Before the Throne of God Above is a beautiful hymn by Charitie Lees Bancroft. Michael sang it at church this past Sunday. It just so happened I was supposed to lead it, but I woke up with a fever and stayed home. As I watched the worship service online, the second verse really ministered to me.
Because of my ADHD, I sometimes suffer from anxiety or depression. So hearing “when Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within…” I’m reminded that feelings aren’t good or bad; they’re just feelings. In moments of darkness or hopelessness or fear, the enemy sure does shout a bunch of lies. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that they’re not true. And it is these moments that I desperately need to remember and repeat the words of Truth we find in Jesus Christ.
“Upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin.” It’s hard to remember that because you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, your past doesn’t matter anymore. You are not who you were. This isn’t because you supernaturally changed overnight; it’s because Christ is good and perfect, and we now know Him, and our identity is now in Him. Oh how I need that reminder daily.
“Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free.” Okay, this is just good. See what they did there? With the “sinless” and “sinful?” Yeah, I just love that. LOL. But yes, FREE. I am free. Free from my past, shame, sin, death, darkness. I do not have to be chained to myself, in bondage to my feelings or my thoughts. I can live in freedom in Christ. I can choose freedom by choosing Christ.
“For God the Just is satisfied; to look on Him and pardon me.” The consequences of my past are taken care of by Christ’s death and resurrection. When I look to Christ, God pardons me; because I am in Christ, God looks at me and sees Christ.
The Lord has reminded me several times this week that I am a new creation; I am transformed by Him; my mind is renewed by Him; I can live life abundantly in freedom. All I need is to abide in Him. So I will now be reminding myself of these promises that I so easily forget or don’t believe.
Simple. Beautiful. Heart-wrenching. Supernatural.
I’m in awe of Jesus.
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