Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

~1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

Confession time: I struggle with fear. 

It rears its ugly head in the form of anxiety. When I don’t honestly believe God will provide, protect, or rescue me, I resort to putting food in the hole under my nose.  I realize this is irrational.  A cookie has no ability to rescue me.  It only promises a numbing of emotion. 

And it does numb my emotion—but only until I swallow, and anxiety is joined by guilt and discouragement.  It’s not a good bang for my buck. My attempt to cope in the absence of God’s help leads to addiction—tormenting servitude to a false god. I am an idolater.

It is unfitting for a child of God to serve a false god—to dress immodestly—to sully oneself with vulgarity or dishonesty, or to use the same lips to both offer worship to God and curse our neighbor.

Our actions divulge our beliefs; they shine an expository light on our level of faith.

We will not do these things if we genuinely believe we are precious and loved by God, and that He will meet our needs. And we won’t resort to violence or vengeance if we believe the Lord will be our champion.

Beloved, it all comes down to faith.  God is so much more faithful and powerful than we know. Our value and His love for us far exceed our wildest imaginations. He wants to be the one to provide for us and to comfort us—to hold us in our hurts, fears, and longings.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

~1 Peter 2:9 NIV

Do you need healing and deliverance from something? Is there some habit or behavior you turn to for comfort instead of turning to God?

Confession of sin, one to another, followed by being prayed for, is the path to healing (see James 5:16). 

Let’s take our places—not begging for scraps under the table with slaves but as participants at the table of the King.

Do you struggle with addictions, anxieties, or habits?

Lord God, rescue me again! I take hold of my value in Christ and cling to Your faithfulness. I return to You, the God of all comfort. I open wide my mouth, that You might fill me (see Ps 81:10). Have mercy, Lord! Work in my heart. I renounce the shameful ways and false gods I have sought for comfort, and I put on the robe of the redeemed—righteousness, self-control, modesty, integrity, and the fruit of the Spirit. Lord, help me to change.  Deliver me again from the slavery of sin, strengthen my faith, and guide me to the right path.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2021: The Robe of the Redeemed: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: All Rights Reserved