WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN, SAITH THE LORD, THAT TAKE COUNSEL, BUT NOT OF ME; AND THAT COVER WITH A COVERING, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY ADD SIN TO SIN
(Isaiah 30:1).

There were times during past Christmas seasons when I had been ashamed of myself.  I felt ashamed of my actions: saying certain things I should not have said…doing certain things I should not have done.  I said and did these things to cover the pain of the nagging voices in my heart that accused me of being unacceptable, unloved, and unimportant.  Reacting to the OLD MAN, the set of destructive beliefs instilled in me by the father-of-lies, I covered my pain with a covering that was not of God’s Spirit.  I sinned.

Sometimes, we run in circles, chasing our own tails.  The OLD MAN beliefs in our minds accuse us of being unacceptable, unloved, and unimportant, which calls for sinful behavior to cover this pain, which causes us to be ashamed for being rebellious. We received and obeyed counsel that was not from God; therefore, our own misdeeds turned around and bit us in the heel.

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
(1 John 1:9).

I bless you to believe that the Perfect Father sent you His Son to forgive you your sins.  But, that is not all–He did MORE.  He sent His Son to reverse the cycle of sin; He awakened you to a new covering—His Righteousness.

AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND SIN NOT
(1 Corinthians 15:34).

Therefore, I remind you, this Christmas season, of your obligation—to take your counsel from the Spirit of Truth instead of from the father-of-lies.  Next time you feel accused of being unworthy, unacceptable, or unimportant, surrender these OLD MAN beliefs to the Lord Jesus. Do not take cover under a covering that is not from God; instead, ask Him for His Truth. When you do this, you allow the Lord Jesus to cover you with His own Righteousness.

With what sinful defense coverings do you cover the negative, destructive beliefs of feeling unimportant, unloved, and unacceptable?

What would it take for you to confess these coverings to the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to cover you with His Righteousness, instead?

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You came to reverse the cycle of sin in me by awakening me to a new covering—Your Righteousness.