Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Who do we live for? Christ or the world? As God’s children we were made new when we believed. The Holy Spirit came into us, sealing us as heirs of Christ assured Heaven when we leave this earth. Our old nature was replaced and God gave us a new heart and a new life.

Crucified with Christ 

We are together in Christ. Our sin was placed on the cross. Christ took it from us and carried the weight and endured the punishment that should have been ours. 

The Moment We Believe 

Our sin debt is paid and forgiven in full. We become salves to Christ instead of the world. Before we believed we were tied to the ways, whims, phases, fashions and cycles of the world. We lived and saw as the world does. The moment we gave our life to Christ we became a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!  

God’s Sacrifice & Ours

We die to ourselves when we accept Christ. Our nature is changed. We now have power over sin and a choice when temptation comes. We die with Christ and are risen again with a new heart. Our life is forever changed. Throughout our walk with Christ we are gradually being remade in Christ’s likeness. He renews our minds, actions, thoughts, perspectives, motives, words and values. Our souls are made alive in Christ. We give up our old life and ways for His. Constantly, every day we sacrifice our lives and will for His. We become living sacrifices for God.

2 Corinthians 3:18 

And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

1 Peter 2:4-5

So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  

More of God, Less of Us

The more we let God into our lives the more we become like Him. We must empty ourselves every day. Humble ourselves before God. Recognize God is God and He has all power and control over everything in our life. His love reigns over every aspect and facet in our life as God guides our lives. We must give up our pride, ego, self-centeredness, and our way. Embrace His way and find peace, hope and true life in Him.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. 

Christ Lives in You

We are never alone. God is always by our side. He promises to never leave us. When we believed God gave us His Spirit to live in us. His Spirit guides, teaches, convicts and changes us from the inside out.

Deuteronomy 31:8 

The LORD is indeed going before you—he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!” 

John 14:18 

“I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.  

Companion Forever 

God goes with us wherever we go. No matter where we go He is there. He knows the road we walk and walks beside us every step of the way. He understands our journey and knows us completely. He cares about our lives. He sees our struggles and troubles, issues and problems, joy and sorrow, hopes and dreams, situations and circumstances, cares and concerns. He is working in it all. His goodness and love runs through everything and only God knows how to work everything for our good. God is with us for life. He is working in and through us, through everything in our lives. One day He will finish His work and bring us home to be with Him forever.

John 14:19-20

In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you.  

Isaiah  41:10 

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my victorious right hand! 

Power of God Inside 

The same power that raised Jesus, that healed the sick, the same overcoming power and peace Jesus had, we have too. Through His Spirit within us we can overcome and claim victory over every situation and struggle in our lives. God is our rock, our strength and fortress in life. By faith we can claim the power of the Holy Spirit in us. We can pray and give it all, each thing, each part in our life over to God and watch Him work through His power in us.

1 John 5:5 

Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  

John 16:33 

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.” 

1 Corinthians 15:57 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Living by Faith 

We walk with Christ by faith, not by sight. We can trust Christ in all things. Living by faith is not blind trust. It’s deep assurance of our salvation and His presence in our lives. It’s knowing God and His Word, believing His promises are true aside from our feelings and what we can see in the moment. It’s built on our personal walk with Christ and the things He has shown us along the way. How He has provided, protected, supported and cared for us as we walk with Him.

Romans 1:17 

For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.” 

2 Corinthians 5:7 

for we live by faith, not by sight.  

No Longer Living for Ourselves 

We live for Christ. With Christ we find our hope and future. He is our salvation and peace. He gives us purpose and true life in Him. When we place Him first in our hearts and minds we truly become one with Christ. Learning His ways and following His love and plan for our lives. He takes us on a journey beyond us. It’s not always easy but it’s the best way. 

Philippians 1:21 

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.  

Colossians 3:1-5

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.  

God Our Rock & Refuge 

We can truly trust God and take Him at His Word. Unlike the changing times and world around us. God is steady and unchanging. He can be trusted. God longs for us to trust Him wholeheartedly. He wants to show us personally that He can be trusted. His Word declares His truth and trustworthiness. We can trust Him with whatever is going on in our life. We can run to Him anytime. We can lean on Him. He will carry us.

1 Peter 5:7 

by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.  

Psalms 55:22 

Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be shaken. 

Psalms 56:3-4

When I am afraid, I trust in you. In God—I boast in his promise—in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?

The Love of God

It doesn’t matter what we do or how far we run from Him. His love doesn’t depend on us. He loves us because of who He is. God loves us first. God sent His son to die for us while we still were rebelling against Him. God draws us to Himself and initiates our salvation. It’s all because He loves us.

Romans 5:8-11-12

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. 

Zephaniah 3:17 

The LORD your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.” 

How High, Deep, Wide 

We can’t run from God’s love. We can’t be separated from His love. His love is deeper than anything we can comprehend. God is love. He will chase after us no matter where we go. He came down to us. He gave His life for us. Love runs throughout God’s character. It permeates all God does and balances God’s decisions. God withholds judgment in love. He gives judgment in love. He allows circumstances and hardship in love. He brings us joy in His love. He gives and takes in love. He opens and closes doors in our life in His love. He creates the journey we walk in life, hills and valleys, mountains and plateaus all in His love for us. Only God can work everything together for our good because He loves us.

Ephesians 3:17-19

that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God. 

Romans 8:35-37

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!  

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 8:28-30

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. 

1 John 4:8-10

The person who does not love does not know God because God is love. By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

Living in Christ 

This means walking with Christ every day, letting Him into every area of our life, humbling ourselves and letting God work in and through us, and trusting God as we grow in Him. Live by His grace and love that constantly surrounds us. Receive God’s forgiveness and start again. Do everything for Christ and with Christ. Do everything in God’s love. Talk with God often and read His Word daily. Let Him occupy our thoughts and hearts continuously meditating on Him. Live for Christ. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.  

1 Corinthians 16:14 

Everything you do should be done in love. 

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