As I began to move from finding freedom in my journey to living in freedom, there has been an unexpected awakening. This awakening has been that I no longer need to “try to earn” God’s favor. I already have it. I now want to live for Jesus because of His Love, Mercy and Grace. The relationship we can have with Jesus gives us a longing to have Him with us at every moment in our daily living. Having this awakening that I don’t have to earn anything for having accepted Christ into my life has given me all I thought I must earn and this gift from Christ has been so, so much more.

Last night the two men who are attending their first step study with me for our Celebrate Recovery ministry, gave their inventories. One of them is now 9 months sober from his alcoholism and the other is almost a year sober from his sexual addiction. Not only did they give their inventory, but they added a piece we encourage all attenders to do–that is to begin a positive inventory for themselves. It took me years to do this for I had so many roadblocks in my belief system about anything positive for myself. However, these two men were able to give remarkable positive comments due to Christ’s work in their lives. I tear up now thanking Jesus for this for them. The humble thanks they have for Christ’s work in their lives is genuine.

How wonderful our Savior and Lord Jesus is!