Oceans in the Desert

BY KATHI PELTON

There is a lot of chaos, questions, disillusionment and confusion in this hour but maybe God is asking us to refocus our thoughts from the fixation of what is wrong, to the desire to see the righteousness of God displayed on the earth.

But we ask, “Who are the righteous?”

Romans 3:10 says, “None is righteous, no, not one…”

SO, NOW WHAT?

May I suggest that we begin to do what we should have always done? Embrace the reality that the only righteousness that we possess is THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST! 

We say that we know this but do we really? 

Are we a people who have been trying to accomplish righteousness through the flesh or through our own “goodness”? 

Have we viewed “the gifts” as proof of righteousness? Have we tried to produce righteousness through works or law? Have we taken on a heavy burden of striving when God has offered us rest?  These views or beliefs are no different than the Jews believing that circumcision could produce righteousness or the identity of righteousness. 

“…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:22-26

“…The righteous shall live by faith.”(Romans 1:17)

Last night I went to bed with this prayer, 

“I lay down to sleep tonight with absolute and utter dependency on your righteousness. For I have none apart from you! My “goodness” amounts to nothing, my acts and works fall so short of your glory, and my gifts earn me nothing eternal. Yet, your righteousness covers me like a warm blanket, like pure white garments as I sleep and when I awake. My faith is in your righteousness alone and in the knowledge that by grace you have clothed me in what you paid for, what you possess— not what I can earn or work for. It is freely given to me by faith.”

And with that prayer, I had the best sleep I have in a long time. 

This is not something unknown to us or a newly discovered truth, but it is a returning point— a place and posture to return to. It resets us, renews us, refreshes us and unburdens us. 

It removes ALL BOASTING in us!

“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Romans 3:27-28

We have seen (and even been a part of) a culture that boasts in men’s gifts and talents. This culture has  boasted in the names of those who seemingly possess the greatest gifts. It has boasted in the best public speakers— the best singers— the best performers— the most charismatic— the ones that made us feel like we could even achieve something to boast in as well! 

God forgive us for boasting in anything but our weakness so that your righteousness and strength may be a witness for all to see. We repent!

We go back to the beginning— we return to the place of being clothed in your righteousness. For our human weakness reveals your supernatural strength and power. 

To boast in our weakness is to acknowledge and embrace our human limitations and how flesh falls short. Not out of shame, but for God’s power to be revealed. It is to boast in his righteousness that we have obtained by faith alone. 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9

We will stand firm in the righteousness of God by faith. We are unburdened by the striving in our flesh to earn it. Though good works will be added to it— we are unburdened by the truth that is fully obtained by faith (not works). This truth delivers us from drivenness, striving, guilt, self-justification, pride, idolatry and burn-out.

It allows the good works to flow from rest, humility and gratitude in the finished work of the cross.

The pressure valve is being released from your soul. The pressure to perform and the pressure to live up to man’s expectations. The pressure to perfect a gift rather than embrace his grace and light burden. 

He is setting us free from drivenness that has resulted in burn-out and comparisons. From some feeling like a nobody while others experience the rush of being exulted. Both end in the flesh. He is leveling the ground and giving his people a chance to return to their first love and live from that place. 

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. 2 Corinthians 5:21

This truth has unburdened us!

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