Are you ready to experience true freedom in your spiritual walk? Imagine living with unshakeable peace, boundless joy, and complete rest, regardless of your circumstances. This is exactly what happens when you embrace your new nature in Christ and learn to walk in the fullness of who He created you to be.

The Futility of the Old Man

Let’s talk about Romans 7, which deals with the struggle many Christians face: “The good I want to do, I can’t. The bad I don’t want to do, I do. Woe is me!” This is the trap we fall into when we haven’t fully engaged with Romans 6:3-11, which we discussed last week.

Romans 6:3-11 is the primary place of total freedom. When Christ died, we died. When He was buried, we were buried with Him. And when He rose from the dead, our old nature did not rise with Him—our new nature did.

You simply cannot be alive to Christ in all His fullness if you’re not practicing an overcoming life in Jesus. This overcoming life begins with knowing that you are beloved. If Christ is in you, and He’s the beloved Son of God, then you are beloved by virtue of being in Christ and having Christ in you.

The last prayer Jesus prayed in the garden before His arrest was, “Father, that you would love them as you love me.” Think about that—God loves you the same way He loves Jesus! This has nothing to do with what you’re doing; it’s everything to do with who God is.

Promises to Live By

Jesus made some incredible promises that we can build our lives upon:

• John 16:33: “These things I’ve spoken to you so that in me, you may have peace. In the world you’ll have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
• John 14:27: “My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
• John 15:11: “These things I’ve spoken to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full.”

God is set on giving us a happy course in life and a joyful disposition that overcomes everything. Even on a bad day, we get to practice our joy!

Practice Makes Perfect

Romans 5:3-4 tells us, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope.”

This verse comes alive when we practice it. Hope is future-oriented, and when we practice peace or joy in circumstances that don’t make sense, we realize what else God can do. This gives us hope for tribulations we’ve yet to face.

The key word here is “practice”—it’s not about faking it. It’s about practicing the fruit of the Spirit. When Jesus gives you rest, He’s going to be with you in the practice of it. That’s the beauty of personal engagement with Him.

Gifts of His Presence

Peace, joy, and rest aren’t gifts of the Spirit—they’re gifts of the presence of Jesus in you. You can’t ask God for peace; you have to thank Him that you already have it because He is your peace. You can’t pray for rest because it comes with Him. You get to thank God: “Thank you, Lord, that I have your rest, that I have your peace, that your joy is unchanging, that you love me all the time.”

If you’re practicing any negatives like fear, worry, anger, anxiety, or panic, you’re not practicing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If you don’t want the negatives, you have to practice the positives.

Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” Then Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This may sound simplistic, but it’s powerful in its effect. When you practice the fruit of the Spirit, you’re “in” all the time. It’s the best way to stay engaged with the Lord.

A New Covenant Mindset

If you’re not practicing the presence of God with God, it’s because you’ve not been equipped or discipled into walking with God in His wholeness. You might be working on changing the old you, which is a recipe for disaster.

You will never enjoy your life if you don’t know who God is for you. Religion focuses on you trying to get to God when He’s already gotten to you! He came looking for you, He took hold of you, and in His heart, you are His.

Jesus did all the work for you in Romans 6:3-11. He included you in every phase. You’re covered because you’re in Him. Now, you’re learning to love the practice of that.

Embrace the Promise of Help

One of the most powerful promises from God is found in Isaiah 41:8-14, where He repeatedly says, “I will help you. I will help you. Surely I will help you.”

No matter what situation you find yourself in, you can have confidence that your Helper is with you. Life with Jesus is always astonishing, even in the midst of difficulty.

Your Freedom Journey Starts Now

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. No matter what you’re going through, life with Jesus is always astonishing. We’re learning how to be astonished, and we’re learning that peace and joy belong to us because Christ lives in us.

The simplicity of walking with God like a much-loved child means you grow up in the splendor and beauty of who God is. His nature is uncompromising, yet always astonishingly beautiful.