February 25, 2016 ~ I’ve noticed something.  Some religious people have little to no self love or grace for themselves.  A religious spirit won’t allow self love or grace.  A religious spirit is focused on image, pride, religious busyness with various activities and works, possibly upholding cultural or societal systems and standards, but it is not about love and relationship.  The incarnate God was in constant conflict with the religious spirits while He walked the Earth.  A lack of self love and grace for oneself leads us to be self condemning which overspills onto others.  A religious spirit can also be judging others over standards not personally met.  Jesus made it clear that sin starts in the heart and mind and those who entertain it are guilty as all actions begin to flow out from there.  Apart from true grace through intimate relationship with Christ Jesus by which the whole of the Old Testament Law is summed up, there is no ability to fulfill that Law of love of God, of others or to have a healthy self love.  There is nothing we can do to meet God’s standards on our own.  God reached out and provided the way to Him through Christ’s atoning work.  Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament shadows and types that pointed toward redemption in Him.  His covenant originally began with Abraham which was based on faith and relationship, not works.  We don’t dictate the way to God.  He showed us the way in Scripture.  Only with Him living in us can we truly have healthy self love because we have come out from under condemnation and exhausting religious attempts to gain God’s approval.  When we understand our position and our power in the truths of Christ’s work we can see our value and preciousness, and in turn that of others.  Freedom from condemnation in our hearts and spirits allows us to move forward while being a work in progress due to our solid connection in Him and being grounded in His approval and love.  We have His ongoing power working in us and dealing with issues in our lives, breaking bondages and addictions.  He will develop our character and integrity, build patience, faith and perseverance into us as we move forward.  You will overcome over time the seeming impossibilities and huge obstacles.  The love of God in us and the power of God in us leads to self love, self esteem and self confidence to move forward in the calling, the heart dreams and purposes He Himself created within us to fulfill.