Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1–2 (NIV)

No matter what you’ve ever done, there is no condemnation in Christ. He sits at the Father’s right hand, not as an accuser, but as an advocate willing to give his life for you.

God began the work to bring you back into his presence long before you were born. God knows you can’t make the journey home on your own, so while you “were still helpless” Christ died for you (Romans 5:6 HCSB).

Jesus offers mercy, not condemnation. He says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13 NIV). His objective is to bring you back into intimacy with the Father, so he’s not interested in making you jump through hoops to prove yourself worthy or to earn back God’s love.

In a sense, Jesus says, “You promise to do things in exchange for your forgiveness, but I want to give you forgiveness and grace as a gift. I desire mercy, not these sacrifices you hope will win back my love: You never lost my love!”

“My purpose is not to condemn you but to let my life run free within you as the Holy Spirit connects you directly to the Father” (Romans 8:1-2, author paraphrase).

“Besides, you can’t wash all the stains away. So, let me do it for you. My blood will be the bleach to wash you white as snow, and my Spirit will begin to live directly in your heart.”

Wrapped in Christ, we are able to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).

When you feel condemnation coming at you like a furious flood, look to Jesus, who says, “I no longer condemn you. Go and sin no more” (John 8:11 NLT, with author paraphrase).

Question: What sort of things cause feelings of condemnation within you? Which facts of scripture will you claim to counteract these false feelings?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

Read this as a prayer today:

In faith, I know this to be true:

Jesus, you are full of truth and grace, and you fill me with your truth and grace (John 1:14).

You are working within me to clear a channel so that your love flows through me into the lives of everyone I meet. When I find it difficult to love someone, I can be confident that you will love that person through me (Galatians 2:20-21).

I may not be where you need to be yet, but I am “confident of this, that he who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

And I know “God is able to make all grace abound [in me], so that in all things at all times, having all that [I] need, [I] will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Thank you, Jesus – You have filled me with your grace and truth, brought me deep and permanently into the love of God, and given me the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. I am, at all times, filled with grace, mercy, and peace (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Question: Which part of this prayer connected most strongly to your life circumstances right now?

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25)

You and I have a way by which we can be absolutely certain of God’s forgiveness. It is two – fold.

First, we must be sure that we have forgiven anyone and everyone against whom we may have anything or hold any resentment.

Second, we must believe His Word unquestioningly – and His Word does indeed tell us we will be forgiven when we ask under these conditions.

Most familiar, of course, is the glorious promise of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (KJV).

Though today’s verse uses the word stand in reference to praying, Scripture clearly states that the posture in prayer was sometimes standing. God, however, looks on the heart rather than on our position as we pray.

If the heart is right, any posture may be proper. All other things being equal, however, the kneeling position seems more in keeping with the proper attitude of humility in our approach to God. (Physical condition, of course, sometimes makes this inadvisable or impossible.)
Most important, we are to forgive before we pray. That much is certain.

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:9-15

Today’s Action Point: I will examine my heart throughout the day to be sure I have forgiven any who should be forgiven – before I pray.

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“Have you ever heard of the term ‘vertigo’? Pilots have it, in fact, deep sea divers can have it where they, they’ve got to come up for oxygen, they actually swim down instead of up. Well vertigo I’ve experienced one time in a plane. You can be flying in a small plane, now you have to have it where you can’t see the horizon—it has to be in a storm, or in heavy clouds, or what. And you can get flipped upside down but you don’t know it.”

This is part 3 of 15. Watch part 4 of this series: Having a healthy self image

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“Notice what God says, “When I look at the nightly sky, and see the work of your fingers. The moon and the stars you have set in place. What are mortals that you should think of us? Mere humans that you should care for us? For you made us only a little lower…” Now some of your translations say angels. You know what the original language says? God. Whoa!”

This is part 9 of 15. Watch part 10 of this series: You are loved by God

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“We talk of the marvelous mountains, and the rivers, and the jungles, and the beaches, and all in the most beautiful terms, but when we look at ourselves it becomes a different perspective.”

This is part 1 of 15. Watch part 2 of this series: How do you determine your self image?

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“As a nonbeliever when I set out to write “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” against the Christian faith to refute it, there was one, once I became convinced the Bible was true, then I started to consider its message. And I read something exciting in the book of Exodus, now think of that, something exciting in the book of Exodus!”

This is part 13 of 15. Watch part 14 of this series: Remind yourself you are a child of God

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“After I trusted Christ as Savior and Lord, I used to hear a lot of invitations given at conferences, and camps, and in the youth group at the church, and the invitations go like this: “God wants to use you. Bring your gifts, your talents, your abilities, and place them on the altar and say ‘God use me.’” You know, I never once responded to any invitation after I trusted Christ. You know why? I didn’t think they ever applied to me. I didn’t think I had any abilities. I didn’t think I had any talents or gifts or strengths. You say, that’s crazy! No it’s not.”

This is part 15 of 15. Click here to go back to the first video in the series

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“Notice what God says, “You are special because you are loved. You say, well how am I loved? What kind of love is it? You know there’s four beautiful aspects of God’s love. Number one is God’s love is sacrificial. “

This is part 10 of 15. Watch part 11 of this series: He who knows you best loves you most

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“You were created of great value. You don’t believe me? Then let’s see what God’s word says about you. Now you’re going to have to listen carefully because your emotions will be telling you that you are worthless. But God says …”

This is part 7 of 15. Watch part 8 of this series: Seeing yourself as God sees you