The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (NLT)

Have you ever heard someone say, “That’s just who I am”? Maybe you were the one making this statement, or maybe even, someone else made it about you. This phrase is often used in reference to a negative behavior, mindset, or tendency, and it almost seems to encourage us to continue dwelling in a place that has its grip on us.

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I think we can often have this same view of our sin: “I’m just a sinner who is dead, and there is no hope of it being rooted out in my life.” Maybe it doesn’t always appear that harsh or obvious, but has there been a time in your life that you thought you would just be captive forever to something in your life that you didn’t desire? Did you believe you should just accept it?

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Well friend, there is such good news in front of us! For those in Christ, there is life! Just as today’s verse lays out, God’s Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. That means you aren’t enslaved by sin any longer. Instead, you are free to live the life that you were created for. Now, I know it can be tough to wrestle through this, wondering about all of the things you’ve done wrong or even the temptations you face each day. But think about this: if God is powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead and back to life, then he is powerful enough to fix what is broken in you and me.  

You may be thinking this is all fine and dandy, but SO WHAT!? How does this change things and does me still messing up mean I’m not saved? The fact is that the Holy Spirit living in us changes everything. Yes, we will still mess up this side of heaven, but we aren’t ruled by our sin any longer. Instead of being defined by your mistakes and constantly overwhelmed by sin, you get to walk through life as one who has been set free. And, as God brings you through the lifelong process of sanctification, you will begin to see real, tangible transformation. So here is the “So What”…

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No longer is that mistake you make “just who I am,” because it doesn’t own you anymore. It doesn’t define you any longer, and your identity is no longer rooted in your sin. Shake all of that off, along with the shame, despair, weight, and lack of hope that comes with it. You have been given life by the resurrecting power of the Holy Spirit that is in you.

Lord, I am in awe as my brain tries to comprehend that the Holy Spirit lives within me. It blows my mind that I matter that much to you. Please remind me each day that I am no longer ruled by sin. I don’t have to wait until I get to Heaven; I can walk by the Spirit in life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!