Appropriation in Christ: Resting in What Is Already Ours
One of the most common struggles for believers seeking to live out the exchanged life is this question: How do I practically appropriate what Christ has already done for me without slipping into self-effort? It’s an important question—one that touches the very core of walking in the Spirit.
Many of us recognize that our walk with God can sometimes feel more like striving than resting. When it feels like striving, it’s often a sign that the flesh is at work, subtly pushing us to achieve what can only be received. Yet, even recognizing this struggle is evidence that the Holy Spirit is actively working in us, lovingly guiding us to deeper trust in Christ. God has not given up on us—and neither should we.
The Heart of Appropriation: Trust, Not Effort
When we talk about appropriating the truths of the gospel—our identity in Christ, His sufficiency, our freedom from sin—it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking it’s something we must do. But here’s the freeing truth: Appropriation isn’t something we accomplish; it’s something we receive.
It’s not about doing more but trusting more. The moment we shift from striving to trusting—believing that Christ truly is our life (Colossians 3:4)—appropriation becomes as natural as breathing. It’s like standing in the sunlight. You don’t have to work to absorb the sun’s warmth; you simply stand there and receive it.
Too often, we try to "grab hold" of something that is already ours. This mindset leads us to strive to "take every thought captive" in our own strength, rather than resting in the fact that Jesus in us already has victory over every thought. Our role is not to wrestle every thought into submission—it’s to agree with what God has already declared to be true.
Appropriation in Action: A Practical Response
So how does this look in everyday life? When intrusive or anxious thoughts arise, instead of striving to shut them down, we can respond by:
Acknowledging the Thought Without Judgment
"Lord, this thought doesn’t reflect who I am in You."Agreeing with God’s Truth
"I trust that I have already been crucified with Christ, and this thought has no claim over me."Releasing the Thought into Christ’s Care
"Jesus, You are my peace. I trust You to live through me right now."
Notice that this process isn’t about wrestling or forcing change. It’s about acknowledging, agreeing, and releasing—steps rooted in trust, not effort.
Christ in Us: The Freedom of Galatians 2:20
This approach aligns beautifully with Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
This verse isn’t a call to try harder; it’s a declaration of reality. Christ lives in us. When we allow Him to live through us, even our mental and emotional battles are handled by His sufficiency—not our own. We are no longer called to stop every negative thought in our own strength but to trust the One who has already overcome.
Living in Moment-by-Moment Trust
Appropriation, at its core, is moment-by-moment trust. It’s simply saying:
"Lord, I trust You to live Your life in me and through me in this moment."
This simple statement shifts our focus from ourselves to Christ. It frees us from the exhausting cycle of self-effort and invites us into the restful, powerful life that Jesus offers—a life where He does the living through us.
Let’s continue to walk this journey together, resting in His sufficiency and trusting Him to accomplish in us what we could never accomplish on our own.
After all, the Christian life was never meant to be lived for Jesus but by Jesus, through us.
In His sufficiency,