Abiding Liberation
Liberated from the weight of self, I walk freely in the open expanse of Christ’s life within me.
"Abiding Liberation" lifts our eyes from self-preoccupation to Christ-occupation. Today’s Abide Above devotional draws a vital contrast between Romans 7 and Romans 6. In Romans 7, the believer still operates from the old mindset—using the personal pronouns I, me, and my repeatedly—striving in self-effort, burdened by continual failure, blind to the truth that the old self has already been crucified. The authors, L.L.L. and N.B.H., gently but firmly urge us to stop trying to live for God and instead rest in the truth that we have been united with Christ, who always pleased the Father.
In our position, we are already holy, accepted, and complete in Him. In our possession of Christ’s life, He is expressed through us to a watching world—not by striving to be like Him, but by abiding in Him and allowing Him to live through us. The devotional reminds us that when we are no longer occupied with ourselves, but rather captivated by Christ, then what others see is not me, but Christ in me—liberated living.
✨ Journal Entry: In the Voice of the Holy Spirit
You have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. The old self was nailed to the cross once and for all, that the body ruled by sin might be done away with. You are no longer a slave to sin. You have been raised with Christ into newness of life. Keep your mind fixed above, where Christ is, for that is where you are too—seated with Him in glory.
I am the Life within you. I am not asking you to imitate Christ—I am living Him through you. I do not speak to you in terms of demands but in the quiet assurance of all that has already been given. You are complete in Him. Rest in that. Let Me renew your mind daily, not by focusing on your failures, but by unveiling Jesus—your life, your righteousness, your joy, your victory.
When you feel the pull to self-manage or impress the Father with your effort, look again to the cross. See there the end of all that needed fixing. Then look to the risen Christ—your union, your portion, your abiding freedom. The power in you is not from you; it is from Me. So yield—not to striving—but to My presence. For you are not trying to live the Christian life. You are learning to let Me be your life.
Scriptures woven throughout:
Colossians 3:3; Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1; Ephesians 2:6; John 14:6; Colossians 2:10; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:7
🙏 Prayer of Confident Trust:
Father, I thank You that the old me no longer has a voice, a vote, or a victory. The cross was not partial—it was complete. I praise You that I am now one with Christ, not as an idea or future hope, but as a present reality. In Christ, I am free from the tyranny of self-effort. I do not need to manufacture holiness or measure up to some invisible bar. Instead, I walk today in the sweet reality that Jesus, who always pleased You, lives His life in and through me. May I remain in the stillness of that truth, allowing Your Spirit to express the life of Christ as only You can. Not I, but Christ—this is freedom. This is joy. This is rest.
Credits:
Devotional excerpted and adapted from Abide Above – April 18, “Abiding Liberation”
Photo credit: Unsplash