Welcome to My Blog!

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the blog. I know, I know. I need to get better at updating this more regularly. I’m trying, but I’m a freshman in college now so it’s been a busy time.

Anyway, on to our topic of the day.

It seems to me that modern Christians, especially here in America, are undergoing a serious identity crisis. There is a dangerous skewed teaching that has infiltrated the American Church that many believers, especially young people, are falling prey too. And it’s a very skewed doctrine of identity in Christ.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. The idea of new identity in Christ is not in any way bad, nor is it heresy. It is completely true that being in Christ gives you a new identity that you can walk boldly in. 2 Corinthians talks about this.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Having a new identity in Christ is completely biblical, and definitely something we should all celebrate. I’m a Christian. That means that now I am:

Forgiven. Redeemed. Justified. Loved. Adopted into the family of God (1 John 3:1). I am being sanctified day by day. I am made in the image of God and made worthy through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Here’s where it starts to derail.

People who preach this, generally speaking, love this idea. And we should. However, when we are constantly focused on, talking about, and preaching who we are, we are making God smaller. We are making it about us when it’s about Him. It can become the gospel of who I am, rather than who He is, very quickly. And isn’t that just so human of us?

It is also very easy to forget, or even intentionally ignore, the other side of this. The side we don’t like. The side of our identity that makes God greater than us.

I’m a Christian. I am loved, forgiven and redeemed.

I’m also a Christian.

Which means I am also a sinner in desperate need of the grace of God.

I’m a hypocrite. An idolater. A liar. A cheat. I envy. I lust. I’m greedy. I’m rude. I disrespect my parents. I often worship God with my lips, when my heart is far from Him. I think unrighteous thoughts and do unrighteous things. I love the world rather than the God who created it. I’m a vile wretch deserving of judgement.

Can you relate?

Now, it’s not fun to admit those parts of who we are. But you can’t have or truly appreciate your identity in Christ until you understand who you are without Him. And that is my main point. We have to acknowledge who we are without Him for three main reasons.

1. So we truly appreciate who we are in Him.
2. So we are constantly in awe that God would save a sinner like me.
3. So we understand that is all about Him, and not about us.

The hard reality is that all of those wonderful attributes I listed above (being forgiven, loved, a child of God) only apply to those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. I wish it applied to everyone, but sadly it doesn’t. That’s not who we naturally are. And understanding that is key to appreciating God and His mercy in redefining us.

You are not redeemed unless you realize you need redeeming. You are not forgiven unless you realize that you need forgiveness. Belief has always been the condition. And there en-lies the problem, and quite frankly the danger, of the self-identity gospel. You can’t have grace without repentance.

I’ll say it again: you can’t have grace without repentance.

Salvation isn’t so amazing to us until we realize exactly what we have been saved from. We’re saved from ourselves. Our natural selves that worship creation rather than our Creator (Romans 1:25). And in the same way, we don’t truly understand or appreciate our identity in Christ until we realize who we are without Him. You need the dark to know how precious the light is.

Now, I am also not say to berate yourself. If you’ve been forgiven, if you truly believe in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, you’re free. Walk like it. But don’t forget that you need Him. You need His grace. You need His forgiveness. Never forget it. It about Him and what He has done. Not us.

So, in summary, love and appreciate your identity in Christ. Celebrate that you are forgiven by His blood, if you have indeed placed your trust in Him. But don’t make it a gospel of self. Remember who you were before Him. Who your natural self is. Celebrate the gift, but don’t forget how little we deserve it. Your identity in Christ is not about you, but it’s all about Him.

Hey everyone! I know, I know. I’ve been gone for quite awhile, and I really apologize for that. It became a crazy time of life between finishing up my senior year of high school and all of this pandemic business. But I’m back! And I will try to update more regularly.

Now, on to our topic of discussion.

As previously stated, I just finished my senior year of high school. I just turned 19 years old last month, and, to the world, I’m in the prime of life right now. The teen years are a weird time. You are in this stage of growing up where you’re not quite an adult, but you’re definitely not a kid anymore. One thing I’ve noticed, though, about most of the people my age is that a lot of them are doing there best to have a good time. Their going out to parties, drinking, smoking, having sex. All of the things that makes the teen years worthwhile, right?

Well, this is a message to my generation and all of the teenagers to come: you were made for more than that.

Trust me, I get it. I get the desire to fit in, make friends, and experience your “youth” before it’s gone. But can we be real? You’re not content. You’re not satisfied with the “drugs, sex, and rock and roll” culture you’re partaking in. You were never made to find contentment or happiness there. It’ll never be enough.

