love is sacrifice. Ask any husband or wife that been married 20 plus years what love is and they may just say, “sacrifice” or “putting the other person first.”  I once heard, “love is choosing the best for someone else regardless of the circumstances it creates for you”.  Yep that sounds like marriage and parenting!

Of course there is no place this truth is more powerfully displayed than the cross.  What would it take for Jesus to leave His throne to come die for sinners who had rejected and disregarded Him…Love and sacrifice.  Without the Father’s mercy and compassion to reach down, were would we be?   Without the sacrifice of His son, there would be no hope. 

Praise God for His steadfast love and willingness to humble Himself and endure even death on cross for me. Iwill choose to love with sacrifice for those He has placed in my path. What will you do?

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The post Love And Sacrifice first appeared on Brian Friedl.

As I was reading this passage I thought to myself, “My most important need is cared for daily for all eternity”. Why am I stressing?  I made an intentional choice to praise God for His provision rather than stress about my situation.  My attitude transformed, my soul rejoiced, and my stress dissolved. Just another example of how we never graduate from the cross.  It’s power goes beyond our salvation to change every part of our journey going forward on his side of life and the life to come!

Personal Reflection

What are you stressing about today? Is it really a bigger deal than your salvation? Jesus bore all your sin that you might have the freedom to glorify Him and truly live a life of joy?  Take some time today reflecting on all that was paid for your freedom and let the praise of God ever be on your lips!

Prayer Focus

Our Rescuer and Redeemer; Mighty God, we shout praises to You and lift Your great name. For you have broken every chain and set our souls free!  None of our enemies can stand before You.  You scatter them like ashes in the wind. Who can condemn us when we are covered by the blood of Jesus. We praise you for the Gift of Your righteousness in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

The post Stress Or Praise? first appeared on Brian Friedl.

There is another superior work that I love to revisit many times over and enjoy it all the more each time I ponder it…Jesus’ work at the cross.  At the right time Jesus fulfilled what was spoken of by the prophets through his humble obedience to the point of death, even death on a cross.  He bridged the gap of our vast separation of all of humanity with the loving Father.  What blessed words were they when he uttered “It is finished”!

The amazing thing about the cross is that the more we look upon it, the more we are gripped by this powerful work of love.  2 Corithians 5:21 says:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reflection

Let that sink in.  The all knowing, all powerful, ever present Lord Jesus became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. What love! Can we even comprehend so great a love?  This is a work of love that we can never grow tired of looking at and admiring.  Go back to the cross today and reflect on the magnificent work of Christ and rejoice that “It is finished”!

Prayer

Father, let our minds revisit and be filled with the love poured out at the cross.  May our hearts rejoice and our lips praise You all day long!  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

The post It is finished first appeared on Brian Friedl.