{"id":123,"date":"2014-02-14T02:50:06","date_gmt":"2014-02-14T08:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/belovedlove.org\/reflections\/?p=123"},"modified":"2019-05-17T14:32:46","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T19:32:46","slug":"no-condemnation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belovedlove.org\/reflections\/2014\/02\/14\/no-condemnation\/","title":{"rendered":"No Condemnation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"no<\/a><\/p>\n

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 NIV<\/a>)
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Really?\u00a0 Because I feel condemnation all the time.\u00a0 I am not good enough. I fail. I screw up. I am selfish, willful, petty, uncontrolled, petulant, uncaring, grumpy, reclusive, controlling, critical, judgmental, prideful, gluttonous.\u00a0 And then I am paralyzed by guilt, remorse, shame, embarrassment.<\/p>\n

And Satan claps his hands:\u00a0 he \u201cgets\u201d me with my sins, he \u201ckeeps me\u201d with the guilt.<\/p>\n

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.<\/i><\/p>\n

Really.\u00a0 I must face the reality of my imperfections and accept them, but at the same time know that no matter what I have done, and what I will do, I am not condemned. I am not held hostage to ongoing guilt, pervading doom, defeat, anger, resentment, worry.\u00a0 I do not have to–I am not supposed to–live in such an environment.<\/p>\n

Being in Christ Jesus<\/b> is having the power and the courage to face my sins every day, and receive forgiveness for them. Every day. It is the easiest and the hardest thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do it myself\u201d<\/b>\u00a0 The biggest most difficult sin I have to face\u2014every day\u2014is that I think I can do a better job of directing my life than God can.\u00a0 There is a two year old in my head stomping her foot\u00a0 declaring \u201cI can do it myself.\u201d \u00a0I am convinced that my way will make me happy, bring me joy.<\/p>\n