Disqualifying Yourself from God’s Promises

Have you ever read a comforting and promising scripture and you think of something like, “This does not apply to me?”

I don’t know about you but I often disqualify myself from some sweet words and promises of God.

You might ask, “Why?”

Let me show you.

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, and He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

Psalm 37:23

 

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17

Do you see it yet?

These scriptures have some adjectives in them that makes me wonder if I belong.

“Righteous”

“Good”

I don’t know about you but I read that and I go. “Esther you are out. You don’t qualify. You ain’t good or righteous. You do bad things. “

Oh, what ignorance and stupidity.

Well, it’s a good thing Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit or else, we would be more stupid and ignorant than we probably are now.

I read one of the above scriptures one day and as usual, I disqualified myself immediately.

But this time, I was still enough to hear the Holy Spirit say, “You are good and righteous.”

I was like, “what!”

And immediately my eyes were open and I thought, “Oh my God, Esther you are so stupid.” (P.S. I alone is allowed to call myself stupid, if you ever call me stupid, I’ll beat you up 😁).

Then I realized that I am righteous BY FAITH and goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  All this while, I was weighing my righteousness and goodness by my words, thinking, and works. Rather by who I am in Christ Jesus.

I can never be good or righteous by my works or deeds. None of us can.

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith”

Galatians 3:11

 

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes

Romans 10:4

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law

Romans 3:28

 

Though we are saved and called sons and daughters, we are often still bound by our past lives and mentality and we think we’ve gotta work to get our Fathers promises and words.

We’ve got to wake up daily and cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). You’ve got to constantly remind yourself of who you are. 

We’ve also gotta stop disqualifying ourselves while graciously qualifying someone else by comparison.

We say something like, “I bet these scriptures apply more to Cynthia rather than I. She’s such a powerful and good Christian.”

Darling, you are as good, righteous and powerful as Cynthia is. The same Holy Spirit lives in you. The only difference between you two is, Cynthia knows it and you don’t. She knows who she is, she knows who her Father is, she believes all his words and promises concerning her, she meditates on his word, she breathes his word and lives in it.

You and I can’t afford to be ignorant about our Father and our rights as His Children.

You are good and righteous.

It’s time you believe it and never doubt it.

God bless you.

You are Eternally Loved.