For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15, ESV)
We all think according to our heritage.
In the world, we are born into a heritage and are stuck with it. If our parents are kings and queens, we are princes and princesses. If we are related to billionaires, we drive a Porsche. If your parents built a large house – that’s where you lived as a child.
The opposite is true for most of us – no palaces, yachts, or Ivy League education.
That is until we enter the Kingdom of God, and our world turns upside down. You move from living in filth to walking streets of gold, from lacking resources to an unlimited provision, from doubt to ecstatic hope, from condemnation to freedom.
Your choice!
By faith, you can change who you are and your future. You can follow the father of lies or turn to your “Abba, Father.”
Our thoughts follow our heritage.
Thinking of the flesh:
- I can’t do this.
- I can’t be forgiven.
- No one loves me.
- I will never change.
Thinking of the Spirit:
- All things work for the good.
- I have no fear.
- God is for me; nothing can oppose me.
- In everything, I will overcome.
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ… (Romans 8:16-17).
Romans 8 is the “change your heritage” chapter in the Bible. Verse 1 starts with eliminating self-condemnation while concluding verses 38 and 39 emphasize the inseparable love of God.
You are not stuck in your current circumstances.
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? (Romans 8:24)
You have eternal hope and present hope. You grow in hope by speaking the truth of that hope. When you encounter a difficulty today, you can say, “My life is horrible,” or “God has given me victory.”
Remember – your heritage will be spoken by your words.
Speak hope today!