On the outside, I appeared to be a good Christian,
but I didn't know how to keep myself pure.
I was plagued by low self-esteem.
And on the inside, anxiety was eating me up.
It's totally natural for people to fall short,
but it doesn't have to stay that way.
It's actually possible for us to follow Jesus
and become like him.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted like us in every way
but that He never sinned.
This is a huge deal because it means
that Jesus was a man like us
and is someone we can follow to a life of complete victory over sin!
I was really plagued by low self-esteem.
It might not seem like a sin
but I realized that by giving in to these thoughts,
it was unbelief in God who created me
exactly according to His plan.
These thoughts really hindered me from
serving God and loving others.
It's written "You were bought at a price,
therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's."
I really held on to this word like an anchor
and then when the thoughts came I said "No,
my body and spirit are made to glorify God and with His help,
I can be done with these ridiculous thoughts that
handicap me from doing God's will.
Anxiety can come in all different kinds of forms
and Satan often twists it to seem like something positive,
like caring for others.
There's nothing wrong with having a concern for others,
but, when this becomes a burden for me, then it's not from the Lord.
When I'm tempted to anxious thoughts,
I can deny myself and take up my cross.
It's actually my will in the situation that makes me anxious.
But when I crucify this and let it die,
then I become free.
The truth is most people are bound
in one way or another by sexual immorality.
As a Christian I was told to keep myself pure but I had no idea how.
I also was bound by my lusts and desires,
but it says there in Romans 6,
that "sin should not reign in your mortal bodies."
Jesus was also tempted as we are but got victory every single time.
I have realized that I can follow in His footsteps,
and get victory over my lusts and desires.
I've learned to take up a battle in my thought life, deny myself,
and get total victory over my lusts and desires.
Outwardly I looked like a good Christian,
but on the inside I was actually a hypocrite –
full of laziness and pride and envy.
I grew up listening to the gospel of complete victory over sin,
and as a young person I got a longing for that life.
I gave my life and my heart completely to Jesus,
but it didn't take a long time for me to realize,
that I couldn't actually have victory in my own power.
By God's grace though, I didn't give up,
and in my need I cried out to God,
and He gave me His Holy Spirit.
Then I could finally take up a battle against all the sin
that was on my inside.
All the laziness and the pride and the envy
that I had in my thought life.
And now I can finally say that I am a true Christian
both on the inside and on the outside.
Jesus has shown us how to overcome sin,
if we truly want to be His disciples.
And that goes far beyond the forgiveness of sins.
He overcame the power of sin and death,
and proved it was possible.
Now we can take up our cross daily,
like Jesus did and crucify all the sin that dwells in our human nature.
He sent us the Holy Spirit to help, guide and strengthen us,
so that we never need to give in to sin,
and are transformed more and more into the image of Christ.
Life is full of situations where I'm tempted to be anxious,
but by simple obedience, I come into rest.
I'm no longer a slave of my lusts.
Of course, it's a battle, but it's a winning battle.
And the peace and joy I get is worth fighting for.
Through the gospel, I am overcoming my low self-esteem and depressing thoughts,
and this makes me free to love and serve and bless.
God strengthens me, gives my victory
and in that process more and more of Christ's life becomes my life.
It is God's desire that every person is saved,
and He is reaching out to you.
Answer that call today!
And experience that God is faithful to His Word.
It isn't just theory. This gospel really works.
We've tried it. And it's true.