Spruce Up Your Spiritual House and Lose the Guilt

I know that fresh starts don’t happen in a vacuum. Some “fresh starts” explode with an initial colorful bang then wimper to their death. Some never get off the ground at all.

I propose that a “fresh start” failure is directly linked to one’s relationship (or lack thereof) to Christ.

As a professing Christian, I say that Christ is my life.

Christ is my life.

Wow. My “life’s” not my physical well-being, my wardrobe, or my Facebook page. Not my husband, my kids, or my dog. Not my job, my intellect, or my reputation.

No. All I am is Christ. All I must desire is Christ. I depend on Christ for each and every breath I take. I depend on Christ to hold this universe together and plant my feet on the floor each morning.

Christ lives. Outside of me, in spite of me, because of me, inside me.

As my pastor says so eloquently, Christ is my animating center.

So … as I reach #4 in my list of 31 Ways to Give Your New Year a Fresh Start, I must not hurry past this absolute and integral piece to newness of life:

4. Die to self (and selfish, self-centeredness); live in Christ.

A zealous, continual, renewing pursuit of Christ and all his riches is my primary aim this new year.

But …

One caveat.

I refuse to be enslaved by guilt when I mess up and fall short. Guilt is a paralyzing and toxic detriment to spiritual growth.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at some practical ideas for pursuing Christ daily.

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Is Christ your life? If not, what is?

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Mary Bernard

Mary Bernard is a Nashville-based writer and mother of three. She's worked in a variety of corporate and creative environments, but none is more comfortable than the dining room table in her own home. Mary loves to help moms discover God's unique call to look in their own houses for their priorities, passions, and provision.

Latest posts by Mary Bernard (see all)

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3 thoughts on “Spruce Up Your Spiritual House and Lose the Guilt”

Jennifer weyh sabally January 5, 2011

I agree wholeheartedly with you Mary, I believe that sometimes failure is GOD’s way of letting us know that the timing is not right, to protect us from some unknown hurt/pain, or to prepare us for a greater challenge or blessing.

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