Release

Published: Aug. 7, 2023, 4 a.m.

b'A vivid sunset reached over the aqua waters of my home on Zakynthos Island. I slid my hand down my pteranodon\\u2019s sleek, yet powerful neck as he lifted his wings, carrying me higher into the color-splashed sky.\\n\\n\\n\\nApostolos had been my constant companion since the night he landed next to me on the beach when I was a child. I was curled up next to the giant rock that resembled a resting brachiosaurus. Sweet Apostolos had seen me weeping, laid his crested head on my lap, and stayed with me until my tears subsided.\\n\\n\\n\\nReminiscing ceased as Apostolos landed lightly on the shores of the white-sand beach. The limestone caves glinted gold in the light of the setting sun. I settled on the sand with a sigh as Apostolos stretched his magnificent wings beside me. Even in this beautiful place, my mind wandered to memories of my failures.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cI keep messing up, Olo. I know what I should do because I have the Book of Life, but I don\\u2019t always follow it. Again, I find myself wishing I could turn back time and make the right choice.\\u201d Apostolos blinked sympathetically.\\n\\n\\n\\nI tried to understand why I kept doing wrong. Once, I was headed for death and destruction, but I had encountered the Eternal One who changed my soul and brought me from darkness into the light. I loved Him and sought to put His Book of Life into practice daily, but I still fell short.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cWhy do I have so much guilt?\\u201d I said aloud. Apostolos glanced up at the sky. \\u201cDon\\u2019t roll your eyes at me.\\u201d I chuckled. \\u201cYou\\u2019re right, I am forgetting the truth. The Eternal One says I belong to Him forever and I\\u2019m no longer condemned. He has already taken all my guilt on Himself, freeing me from shame through His own dying and rising. It\\u2019s good to remember. Because I\\u2019ve put my trust in Him, I\\u2019ll never be put to shame.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\nI whispered a prayer: \\u201cHere I am again, broken and in need. I don\\u2019t always do what I should do, what I want to do. You know the wrong that I have done and how I wish I could undo it. I need Your help to resist next time I am tempted, and to heal the hurts I\\u2019ve already caused. I know You forgive me, and I must release this to You. Remind me, Eternal One, that Your mercies are new every morning.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\nOpening my hands, palms raised to the sky, I released the guilt and shame, accepting the Eternal One\\u2019s immeasurable forgiveness and unfailing love. \\u2022 Savannah Coleman\\n\\n\\n\\nThe faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Have you ever felt like the character in today\\u2019s sci-fi/fantasy story? Frustrated with yourself for doing wrong even though you know what\\u2019s right? In Romans 7, the apostle Paul wrestled with his propensity to sin, even though he belonged to Christ. If we\\u2019re honest, we\\u2019ve all echoed Paul\\u2019s words: \\u201cI want to do what is good, but I don\\u2019t. I don\\u2019t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway\\u201d (verse 19). Thankfully, there is hope and rescue through Jesus Christ (verses 24-25). If you\\u2019ve put your trust in Jesus, you\\u2019ve already been brought from death to life (John 5:24). Because Jesus died on the cross for you and rose from the grave, you are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). The Bible says anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame (Romans 10:9-11). Now that\\u2019s good news! If you have questions about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 As followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit in us to remind us of Jesus\\u2019s words (John 14:26). When God\\u2019s Spirit in us reveals a sin or prompts us to change, this is a beautiful sign that we belong to Jesus and He is working in us to make us more like Him (Philippians 1:6). God knows we will continue to struggle with sin until Jesus returns and makes all things new. When God corrects us, He is specific and gives us hope. Consider taking a moment to pray,'