1 John 22

 I used to doubt whether I was really a true believer in Christ. Was I truly following Him?  Many days k didn’t feel like I was, burdened with guilt and self condemnation. I wondered if I’d deny Christ, like Peter, if pushed into a corner. But I’m learning that character change is a key mark of maturity and growth. Inner character qualities of peace, hope and joy are Mike markers to growth as we lean in, depending on our Lord. I cannot control what I can’t, giving me a deeper opportunity to pray more and depend on Him. 

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” - Frederick Buechner

“First John 2:28 and 29 are a bridge from the fellowship section into the sonship section (“born of God”); in these verses John used three words that ought to encourage us to live in fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

1. Abide. You abide in Christ by believing the truth, obeying the truth, and loving other Christians—“the brethren.” Obedience—love—truth. If you are a believer and find yourself out of fellowship with God, it is because you have disobeyed His Word, lacked love for a brother, or believed a lie. The solution is to confess your sin instantly and to claim God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
2. Appear. This is the first mention in this epistle of the promised return of Christ. The book of Revelation deals in detail with future events.”

3. Ashamed. Some Christians will be “ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28). All believers are “accepted,” but there is a difference between being “accepted” and being “acceptable.” A disobedient child who goes out and gets dirty will be accepted when he comes home, but he will not be treated as though he were acceptable. “Therefore also we have as our ambition … to be pleasing to Him” (2 Cor. 5:9 NASB).” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe