Seated with Christ

Hi everyone,

I am amazed at how fast the year has gone by! Here we are preparing our hearts for the Christmas season and reflecting on what that means for us as believers. Jesus, God’s son, came down from His perfect, heavenly home to be born in a stable. Jesus would go on to experience life just as we do with all it’s temptations, hardships and sorrows, all the while, never sinning but dying a criminal’s death in our place. After three days He rose from the dead, defeating death, so that you and I could be in relationship with Him. That is the greatest story of hope that continues to be told throughout the world!

We carry this hope until we can be with Him forever. Until then, we can still sit with Him in heavenly places. You may wonder how this is possible. I like to say that God made a way when there was none.

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV says “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

God Himself raised us up with Christ and sat us together with Him so that He could show us the IMMEASURABLE riches of His grace in kindness. Wow! Grace is unmerited favor, and kindness is being generous. I like to think of it as a proud father lavishing his daughter with everything that she needs and making her feel special. Sadly, because we are still part of a fallen world, it’s not always unicorns and rainbows. Each one of us has experienced things that maybe we wish we hadn’t, but when we are in Christ, we remember He has already taken our hurts, our regrets, our imperfections and our sins on the cross. He meets us in our mess with nothing but love, peace and strength.

Colossians 2:10 ESV

And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Being seated in heavenly places with Jesus shows us how to live from a place of victory through His power and authority. In my own life, I tend to focus on the things that need “fixing” or aren’t “perfect” yet like my cooking skills, my self care (not staying in my pajamas all day), my kids obeying me and so on! I’ve noticed that whatever I dwell on is what I become. If I’m dwelling on the negative, that’s how I am going to be towards the people around me. Lately, I’ve been telling myself that I’m seated with Jesus, and He has already done it all for me. Therefore, I don’t need to strive to create a perfect life to have His peace and joy. It’s not about the strength I have to fight my battles, but rather what He finished on the cross that makes me victorious and more than a conqueror!

1 Corinthians15:57 TPT

“But we thank God for giving us the victory as conquerors through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.”

Don’t ever be deceived into believing that you are not loved, not wanted and forgotten. Jesus came down from the heavenly places that you are now seated in, to live the perfect life that you never could and die an awful death that you deserved because of sin.

Oftentimes, I must remind myself of where I sit. Being a mom of toddlers, I find myself feeling weary most days (if you have little people I know you can relate). Trying to keep my mind focused on anything can be a challenge! An easy way for me to meditate on the Word throughout the day is by posting my verse of the day on my kitchen windowsill (since I spend a lot of time at the sink washing dishes). Each time I see it my thoughts are taken back to Jesus, and I am reminded that I sit right next to Him.

I’d like to end with this thought: Don’t be discouraged if you are struggling with something right now. Jesus went to the cross because He knew we would have weaknesses and struggles. He does not expect perfection from us but rather surrender to His perfect love. Know that the Lord is with you, He is for you, and He is your refuge. He wanted you right from the start, sitting next to Him in heavenly places, experiencing His abundant life and being victorious in every area of your life.

As you walk with Jesus, He will show you more of what it means to live from a heavenly place while you are here on the earth.

Blessings,

Becky

Becky is a mom to twin girls and wife to Nick. She grew up overseas with her family as a missionary and has a passion for leading worship, as well as seeing women empowered through their walk with Christ.