I am changed

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.~Romans 6:17-28

Why am I so happy? Why am I so full of joy?  It is not because of me, but it is because of the evidence I see of the One who lives in me.  I rejoice in His goodness and mercy because He has given me a new heart and a renewed mind.  The patterns of my thinking and my actions have been changed by the miracle working power of Christ Himself.  An operation as been performed on my heart and I have been given a “pacemaker”, the Spirit of God and now I move to a new beat and a consistent rhythm.  I have been changed and I have been set free.  I can’t help but be glad in the Lord and grateful for all that He has done and for all that He continues to do in my life.

I once looked at people who were always cheerful and hopeful with envy and sadly sometimes resentment because I didn’t get it.  I didn’t get how one could always be so positive and uplifting even when everything around them would suggest otherwise.  I didn’t know at the time what they knew.  I did not truly know God.  While I had been around Him all of my life, I lacked an understanding and the intimacy of His love.  Now I know for myself.  The glass is not as dark and everyday I see Him more clearly.  

Everyday He reveals more of Himself as I surrender myself to Him.  Everyday I find my true identity in Christ and it feels me with joy to know Who He is and who I am in Him.  A smile breaks across my faith and my heart is full because everyday I see how much He loves me.  I see how He has pursued me with His faithful love and made me His own.  My pattern is His pattern.  My heart belongs to God.  “So I sing because I am happy and I sing because I’m free.  His eyes are in the sparrows and I know He watches me.”

Father thank You from freeing me from the wages of sin that leads to death and giving me life instead.  Thank You for your Spirit that breaks up the hard places of my heart and gives me a new song to sing.  Thank You for breaking the old patterns of the flesh and removing those things that would corrupt me.  Thank You for giving me a clean heart so that I can worship You for You are worthy of every drop of praise.  Thank You for being God. Thank You for loving me.  Keep me humbled and surrendered to You.  Decrease me and increase You.  In Jesus name. Amen