Jesus, who was completely sinless, took all our sins of past, present and future on the cross. In return, we, who had no righteousness, received God’s righteousness. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21; NIV)

Do not let anyone make the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus seem unimportant or insignificant; Do not think of it as something small. It is only what Jesus did for you and me, that counts. Nothing else. Undeserved grace.

• The Commandments do not teach us. In the grace given to us, we become better people
• Use God’s grace against fear, doubt, guilt and sinful habits

“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Romans 11:6; NIV

Say (!) this: Thank You, my Jesus, for saving me and healing me.

The Egyptians chased the Jews who had just left slavery in Egypt. The Israelites were panic-stricken in the face of their enemies; “They were terrified and cried out to the Lord.” – Exodus 14:10; NIV

Sometimes we feel the same way. We are saved by Jesus and reconciled forever with our Creator, but with some problems, with some medical reports, with some bills, we are in great fear. It doesn’t have to be this way, because God will always help us.

God is fighting for us.
We can stay calm and trust Him.

To put it bluntly, but more seriously in the face of this reality: we live in this world where devils and demons fiercely fight against us, and we are (still) lacking the complete trust in God. This is a pity, but it’s no reason to despair. We have our Bible, in which we can read and understand God, His nature and His work again and again and better and better. Let’s not forget: Faith comes from hearing (reading) the good news (Romans 10:17).

So what happened to the Israelites roughly 3,400 years ago? This: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Moses to the Israelites in Exodus 14:14; NIV)

And the result of this quiet, calm trust in God? God divided the sea, His beloved children were able to flee, the enemies were destroyed. Do not forget this: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.” (Exodus 15:3; NIV)

You too can safely trust your God

You too can always rely on God’s help as His beloved daughter or beloved son. Because God has not changed: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:16-17; NIV)

Devils and man-made religion want to persuade us: ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ But nothing is further from the glorious nature of God than this self-centered attitude. We believe that God will help us.

• God led His beloved Jews from slavery into the promised land flowing with milk and honey.
• God has guided you out of the world through Jesus (John 15:19) and welcomed you into the land of rest of His kingdom whose citizens you have been since accepting Jesus as your Savior (Philippians 3:20)

Trusting in God has nothing to do with passiveness

Of course, we rely on our loving Heavenly Father. But let’s also be clear: God has also given you your mind and common sense. Use it. Example: You owe money to someone who sends you a final reminder. Now don’t go sit on the couch and think ‘Oh, God will take care of it while I watch TV.’ No, your mind tells you that it’s necessary to respond to such a warning. So you write a letter and ask to make payments (if you can’t pay the amount in full).

Our task every day: to find the right balance, when and where and how to work with strategies that our mind recommends, and where we rest calmly in God’s work.

How do you do that? You pray through everything. You discuss everything with God. Ask Him for guidance. Ask Him for wisdom. Tell Him you don’t want to do anything wrong and that you need His help and guidance. “Show me, my God, when I need to do something and what I need to do.”

Will this always work right away?
Probably not.
Is that bad?
No.

Keep going and don’t forget: The most important part is always personal relationship with God. Continue building out your relationship with Him. And you will inevitably notice that everything is going better. This promise from God’s Word is also for you: “my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:5-6; NIV)

Your mistakes and errors don’t separate you from God’s love for you

Don’t believe the devil’s lie that you could make too many mistakes and get to a point where God won’t help you anymore. You cannot make so many mistakes as to put an end to God’s love and care. On the contrary. This is true: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. “ (Romans 8:28; NIV) Even your mistakes, God will turn around for good. – So, what could go wrong? Place yourself more and more in the comfort of your loving and caring Heavenly Father. You will notice how your life improves and more and more in all areas.

• There is no darkness in God.
• There is no lack in God.
• From God comes no sickness.
• There is no fear in God.

Imagine what flows into your life as you draw closer to God and place Him in the center of your thinking.

About 2,000 years ago, Jesus took care once and for all of your sins, so they are no longer separating you from God: “so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21; NIV)

Because Jesus has taken all the punishment for all your sins, God can say this about you: “I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (God in Hebrews 8:12; NLT)

So, if there is nothing separating you and God, then rejoice in the assurance of this promise: “For I know the plans I have for you … They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (God in Jeremiah 29:11-13; NIV)

Many people don’t go God’s way to their reconciliation with God; they reject the gift of grace from Jesus and want to add to the grace given to them with their own works.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1; NIV)

• Freed from the captivity of the law. We are now children of God
• Grace saves us, not keeping the law of Moses. How much clearer could God make it?

Don’t allow wrong teaching to pull you away from Jesus and the grace He has given us by thinking you can add anything to His finished work through keeping the law of Moses. Be vigilant.

Paul was traveling in the countryside through Asia Minor (today’s Turkey) and came to the coast to Troas. “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.'” (Acts 16:9; NIV)

Paul sails from Troas across the Aegean Sea to the coast of Macedonia (now Greece). About 10 miles from there lies the city of Philippi. There Paul establishes the first Christian community in Europe. This congregation remained very loyal to Paul and supported him in good times and in bad.