Freedom came at the Cross - Abundant life comes via the resurrection
A friend has been struggling and I shared this with him...

I know satan is tugging at you big right now - that is why i wrote to you. It really helps to focus on the John 10:10 verse - "The thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly." Lean on that verse. When you get bent around the pole over something and that seething anger flies up out of nowhere - realize that is the enemy trying to take you out. When you feel those negative tugs, when you hear that voice that says... "You are a loser, you'll never get control of yourself..." realize where that is coming from. It isn't coming from God. That is the enemy trying to destroy you. It has helped me to lean on that verse every day when I am doing battle (and we do battle every day).

When I am tempted, it helps me to say almost outloud, "that is a lie - you are lying to me - you are a liar - get away from me". Without this, we can become a slave to our sin in total bondage. Where is there freedom in bondage? There isn't any. Christ came to free you. You are free. That is the Cross. We were freed at the Cross. But there is so much more to the story. The church is at fault for stopping at the Cross. Did you know for the first 400 years of Christianity, the Cross was hardly ever mentioned and it was not a symbol of Christianity? What they were so excited about was the resurrection. Lots of folks died on crosses back then - two of them died with Jesus that day. Nothing special about the cross per se. Yes, it is very important - crucial - in the story that Jesus sacrificed for us but it is the resurrection that is truly powerful.

You were freed from sin at the cross but Jesus came to give us life and give it to us abundantly and that is the resurrection. A new you, resurrected and powerful is the benefit of the cross. You are powerful because you have been freed. You don't have to live that old life. You don't have to hang onto your quest for perfection. You don't have to hang onto the incredibly overwhelming guilt you feel. You don't have to hang onto the wound you have in your soul due to your Dad walking out. Those are all real things but you are freed of them by the power of the resurrection and the promise of it.

God wants you to have an abundant life, free of the crap. It is yours for the taking. He gives it freely. Don't get me wrong, it isn't easy to do but it is there. The first step is recognizing that you are under attack and learning how to look for the signs of the attack and rebuking the attack when it comes. Remember, Satan would love nothing more than to totally take you out. He'll turn the dial up on the anger to see if it will blow you out. He'll throw another woman in your path. He'll try to trip you up with alcohol. He'll create havoc in your home with your kids. Anything to blow you up and take you out. Realize it is war and when you hear the whispers, throw that heavy burden off your shoulder. Let go of the expectations. Free yourself. Once you do, the path to an abundant life is right at your feet.

I am here to help you find that freedom and to lift you up in this battle.