I have been struggling with guilt which then becomes anger and a feeling of hopelessness. The guilt ranges all over the place of feeling that I don't measure up as a substitute teacher, as a manager of my home, as a faithful Christian leading others to Christ, as a mother, as a financial planner for our home, as a friend, and I could go on. I wonder how God could forgive me when I fail so often. I struggle to keep his simple commands to love myself and my neighbor as I should. I struggle to love him the way he deserves to be loved. I struggle to read my Bible daily. So many things get in the way. Still, this morning as I read my Bible I read a chapter in Galatians. I was trying a reading program and became frustrated that I was only trying to follow a program. So I chose to read the letters written by Paul because I felt I needed some instruction from the New Testament. I really needed this chapter today. It talked about how we are righteous not because of all that we do right but because of what Christ did for us. He went to the cross. I must believe and have faith. I do not have to be captive to guilt because I put on Christ when I submitted to him in baptism. I am in Christ. His grace covers me. Granted I do not have license to do anything I want but I am not under the law of guilt either.
Along with my Bible reading I read a timely article in the Christian Woman magazine. It was written by Carol Kelly James titled "My Robe of God's Righteousness". It fit right in with my reading in Galatians 3. She pointed out her daily struggles and choose to remind herself that she had put on Christ and was wearing the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. She went on to talk about putting on God's righteousness. What a timely article! How many of us struggle with trying to be "good enough"? I do often. I want to put my hope in God and Christ Jesus and know that I have been granted grace in Christ Jesus. Want you join me as I walk beside still waters and listen quietly as God restores my soul and covers me with his robe of righteousness?
Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for people today who can share encouraging lessons from your Word. Thank you for covering us with your robe of righteousness. In Jesus' name. Amen.
