​I am writing to those who are born again. You have invited Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. How do you see yourself? Do you still see yourself as a sinner, or do you see yourself as someone born anew by the power of the Holy Spirit? How you see yourself is important. “Proverbs 23:7 says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. What we think about ourselves determines how we live.

​         The Scripture tells us who we are in Christ Jesus. There are so many but I will just list twelve of them here. As a born-again believer, you are:

1. Redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty. Deuteronomy 28, Galatians 3:13
2. Rescued from the power and domain of darkness and brought into God’s kingdom of light. Colossians 1:13
3. Redeemed and forgiven of all your sin. You have been made clean through the blood of Jesus. Ephesians 1:7
4. In standing with God and have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21
5. Part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people. 1 Peter 2:9
6. An overcomer. You overcome the enemy of your soul by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Revelation 12:11
7. A joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17) and more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves you. Romans 8:37
8. Called out of the darkness of sin into Christ’s light and life so that you can proclaim the excellence and greatness of who He is. 1 Peter 2:9
9. Given authority and power over the enemy of this world. Mark 16:17-18, Luke 10:17-19
10. Far from oppression. You will not live in fear. Isaiah 54:14
11. Born of God. The evil one does not touch you. 1 John 5:18
12. Free from the law of sin and death and live under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2

        The next time Satan harasses you with how no good you are, that you’re a failure, that God doesn’t love you, remind him of who you are in Christ Jesus. He doesn’t like to hear it. When we resist him, he WILL flee. James 4:7.

              In John Chapter Two, there is the account of Jesus attending a wedding feast with His disciples when His mother comes to Him with a problem. The wine had run out. You know the story. Jesus told the servants to fill six hefty water jars with water. And then He turned the water into wine. Not just ordinary wine – good wine. In verse ten (NIV) the host said to the bridegroom, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best until now.”
           
           If the wine hadn’t run out, if they hadn’t come to the end of their own provision, they would not have received the best wine. Sometimes we have to come to the end of our own efforts before we see God step in. And when He steps in, He gives us His best.
           
           Interestingly, Jesus told the servants to fill the large pots with water. I’m sure the servants had some questions about that. They needed wine, not water. At times, God will ask us to do things we don’t understand. This is when we need to remember to stay in faith and obey. He has our future in His hands and He knows the end from the beginning.
              
               Noah is a good example of someone who did what God told him to do, even when it didn’t make sense. It had never rained. Why would he need a boat? And to load the vessel with animals? Yet Genesis 6:22, says “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” His obedience brought deliverance.
              
               If the servants hadn’t been obedient to the command of Jesus and taken the water to the wedding host, I believe those pots would have remained full of water. In obeying the command of Jesus, a miracle occurred.
              
                Dear Lord Jesus, at the start of a new year, today and always, help me to obey Your commands, even if they don’t make sense to me. Help me not to forget that You are the God of miracles.