Tag: #Jesussaves

Seeing in a New Light: Rethinking Predestination and Free Will

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture you’ve encountered dozens of times, only to suddenly see it in a whole new light?

That happened to me recently. My son and I were talking through Ephesians 1:4 and Romans 8:29–30, discussing how difficult it can be to reconcile Paul’s words on predestination with our human free will. It seemed like a contradiction—and “seemed” is the key word here. In our limited human understanding, we can easily miss the full picture, but we know God never contradicts Himself, nor is He the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).

We grew up in a church that taught a very specific view of predestination. As an adult, I had plenty of questions. A few years ago, I did some deep digging and settled on answers that satisfied me for a while, but I had never seen the full picture the way I do now.

Determined to seek clarity, I took these passages back to God in prayerful discernment. When I reopened the text, it felt like reading it for the very first time.

Look at Ephesians 1:4–5:

“…Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”

The pronouns “us” and “we” refer to believers as a whole. With that focus, the meaning opens up: Before God spoke creation into existence, He predestined that anyone who believes in Christ would be adopted as His son or daughter. He didn’t restrict salvation to a pre-selected few; rather, He established the plan that all who freely choose to place their trust in Him are predestined for Heaven. God loves everyone and desires for all to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:3–6).

Romans 8:29–30 offers a similar depth:

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

While this text is widely debated, viewing it through this same lens brings powerful clarity. “Those he foreknew” speaks to God’s eternal perspective—He, outside of time, sees who will choose Him. For all who believe, their destination is sealed: to be conformed to the image of Christ and adopted into His family. God made a way for everyone to be saved, while honoring the choice He gave us to believe. As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, the Lord is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Excited by this clarity, I called my son back a few days later to share what I’d realized. We only had a few moments to chat, so I told him how I saw it in a new light.

After that conversation, he felt prompted to re-read the exact same verses—and God revealed the very same insight to him. The Holy Spirit had granted us both a fresh perspective, separately yet simultaneously.

If you have ever felt stuck, uncertain, or confused by complex passages of Scripture, don’t be discouraged. Bring those questions directly to God. Ask Him for wisdom, spiritual discernment, and a fresh set of eyes. He delights in revealing His heart through His Word to anyone who seeks Him—and His arms are always open to welcome you in.

Lost and Broken Protection

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Last weekend, I saw a sunglass commercial. It proclaimed to have “lost and broken” protection. I immediately thought that is what Jesus is to us: lost and broken protection.

Are the struggles and challenges of this life getting you down? Don’t let the devil have his way and rob you of your joy. We can change our perspective and experience joy in our hearts – no matter our circumstances. For believers, joy comes from the Holy Spirit through praise and thankfulness, as a fruit of the spirit, when we are in proper relations with God (The Holman Bible Dictionary).

We can find joy and peace with God’s help and a little intentional gratitude—a daily choice. Some days, it’s not easy when challenges come our way. But God designed us to depend on Him. He will provide everything we need, even during stressful, anxiety-filled days. We just need to focus on Him, be thankful in all circumstances, and not allow our perspective to get clouded by fleshly emotions.

I am speaking to myself here as much as anyone. I am a planner and organizer. The business I am in challenges me. After I have worked the puzzle with the schedule, sometimes the weather, cancellations, or other unforeseen circumstances tip over the proverbial table, and all those pieces I worked so hard to put together are now on the floor, requiring me to put them back together in a much shorter timeframe.

This naturally causes me anxiety. So, I have been taking it to God every morning before I start work and praying for help. I am also going through a three-part Bible plan by Roxanne Parks, The Voices and the Choices. Roxanne observes Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians and concludes that he says to “give thanks in all circumstances”—not “for all circumstances” (I Thess. 5:18, ESV). We have much to be thankful for in all circumstances. Parks says gratitude opens our eyes to see blessings (The Voices and the Choices). It’s all about perspective and what we focus our attention on.

Eleven years ago, I was in a car accident, which changed my perspective on everything. I was grateful God spared my life. Still, it was more than that. It opened my eyes to a new life that I never knew existed. It was beyond me or anything I had ever known. I was spared, rescued, and given another chance at life – the life of God’s plan and purpose – with goals and dreams I never saw for myself.

