These are the words that have been on my heart since Sunday. I don't feel like these words are meant for me. Maybe they are, but I get the feeling these are not just my words. So, I will say it again: You matter.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." -Romans 5:1-5
It's easy to get caught up in day to day stresses. Lately I've been sitting in mine. And unfortunately, we all know where that gets you -don't we? But, everything about Romans chapter five, verses one through five tell me what I need to know.
We have been justified (made right by) faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (whom died, for us). We have access by our faith (complete trust in) to His grace, in which we stand and rejoice in the glory of God.
In every, every, every situation we have a reason to be thankful. We have a reason to stand and rejoice. When I am focused on the stress of my world I am not focused on the bigger picture. I am not focused on the one who loves me unconditionally. I am not focused on the one who gave up everything for me.
God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
We have the ability to tap right into the source through scripture and through the Holy Spirit. We can listen to self-doubt and worldly standards...or we can focus our minds and fix our eyes to our God, the one who loves us (even on the days when we don't really love us).
We have the ability to tap right into the source through scripture and through the Holy Spirit. We can listen to self-doubt and worldly standards...or we can focus our minds and fix our eyes to our God, the one who loves us (even on the days when we don't really love us).
You matter.
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." -Romans 5:6-11
Listen, we're not going to always get it right. God knows that. If that was the deal breaker, the cross would have never of come into play. Jesus died for the sinners. God showed us his love when we were weak, when we were tired, and when we were broken. This means, when you are feeling weak or tired or broken, turn to your Father. God is always going to be there, and He is always going to care. Why?
Because, you matter.
Because, you matter.
Ashley
xoxo
