Being a "good Christian"

The enemy has been pestering me with lies lately. Lies like, “you’re not a good enough Christian” and “God will never answer your prayers because you aren't a good Christian so why bother praying”. It felt like I was lost. Like I was in the thick of a forest and I just couldn't find my way.

I started thinking. How I could get through this forest? Maybe I can make myself better and please God more? Maybe I have to read my Bible more, pray more, or do something for Jesus. Then I will be better. Then I will feel like I am important, that I am a good Christian". What does that even mean? What does it mean to be a “good Christian”?

Here are the facts. You are either a Christian (meaning you believe Jesus died for you on the cross and rose on the third day and purchased a place for you in heaven) or you are not. I am a mother of two. My children are my children and it doesn’t matter if they are good or bad it doesn’t make them any less my children. So if I am a Christian, I am a child of God and no amount of “works” can change that. If I think I have to jump through hoops to get His approval and love, it means I believe my salvation depends on me doing something instead of remembering He (Jesus) has already done it all when He died on the cross. I am not God. I can not save myself by works. What Jesus did was enough. He purchased my salvation for me and by grace, all I have to do to receive this is to believe.

In his book “The Prodigal God”, Timothy Keller writes: “Religion operates on the principle of ‘I obey - therefore I am accepted by God’. The basic operating principle of the gospel is ‘I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ - therefore I obey’.

I have been a born again Christian for many years and still the enemy has been able to confuse me with these lies. Still I have been wandering aimlessly through the forest of life not knowing where to go and how to find my way. Then yesterday God revealed to me how His light shines through the trees, how if I look up to Him and keep my focus on Him I will find the road He as laid out for me.

Today I repent of my dead works. I look to you Jesus - thank you for being enough.

Blessings

Nadine

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