But don’t take just my word for it. Take King Solomon’s word, too. King Solomon was one of, if not the wealthiest king to ever live. He had it all. Money, power, material possessions. But we find in the book of Ecclesiastes the very words of King Solomon. And what does he say about all of this?

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

This guy had it all. He had gold, luxurious homes, endless wine and partying, and dozens of concubines. But even with all of the wine, the sex, and the money, he finds himself saying it’s all worthless. None of it made him happy. He continues on.

“So I hated life, because the work that I had done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2: 17

Have you ever wondered why there’s a silent pandemic of depression among youth? Why young teenagers with there whole lives ahead of them hate their existence? This is why. Because by enlarge, people today are living to please themselves. They chase after what feels good. But friends, we were made for more than that. We were made to worship. We were made to live for the glory of God. The one true God. The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. The God who sent His son, Jesus, into this world to take the punishment we so rightfully deserved. He designed us to be in a relationship with Him. And when you try to fill that God-sized hole in your heart with the pleasures of this world, you’re left empty.

I’ve experienced that emptiness. I’ve chased the world instead of the God who created it. Heck, I still do sometimes. I’m a sinner. It’s my nature.

But the love and fulfillment of God is the only thing that will complete you. I know that’s hard, and believe me I struggle with that big time. But I’ve also experienced the joy that God gives when I’m in relationship with Him.

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalms 16:11

Joy in His presence is unlike anything this world can provide. This world is fading away, along with its temporary happiness. In the end it all fades away. Like a wave tossed in the ocean. There one day, gone the next. That’s why John warns us against loving the world.

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17

Here’s the point. Living for the world is not going to make you happy. In fact, it’ll make you pretty miserable. Living for God is the only thing that brings real joy.

So, to my generation, to all generations, don’t let the world tell you happiness is found in fleeting things. Not when you have access to a joy that’s eternal. Jesus bought you with His blood. And now you’re free to live a truly fulfilling life. Because you were made in His image. You were made for more.

“Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Hey guys, welcome back! 

Have you ever felt like God is distant? Like you just can’t feel him? Like you’re going through something and God somehow doesn’t understand? Have you ever felt like God doesn’t get your pain? 

You’re not alone in that. Trust me. There are way too many Christians in the world who don’t understand just how well God can sympathize with our pain. You don’t have a savior who doesn’t get it. Every struggle you’ve ever faced, he knows the feeling. 

He knows how it feels to have anxiety. Don’t you remember the Garden of Gethsemane? Right before Jesus was arrested, he and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The disciples fell asleep, but not Jesus. He was so anxious about what was about to happen, he began to sweat blood. Look at what Luke says: “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Jesus is well acquainted with anxiety. You know what, though? He also gives us the remedy. Look at the beginning of the verse. He prayed earnestly. He didn’t run. He didn’t hide. He didn’t try to avoid what he knew was coming. He turned to the Father for comfort and strength. That’s what we oughta do. When you’re faced  with anxiety turn to the Prince of Peace. Don’t run. Don’t hide. Go to him. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus gets it. When you tell Him about what’s worrying you, He understands every word. He faced the ultimate anxiety of knowing he was about to die for the sins of the world. He can take care of your worries about tomorrow. 

He knows grief. Jesus was well acquainted with the sorrow of death. He was human. With human friends. Remember Lazarus? Jesus gets word that his friend, Lazarus is sick. When he gets there, he’s dead. In that story we get the shortest verse in the entire Bible, but it’s a very important one. John 11:35 says two things “Jesus wept.” Why is this important? Why is Jesus crying? I’m sure he knew that he was about to bring Lazarus back to life. So why is he crying? He’s crying because he knows what you and I know. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. He’s crying because he sees first hand the effects of the fall. He knows how things should have been. Death should not have existed. But because it does, his children are subjected to sickness, injury, old age, and others that bring about death. He’s crying because that’s his friend in that grave. He doesn’t want his friend or any of his children to know death. But that’s not where the story ends. He goes on to do what only God can do. He brought Lazarus back to life. He calls him forward from the grave. That’s good news for us. Because if he can bring Lazarus back to life, he most certainly will bring that family member or friend that we lost back to life, too.

