Confidence in Christ

 There was a time when I wouldn't go into a store if there wasn't an equal ratio of men and women, or more women then men. If there were too many men, I kept walking and came back for whatever later. I was living in sheer terror of men. 

So what changed? How am I no longer terrified of men?

Romans 8. A lot of Romans 8 reading.

One day at work I was deeply struggling and Romans 8:14 - 17 stuck out to me.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you receive brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.

Not a slave to fear. Received the Holy Spirit. Adopted and now called into sonship, I am a daughter of God. I share in His sufferings. I am in Christ! 

So I stopped and pieced that apart ...okay Christ says these things about about me. He is my Daddy. But my earthly dad called me other things...worthless, deceiver, lier, whore, and unlovable.

Earthly dad. Heavenly Dad. 

Earthly dad. Heavenly Dad.

Which one is bigger?

Which one's words will last?

Which one decided thoughts on me without meeting me and kept those thoughts the same?

Which one owns the world.

Um... God. 

Okay i know it's silly but this is where I was at at that time...So since God owns the world, and made it Himself it's His world I'll be trusting and placing my identity on. When my earthly dad gets he's own universe maybe I believe what he says of me. 

But my identity is in Christ because of Romans 8, because of Christ's death on the cross. It took time and lots of reminding myself of these truths, lots of fighting lies but after a while and the Holy Spirits help I believe and trust my full and lasting identity is in Christ Jesus. Christ has set me free from fear of those lies!