Power-filled Positive Thinking Part 7c—Seven Reasons I Have a Heart filled with Joyous Hope as His Redeemed

In Christ, I am redeemed. I am set free from the chains of guilt, shame, sin and death. Why then do I still fail God at times? Why do my best efforts fall by the wayside when I with all my heart reach out to help a friend? Why am I still at times impatient with mom? Why can’t I live a life that fully Glorifies God in all that I say and all that I do? Why, oh why does my faith ever stumble and falter after all that He has revealed to me and done for me?

Christ, at God the Father’s command took upon himself all my sin so that I might be made into God’s righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5: “²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” This truth is certain; yet, throughout this journey I still have this body. Yes, there are times that I would groan within awaiting the redemption of our body from its aches, pains, fatigues, failures, and sins. Just as Paul wrote: Romans 8: “²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”

The truth that in Christ I am redeemed provides me hope to rise above my own frailties, failures, pains, and suffering to face each new morning with joyous anticipation of seeing God’s Glory revealed. Because in Christ I am His redeemed, beloved, blessed saint, I have nothing to fear and I have seven reasons to have a heart overflowing with hope. These seven reasons are:

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Redemption is Mine

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

Redemption is mine

Oh what can it mean

Purchased as His

Washed and made clean

 

Tremendous the price

He paid for my life

When all that I did

Was cause him such strife

 

How wondrous the thought

I have been set free

My chains are now gone

Oh such jubilee

 

Embraced by His love

His Joy fills my heart

E’er in His presence

No way to depart

 

Oh how can I not

Give all that is mine

To follow His will

His Glory to shine

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 7b—In Christ Are Redeemed from Sin’s Chains into Joyous, Abundant Life

Redemption—to be redeemed literally means to be “bought back” and restored. Throughout the Old Testament, the word redeemed was used in reference to God redeeming a people to Himself—drawing them out, bringing them out of slavery, and mercifully forgiving their sins. All of this pointing toward the “Messiah” who would pay the price once and for all for our sins. David understood this truth and writes often about his being redeemed. David understood that it was God’s mercy and grace that would redeem David from the chains of sin and death that bound him in this world. David was a man of great passion, who loved God with a fervent love. Did that always keep David from sin? No, we know that—the Bible very clearly reports David failures as well—his moments of pride, his adultery, the ordering of Uriah’s certain death in battle, the lying to hide his sin, and his failures as a father to discipline his own son.

Still, David understood that if he were to be “redeemed” from the chains of sins, the penalties of sin, and from death’s clutches; it would be due to God’s mercy and would take more than the sacrifice of a lamb or burnt offering. It required a broken and contrite heart—a heart that had seen the depth of its own sin against God. A heart that had been stripped of all selfish, self-exalting pride

. Just like David, we can never be redeemed unless we understand that we have no hope to be unshackled from these chains without a redeemer to set us free. Look at just a few of the prayers of David recorded in the Psalms.

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Chapter 7A-Redeemed—From what? For what? And at What price?

The pain was excruciating as they moved me from the stretcher onto the bed. The nurses tried to be as gentile as possible; yet, the pain was sharp and ran deep. I tried to smile and whisper “thank you.” Yet, there was a problem—my only IV site had infiltrated and there was no way to give me any pain medication. The surgery was done to rebuild my abdominal wall with pig fascia. So many surgeries had left my abdomen with nothing to attach the fascia to except my ribs. The surgeon had ever so carefully placed 100s of stitches across the highly innervated ribs. I could barely whisper because any attempt to breath sent pains shooting through my body—my whole body shivered and trembled from the pain. I could not move. The team that places a special IV that runs through a deep vein up to the heart would be coming; but, they were very busy and it would be several hours before they arrived. I closed my eyes to pray as I waited. At first, I prayed that God would ease the pain or hurry the team. Then as I lay there suddenly I remembered how Christ had been beaten with the whips until His ribs lay bare with the flesh torn around them. There had been no hope of pain medications for my Savior and in fact, He would be nailed to a cross He was forced to carry. Suddenly, my pain seemed so trivial in comparison to His. My prayer no longer was for my immediate relief—instead I began to pray a thank you prayer to my Redeemer, my Lord, and my Savior. I whispered, “God, give me strength to bare this pain for however long you deem necessary that I never forget the price you paid for me at Calvary.” Then the team arrived, my IV was placed and the pain medicine was running into my veins to ease the pain. I was redeemed. I am redeemed by the blood of Christ shed on the cross.

Artwork used with permission of Ronald Barba who owns the copyright ©2014. Click on picture for information regarding obtaining copies

Ephesians 1: Jesus Christ “⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” So, in Christ; I am His Blessed, Beloved Saint and I am His redeemed.

To redeem something or someone means that the full price is paid for their purchase, their restoration, and improvement. But what does that really mean? Though we may say the words with ease; do we fully grasp the significance of being redeemed? For this truth to penetrate our hearts and have significance in our lives, we must understand 3 key points to being redeemed. Those 3 are what are we redeemed from, what are we redeemed for, and what was the price of our redemption?

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Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 6c—10 steps to Rejoicing that You are Blessed

The word blessed as we have seen in the previous two sections is synonymous with being fulfilled, happy, honored and prosperous. Some might say, “If in Christ I am blessed; then, why is my life such a mess?” What happened?  Struggling from paycheck to paycheck, working way too many hours, an unappreciative spouse, illness, and so on our minds can get filled with today’s conflicts and trials. With these thoughts going through our head, we become caught with our emotions spiraling downward into depression, anger, and despair. Indeed some will run off seeking, searching and striving to find that happiness by running away or chasing after futile counterfeit joys. They may search for fulfillment in adulterous affairs, alcohol, drugs, divorce, or climbing the success ladder at all cost. Some will follow teachers who will tell them that if they just give more money and have more faith, they can name what they want and God will give it to them. When that fails, they are then laden with guilt and anxiety because they must have failed. All of this coming from a misconception of what it means to be the Blessed, Beloved Saint in Christ, because of Christ’s finished work of redemption on the Cross.

photo used by permission

courtesy of Vanessa Barrientos 

Yes, in Christ I am blessed with all spiritual blessings. My joy comes from an abiding relationship with God in which His love and His joy so fills my heart that it permeates everything inside and around me. How I view trials changes. How I perceive life’s challenges changes. What I value as my greatest treasures changes.

It comes from deep within the central core of my being—knowing, believing and trusting that an omnipotent, Sovereign Omniscient God loves me, bestows His honor and favor upon me because of who He is to the glory of His own name. It is His pleasure to bestow His joy, His love and His glory upon me. In fact, I was born for just that purpose. It is I who fails to grasp that at times when I wander off in search of other treasures and other blessing that cannot satisfy.

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