He knows guilt. There’s a shock. How on earth could the perfect, spotless, sinless lamb of God know how guilt feels? Well, He shouldn’t. He shouldn’t know how guilt feels. But he does. He does because he bore our guilt. He died with our guilt on his shoulders. He knows the shame you feel. The good news is that he did away with it permanently. You see, when he was on the cross, he felt the full weight of our sins and took God’s wrath towards those sins. He bore it fully, and because he did, our sins our still buried in the grave. But guess who isn’t? Jesus. He took it away. He knows you’re ashamed. He knows how filthy you feel. But that was the point of the cross. To take the guilt away. He wants you to know that. He knows how it feels to feel too guilty to go to the Father. But he wants you to know that you still can because he took that guilt away. And because he knows how it feels, he has sympathy and grace there waiting for you. 

Guys, He knows. He understands. He was subjected to the futility of the human experience just like us. Don’t think that there’s anything He doesn’t understand. He felt pain. He felt anxiety. He felt guilt. And yes, he felt death. Take comfort in that. He knows what your going through. You have a sympathizing Savior. He’s not out of reach. He’s personal. Cling to the God who knows. He won’t leave you alone. 

“For our sake he made him sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Hey everyone! Welcome back! Today’s topic is something that I think a lot of us Christians need help with. 

Ever feel like we’re losing? Like the darkness in the world is winning and the light is slowly being snuffed out? It’s easy to feel that way. 

It doesn’t take a genius to know that the world is a messed up place. All you have to do is read the news. Another shooting. Another war somewhere. Another natural disaster. It’s not hard to tell that we live in Satan’s world right now. It’s easy to get discouraged by this. It’s easy to think that the light is going out. 

But oh, how untrue that is.

God is still God, and He has not surrendered an inch of His authority. 

 God is not surprised by any of this, you guys. And that’s why we don’t need to be afraid. Look at what Proverbs says: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wills” (Proverbs 21:1). Even the kings, presidents, prime ministers, and dictators of this world are under the sovereign control and will of almighty God. You’ve probably seen that instagram post that says “no matter who is president, Jesus is king”. And yes, it’s cliché, but oh so true. It might seem like the world is in chaos, but God has not surrendered His control. He holds the heart of every leader and politician. He’s working all things for the good of His people (Romans 8:28). He won’t leave his people alone in this dark world.

He promised us victory.

Victory over this world. Victory over the devil. And, yes, victory over death itself. You know what Romans 8:37 says, don’t you? “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” You hear that? More than conquerors. This fallen world may win a few battles, but my friend, the war has already been won. And guess what? You’re on the winning side. This is what Jesus tells us in John 16:33. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” Notice the cause and effect. We overcome because Jesus overcame. It all goes back to Him. 

So what do we do when we feel like we’re losing to the dark? Well, first, remind yourself of God’s sovereign control over every nation and leader. They all answer to God. Every last one of them. So don’t worry about who’s in power, Jesus holds ultimate authority. Secondly, remind yourself that you win. You win because Jesus won. We know how the story ends. It’s gonna end with God. It began with God, it will continue with God, and it will end with God. God and all of his people gathered around his throne singing his praises. 

Cling to His promises. He made a lot of promises to you (post coming soon). But one of those promises is that the darkness will not win. Just read John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The darkness has not and will not overcome the light. You know he also calls you the light of the world? So the darkness will not overcome you. Let your light shine in this dark world. You’ve got the power of almighty God inside of you. The darkness doesn’t stand a chance. The darkness around you is no match for the God that’s inside of you. Just look at 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Over and over again we see God’s promise that we will see a victory over this world through Him. Don’t forget it! You have God’s promise!

One thing to remember, though, about victory is that it only comes with surrender. We talked about this in my last post. You can’t do anything without God. He says that He is the true vine and apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). You see, the only way you are going to overcome this world is by resting in the victory He already won. He has already overcome. Now it’s your job to surrender everything to Him. Surrender your fear of the future. Surrender your worries about your financial situation. Surrender your anxiety about who will win the next election. Trust him to provide your every need. He can and he will. 

So when the world is going crazy, take heart. God has not surrendered His authority. He holds the power of the whole world in His hands. He promises you victory over this dark world. 

The darkness around you is no match for the God that’s within you.

“While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority.” -A.W. Tozer

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my first post! What you’re about to read is a lesson I learned fairly recently, but has changed my life. It can be summed up in two little words: You Can’t.

Have you ever felt stuck? Like there’s just one thing in your life that is holding you back from a whole world of blessing and opportunity from God? Yeah, me too. This “one thing” can be a number of different things. Maybe it’s anxiety; you’re too afraid or nervous to go where God’s calling you. Maybe it’s depression; you’ve got a huge rain cloud over your head and you just can’t find the strength to follow where God leads. Maybe it’s insecurity; you’re doubting your ability to fulfill the calling on your life. 

