"For I saw full surely that ever as our contrariness worketh to us here in earth pain, shame, and sorrow, right so, on the contrary wise, grace worketh to us in heaven solace, worship, and bliss; and overpassing."
Julian of Norwich (ch. 48)
We may be failing here on earth, may have struggles and hangups that we never seem to overcome. We may struggle with shame or guilt or condemnation. But the reality about us is that we are actually already a totally new and pure and complete creation in Christ, resurrected with Him and reigning with Him in heaven. We are not failures, shameful and unworthy, or ruined, or lost. We are not truly in the realm of sin or death, where law and punishment rules, at all. We are truly in the heavenly kingdom, Christ's kingdom of love, where grace rules. We are already receiving honor and bliss that overflows in superabundance. Our righteousness, purity, and wholeness can't be improved upon because it is the righteousness of Christ in us. Our relationship with God can't be any better. We are already perfect, sinless, one with God and victorious. Christ has done it all for us in defeating sin and death and shame in our lives. There is nothing left to be done about all that. So we can enjoy what He has brought us into already - new creation life, sharing in His resurrection life. We are living resurrection life even now. All because of His overwhelming gift by grace!
"Now, in the light of your co-inclusion in his death and resurrection, whoever you thought you were before, in Christ you are a brand new person! The old ways of seeing yourself and everyone else are over. Acquaint yourself with the new!"
2 Corinthians 5:17 (MIRROR)
"He took our sorrows, our pain, our shame to his grave and birthed his righteousness in us. He took our sins and we became his innocence."
2 Corinthians 5:21 (MIRROR)
A Prayer: Show me my new creation reality in You!