DAY 17
Devotional by Sarah Hummel
“I love that I can walk in freedom because I am in relationship with Christ. Our human nature pulls us into selfish emotions and desires, but it is our love for Christ, and His love for us, that gives us the strength to walk out His path for us. It is a constant struggle to seek Him first, this is why the Word tells us to renew our minds daily. We can’t just make a decision to follow God once – it is a daily decision, an hourly decision some days. We have to cultivate our relationship with Him and, yes, we have to die to ourselves. But, oh what peace. What freedom.” I wrote this in my journal last month and thought I should share it with all of you. After 34 years of being a Christian, and 16 years of ministry life, even I have to choose this path of freedom every day like everyone else.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – 18 NIV tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Every day we are reminded of our humanity (if we’re paying attention). Our human nature pulls us into selfish emotions and desires. We naturally want the biggest piece of pie, the first place in line, and the first chance at a new opportunity. This world can be competitive, and everything is so fast-paced. It can seem like everyone around us has exactly what they want, when they want it. Soon you’re asking yourself selfish questions, like: Where is my opportunity? Why doesn’t everyone notice me? Why is my life harder than hers?
I love that I can walk in freedom because of my relationship with Christ. It is His love for me and my love for Him that gives me the strength to walk His path for my life. One aspect of being a new creation in Christ is understanding that He created me for a purpose. He designed me, on purpose, to live in this time period. He gave me these gift and talents; these dreams in my heart. I can walk in freedom when the Lord orders my steps. When I seek Him first, I have ultimate fulfillment. He knows the plans for me. There is no striving, no anxiety or fear.
Because we are human, it can be a struggle to seek Him first. This is why His Word tells us to renew our minds daily. God knows that we’re selfish. He knows that our nature is to seek ourselves first. Taking his advice to renew our minds, in my life, looks like resetting my priorities every morning. I don’t want to miss out on any single thing God has for me each day. When I choose to start my morning by asking God to show me His priorities, it helps put me in that mind-set for the day.
I’ve had to cultivate my relationship with God in order to fully realize my newness in Christ. He longs to be in relationship with you, to speak with you every day, to be your strength. Setting aside this time is key for mind renewal. It is out of strength in relationship with Him that I can walk in fullness of joy.
A great thing about Devoted Conference is the opportunity for a reset with God. I have seen women show up, taking off time from work and household responsibilities, to set aside a few days for God to speak. And He does! In this environment, there are no distractions. The messages and worship are perfectly suited for intimacy with God, even in the sea of women. I hope you’re planning to join us this year. Come and let Him sing over you. Create some space for Him to speak new vision into your life. This is a new year. You are a new creation. See you soon!