A proper understanding of salvation requires that we differentiate between our standing and our state as believers. When we got born again, our redemption was fully accomplished because of the finished works of Jesus Christ. This is our stance, which allows us to stand before God holy and righteous as if we had never sinned. However, although we have already been saved by grace, the outward manifestation of our righteousness is a constant and ongoing process of completion. This is our state, also called our earthly lives. Until we get to heaven, our state will not have caught up with our stance. Believing what God says about our righteousness and holiness, and letting Him work in us, will bring us to the point where our state eventually catches up to our stance.

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On our Christian walk, we are gradually becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. Despite our progress, however, there is still a gap between who God says we are and what we see in our everyday lives; although He says we are the righteousness of God, sometimes we still do unrighteous things. Our faith in Christ is a critical component in this; we must believe what God says we are, even when our lives are not reflecting that yet. Our belief in our redemption contradicts what religion tells us, which is that our salvation hinges on what we do; the truth is that we are saved because of what Jesus did, and our trust in that. God never contradicts Himself; although our stance in perfection was forever determined when we believed in Jesus, our state of perfection, which refers to our earthly lives, is still unfinished. This is an important point that confuses many in the church. Understanding this gives us peace and lets God work in us to make us as righteous as He is.

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The devil has always been a thief. As believers, we must be on the alert for his attacks; one of the first things he tries to steal that God gave us is who we are in Christ. He did this with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and unsuccessfully tried again with Jesus in the wilderness; he tries it with us through guilt, shame, and condemnation. Because of what Adam did, we are born into this world already spiritually dead; being born again gives us new life and makes us new creations just like Christ in our spirits. Regardless of what the enemy says to us, we have been united with Jesus Christ and are now one with Him. We have been redeemed and made righteous and holy, not because of anything we do, but because of what Jesus already did. Confidence in our true identity keeps it from being stolen from us.

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One of the major differences between the old and new covenants is the shift away from doing and toward believing. In the Old Testament, the focus was on performing; in the New Testament, the focus is on faith. However, we need precision in this area; what is necessary is not faith in our own performance, but in Jesus’ perfect performance and what He has already done. This is what positions us to receive the blessings promised in the Bible. The Gospel of Grace emphasizes the link between belief and obedience; as Christians, we must not stumble and fall back into thinking that our works are more important than our faith in Christ. With this in mind, we must abandon our self-efforts that religion demands from us and simply trust in Jesus. When we believe we are righteous because of Him, our behavior will eventually reflect that.

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We are at war with Satan, and the stakes are high. He and his army of demons are after our souls, our minds, and our emotions. His plan involves trapping us in the world’s way of thinking; however, we render him powerless by renewing our minds to conform to God’s way of thinking instead. In this fight we can use precision as a weapon; specifically, we are to renew our minds according to the teachings of grace, not according to the Law of Moses. What was true under the law is not necessarily true anymore under grace; we need a solid understanding of this if we are to escape the devil’s lies. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the proper covenant if we want successful lives. We win by giving our attention to the finished works of Jesus instead of our own performance.

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The state of our hearts matters greatly to God. It is certainly important to do the morally right things that please Him; however, He wants even more for us to have thankful hearts. Outward obedience just for appearance does not matter if we are not grateful. Genuinely giving thanks with the proper attitude has a way of working itself outward for others to see. Giving thanks in our circumstances is the best thing for us because it keeps us in the right frame of mind and is a powerful weapon to protect us emotionally and spiritually from situations. Thankfulness is how we keep the world’s adversity and bad things around us from getting inside us. Turning our attention to good things aligns our perspective with God’s instead of the enemy’s and forces out negative emotions trying to enter our souls. Maintaining our gratitude brings an anointing from God that removes burdens, destroys yokes, and changes our way of thinking for the better.

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Knowing how to handle our feelings is part of being emotionally mature. It is necessary not just during the holiday season, but on a daily basis as well. We all experience struggles, disappointments, and anxieties, but we do not have to let them dominate us. The ability to give thanks is a powerful tool in exerting our authority over our emotions. Doing this gives us strength, peace, and joy even in the midst of life’s challenges. We can learn much from the grateful attitudes that Job, David, Paul, and Silas displayed despite adversity. Learning how to be thankful no matter what the circumstances are gives us great power.

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Regardless of whatever situation we are going through or any challenges facing us, pausing in the midst of it to give thanks helps us to keep our perspective. God gives us good things we do not deserve; there is no need for us to look very far to find something to be thankful for. Having a grateful heart is important and reminds us of everything we have been blessed with. Our attitude is a powerful choice we make; an attitude of gratitude benefits us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and brings us into blessings. Giving thanks enriches our lives and is God’s will for us. It empowers us to accomplish what we need to do. Thankfulness has the power to change our entire outlook on life.

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