Hope everyone has been doing well since the last time I posted! Sorry it has been such a long while!
Today, I'm just going to speak straight from the heart. The Lord has been working with me a lot lately. He really has written it on my heart that salvation is by faith Jesus alone. I knew this truth before; I believed it, but now God has applied it to my life beyond salvation to my assurance of salvation.
Let me give you an example of what I mean: If I am struggling with a sin and I commit it, many times the temptation that follows is to think, "How could you be a Christian if you committed that sin so easily?" Thoughts like this have haunted me for a long time. But think about it, Christians still sin. We are not going to be perfected until we die and go to be with the Lord or until He returns. He died for that sin. It's dealt with. Period!
I now learned when I start doubting to think, "It's Christ, not me," to ask God to forgive me for doubting (and committing whatever sin that caused me to doubt), and, if necessary, to preach the Gospel to myself. Girlfriend, I have literally done this. I have said to myself, "I am a sinner and cannot save myself. Jesus became incarnate, lived, died, and rose again. He took the wrath which should be on me. He loves me. His Spirit indwells me. God the Father loves me and has forgiven me through Jesus." It helps me. Don't let people call you crazy. If it helps you, do it! You don't have to say all this out loud, you can think it to yourself.
Also, looking up Scripture verses dealing with what Christ has done for you will help immensely. Some of my personal favorites are 1 John 4:10: "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (NKJV) and Isaiah 61:10: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (NKJV)
Christ's love for you is everlasting! Rest upon it!
In His love alone,
