My Beloved, Redeemed

A recent prayer from my prayer journal: based on John 8:31-36

Hi Dad,

I just need to talk to You.

Trust is really hard for me God.

But the most constant choice I make is to either trust in You or to worry.

It's my choice if I want to worry. Just as it's my choice if I want to wait to be happy till my life is perfect.

But the truth is that choice is a waste.

God, you knew we would have millions of things that could make us worry everyday. But you don't tell us, "the world is imperfect & broken so worry and don't be happy until you come to heaven with me."

NO

You say, "in this life you will have trials, but take heart for I have overcome them all. In me you will find peace and rest for your soul. For I set you free from the weight and pressures of this world."

Oh God, help this to be a truth that changes my life. I do not want to arrive in heaven seeing so many moments tainted with worry,

Yes, I am human and you know that, yet, You still say as imperfect humans we can find peace.

I can choose peace.

Oh God,

Freedom is not the absence of what can imprison you.

If that were true, I wouldn't be free. Freedom is found in the truth of the Gospel.

That while I am a sinner, Christ love me and Christ died for me.

Freedom is found in my new identity.

Before Christ's sacrifice, I was a slave...

after, I was adopted as a child of God.

satan tries to enslave us,

You adopt us.

We struggle in this life to remember the new identity You have given us as "Your Beloved" and that is why we give satan more power than he has a right to!!

satan cannot enslave an adopted son/daughter.

They belong to a family where the Father is a protector and died just to save them, Who loves them and knows them by name.

You adopted me knowing my past, and I didn't make myself worthy of being part of your family by living my life in fear and worry of messing up. My actions show that I fear everyday that my captor will come to re-enslave me, to take me from Your love, to destroy me. I've been living out of fear.

But the only thing that gave me permanent residence and love in your family was the moment you gave me Your last name Lord.

No one can take that from me.

If I wander, that is still my name.

When I mess up, that is still my name.

When I fear and doubt, that is still my name.

However, when I slow down and think about it, I wander and worry and sin because I forget my new name.

My Beloved, Redeemed

I have a name!

It cannot be changed.

I am no longer my actions and no one else has the power to change my name.

No matter where I go, my new name will follow.

My Father no longer sees me as "orphan", although that is what I once was. He saved me from that. He now sees me as His Beloved, Redeemed.

And in knowing this truth, the fear of my captor will cease.

You can enslave an orphan, but you cannot enslave an adopted son/daughter.

Their new name has set them free,

My Beloved Redeemed.

I don't have to worry,

I never did.