Sometimes we have these mountaintop experiences with God- whether it be in salvation or baptism or divine appointment, and we expect to just stay there forever. We expect these high up experiences to be a guarantee that we will never fall again. We forget that the valleys are a part of our walk as well. We must realize that our past sins will become our present struggles, but we must also take heart in the fact that those present struggles no longer hold the power to define us.

In the gospel, it no longer matters what you do or how badly you mess up or how many times you run back to the same old sin; for you have been justified and brought up as a new creation in Christ. When we are justified, God looks at us in all our imperfections as if they don’t exist.

So often we confuse justification with sanctification. We must remember that sanctification is a process; it’s not just a cover that is placed over you upon salvation, but it is picking up your cross daily and choosing to live for Him and to pursue a deeper relationship with Him in every step you take and breath you breathe. We must also remember when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, that His life accounts for ours; spiritual and earthly and heavenly blessings are given- we become justified and made new immediately upon receiving the gift of salvation.

 Through Him we are so much more than our sin. We are so much more than our struggle. We are so much more than who the world says we are. We are holy, blameless and free from accusation. We are being rooted and molded and built up. We are complete. We are saved and set apart. We are called, and we are purposeful. We have been made alive. We have been born again and redeemed. We are beacons of light to the world, we are the city on the hill, we are the salt of the earth. We are chosen. We are loved and promised and called. We are forgiven. We are adopted and called children of God. We are free and righteous. We are more the conquerors because we have been adopted by a triumphant God. We are the temples and dwelling places of God. We are victorious. We are joy-filled. We are strong. We are Abraham’s seed... heirs of promise. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are known. We are recipients of lavish grace. We are God’s workmanship. We are rescued. We are enough. Through Him, we are so much more than we could have ever wanted, imagined, or deserved.