For me, it was a habitual sin. A sin in my life that I couldn’t shake. Wherever I went, whatever I did, it was always right beside me. Tempting me, taunting me, making me feel too filthy to come to God and ask for forgiveness. I found myself feeling a lot like Paul when he said: “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand… Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:21). Every time I wanted to do good for God and His kingdom, every time I wanted to repent and be free, it came knocking at my door over and over again. I lived like this for six years. For six years, I lived away from the will of God, away from His forgiveness, and away from His love. I felt like I couldn’t come to Him. I felt too dirty. The guilt weighed on my conscience and I didn’t know what to do. Loneliness would creep in and drive me right back to where I started. I ran to this sin for comfort, when I should have been running far far away from it. I should’ve been running to God. I was the very definition of a hypocrite. I looked spiritually alive to everyone else. No one else could see the sin quietly destroying me. Destroying my relationship with God. I wanted to repent. Oh, how I wanted to come home. But every time I tried, I just fell back in deeper than before.

But praise God. He never left me. 

Have you ever felt God closing in? Not like He’s ambushing you, but like He’s finally said ‘enough is enough’ and He just keeps knocking at your heart until you talk to Him? That happened to me about a month ago. Everytime my mind lifted from a distraction, I felt Him knocking, telling me to talk to Him. The Holy Spirit would not let me shake this feeling. So, finally, I went into my room all alone and began to pray. I expected this prayer to be like every other. The prayers I would pray in an attempt to repent, only to fall back into my sin. But it wasn’t. I had an epiphany. A breakthrough. I finally had my ‘light-bulb’ moment. After six years of not being able to get free, I finally realized why. Every time I would try, I was trying to do it myself. I was trying to clean myself up for God. I was trying to stop sinning in my own strength, and Lord knows I have none. Then He brought Exodus 14:14 into my mind. “The LORD will fight for you. You need only to be still.”

Be still, huh? That’s it? That’s all I have to do?

Then I realized that’s all I can do. 

That’s all I’m capable of. So, that’s what I did. I stopped trying. I asked God to fight for me instead. Fight my sin. Fight my loneliness. Fight my fear. Fight for me. And praise God, He’s a promise keeper. As the next few weeks went by, something happened that I never expected. I was able to say no. Say no to the sin that use to grip me like a viper. I finally was able to stop doing what I knew didn’t please God. I was finally free. Not because of myself or any strength within me, which is none, by the way, but because I finally let God do it for me. 

You see, I had to learn the hard way that trying to fight your own battles is a lost cause. You can’t. I can’t. We can’t. We can’t do it on our own. And, truth be told, we were never meant to. When you let God fight your battles, you always see victory. Victory may look different than you expected, but He always comes through for you. Victory doesn’t always mean getting what you want. In fact, it rarely mean getting what you want. Victory means growth. Maybe a trial you went through hurt, but now you trust God in ways you never did before. I call that victory. Maybe now because you didn’t get what you thought you wanted you see how it wouldn’t have been good for you. I call that victory. If it further conforms you to the likeness of Christ, I call that victory. 

So, let God fight your battles. I promise, He’s the antidote for every pain, trial, sin, and sickness. Do you have anxiety? He’s the Prince of Peace. Do you feel broken? He makes beauty from ashes. Are you depressed? Do you feel like the darkness is overcoming you? He’s the bright and morning star. He is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. Are you lonely? He’s the great comforter who promises never to leave nor forsake you. Is there sickness? Is cancer creeping in? He’s a God of healing, and nothing is impossible for Him. Are you like me? Is there a sin in your life you just can’t seem to shake? He’s a chain-breaker. His blood has the power to set you free. Sin doesn’t stand a chance. Anxiety doesn’t stand a chance. Cancer, loneliness, and depression all bow in the presence of King Jesus. 

Let Him fight for you, He wins every time. 

So, what do we say then? I think I Corinthians 15:57 sums it up nicely. 

“But thanks be to God! Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hi Everyone! My name is Taylor! Thank you so much for checking out my blog! Here’s a little bit about me!

+ First and foremost, I love Jesus. More than anything in this world, I want to love and honor Him with my life. That’s the purpose of this blog.

+ I’m 18 and a senior in high school- and I can’t wait to graduate.

+ I’m very involved in my church. I help out in the nursery, at the middle school youth group, and I sing on the worship team.

The purpose of this blog is to glorify God. That’s it. I wanted to publicly share the lessons that God has and will teach me in life, so I figured a blog would be a good place to do that.

I hope this blog blesses and and encourages you. Thank you for checking it out! Enjoy!