clothed in garments of salvation

i read the february 28 entry from Jesus Calling today.

sure i'm a few days behind, but i needed to read it today, not on the 28th.

i love how God uses even my falling behind to help lift me up again:

do you see what that says up there? gosh, if i'm ever guilty of attributing my own thoughts onto Him. in the psychology world, they call it projecting, right?

"Many believers perceive Me as an unpleasable Judge, angrily searching out their faults and failures. 

after all, i do this to myself, so why shouldn't He? 

Nothing could be further from the truth! I died for your sins so that I might clothe you in My garments of salvation. 

yes, yes, i have that verse hanging in my house. a design in my shop. i know it well. 

This is how I see you: radiant in My robe of righteousness. 

yes, He sees us with Christ's righteousness covering all our sins. He literally sees us as already perfected and sinless, as we WILL be in eternity. amazing.

When I discipline you, it is never in anger or disgust; 

as i'm often so guilty of doing with my own daughter... forgive me Lord.

it is to prepare you for face-to-Face fellowship with Me throughout all eternity... 

where all my shame and feelings of inadequacy will suddenly be wiped away. praise you Jesus.

... Be receptive to my affirmation

how often do i not want to believe the good things that He tries to show me about myself? or at best, i'll weigh them against the bad, so that i can believe that He's disappointed, angry, disgusted. is it just easier that way?

it reminded me of this post i wrote last year. [go read it and then come back here]

God  forgets our sins but remembers our good deeds. i mean, He literally says that in scripture. 

how can it be true? i don't know, but it just is. 

and in order to put one foot in front of the other, some days, i have to take Him at His Word and claim it over myself. tell my shame where it can go, you know?
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