When I was flying home from the accident in a wheelchair, cast, and back brace on a red-eye flight, I realized I wasn’t worried about anything. As I watched the anxiety of others at the airport build, my new perspective allowed me to experience peace beyond understanding. God provided every step of the way, placing kind and caring people in my path on both flights who helped me with off-boarding and grabbing my overhead bag to get me to my next wheelchair waiting at the gate.

I had to rely on strangers, thousands of miles away from home, in a situation that would cause anyone to panic and be anxious – yet my eyes were opened for the first time, allowing God to provide – something that eluded me previously. My new perspective led to gratitude and peace – even in my brokenness. At that time, I was broken in every sense of the word.

The NLT Study Bible notes explain that our relationship with God defines Christian joy. God is sovereign and can redeem any situation (Rom. 8:28). Jesus’ mission was to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10, emphasis added). God uses my painful past to help others. I hit a wall, literally and figuratively, when the car slammed into that rock wall. It was a wake-up call of epic proportions. God redeems all my broken pieces and covers my scars with Christ’s.

A grateful heart knows many blessings.

So, how do we adopt this philosophy of having an attitude of gratitude every day, “even if” our puzzle is flipped over? This is my sincere prayer each day. A grateful journal may help. We can also be mindful of praise and thankfulness each morning and throughout our day. We can intentionally claim God’s promises to provide everything we need, including rest and peace. Take deep breaths. Pray a lot.

All these things are good, but deepening our relationship with God is crucial to a new perspective and finding gratitude in all circumstances. Don’t give up. If you haven’t yet, take out a “lost and broken” protection plan in the name of Jesus Christ. Your perspective is sure to change. For those of us who have – we still need a reminder, at times, that God is still in control and promises to always be with us (Matt. 28:20).  

The enemy wants us to think otherwise and hopes our fleshly emotions, stress, and anxiety will take over our spiritual truths. This is where intentionality comes in – to keep Christ in our focus – and the devil in our rearview. A battle is only won by placing God first over everything.

Nobody is perfect. Don’t let your mishaps keep you down. Do the best you can with what you have today. As my wonderful husband reminds me almost daily, I should go at the pace of grace and stop being so hard on myself. I am still learning this. Thanks be to God, I am happy to report fewer stressful workdays, even when they present challenges. Being battle-ready doesn’t hurt.

“And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:29, emphasis added).

Trading Up

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Trading my vehicle in recently brought up some reflection into my past vehicles and reasons for purchasing a different model. My 2011 Mazda was the best car I ever owned, and I kept it the longest of any others. Even though I really like the new (to me) one, it was hard to see her go.

That wasn’t the case several years ago. One time I traded a vehicle off in a heartbeat over one weekend simply because I thought it had been seen somewhere it shouldn’t have been or really where I shouldn’t have been. Out of complete fear I got rid of it as fast as I could. Then if anyone said they saw my car at that place- I could say I traded it off. That part would be true. A half-truth is really a lie in disguise.

I have no idea how I managed to get by without getting caught. Those days brought many sleepless nights; tears of misery. In bondage to the panic and fear of someone finding out my secrets.

It felt like I was skating on thin ice and any moment I would fall through. I avoided any subject that got too close to my situation and could potentially be turned into a direct question to me. I certainly never played truth or dare. At least I never chose truth if I did play. I was certainly in over my head and it almost drove me insane.

I don’t miss those days. I am so happy to be free from the chains. No more hiding. I can be me in public and private and not worry about who is watching because they are the same person. I don’t even recognize the person I used to be anymore.

Friend, if you are hiding the truth, lying to yourself and others, trying to manage a secret life; let me tell you something; that is a lot of work. Not cheerful work. Miserable, heart-wrenching work. But there is hope. You can change. You won’t be able to do it alone, but you can do it with God’s help.

I traded shame, regrets, lies, disrespect, abuse, co-dependency, people-pleasing, self-righteousness for freedom, love, joy, peace, faith, hope, healing, forgiveness, thankfulness, salvation by grace and so much more.

He loves you deeply. You know how I know? Because if He can love someone as broken as me and change my life; He loves you too. You can trade in your old life for a new one. That is one trade worth making. TODAY.

Those lies and hidden secrets no longer have a stronghold on me. I am a victor in Christ, and I am so very grateful that He chose to save me.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Check out my complete story of how Christ saved me from my past and changed my life forever in my book, Beyond Yourself- A Spiritual Awakening.