Growing in Christ

[EarthMomma]

I am secure. I am secure only in God's love. Unless I understand God's love for me, I will never be able to love Him completely, nor will I be able to love others or love my enemies.

The security of knowing God's love is eternal. It is constant and it is stable. It is forever. For once I've known His love, it changes me. It is the beginning and the end. All the rest of what I know or do hinges upon my knowing His love. Without His love, there is no security, there is doubt and fear.

God has drawn me to Him so that I know His love. He alone has shown me that love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Oh what a waste it is when that love is ignored.

Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
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God makes it possible for me to comprehend His love through Christ. This comprehension is way beyond natural ways of knowing. It is a spiritual knowledge. And it only happens when we believe. Faith is the way that Christ dwells in us, and faith is the way we are rooted and grounded in the love of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19 (KJV) 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
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I am persuaded that I am secure in His love, because I know Him. I am secure because nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from His love which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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And I am persuaded that He is able to do what His Word says He will do. He is able to keep that which I commit to Him.

2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) . . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
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And I shall commit it ALL to Him, because He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life, all else is death.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me nor make me insecure if I dwell in His love. His love removes the fear of insecurity. His love fills me with all the fulness of God, through Christ Jesus.

If I understand the way God loves me, and keeps me secure, then I can't help but want to tell others about what He's done for me through Christ. And I can't help but love others, because the security of His love has rooted out all else but love, grounding me the knowedge of His love. Nothing else matters. All else proceeds from first being secure in God's love through Christ.

 

[Proverbs3]

LeastOne, thank you so much for your posts...please continue because I think we are all benefitting greatly. I just went through a time similar to what you said in your first post where I felt that I was someone who was not following God and totally going off the path, even though i was a Christian. but, He graciously showed me back to Him and I am ever grateful for His loving mercy.

 

[EarthMomma]

I too would love to hear more from leastone, I certainly have enjoyed reading through this thread, and it helped me in my own private study of who we are in Christ. Let me take this opportunity to thank leastone again for this thread.

 

[EarthMomma]

Dear Barbara,

I know your comments were not addressed to me, but I would like to thank you for your observations.

Hi Leastone
One difficulty with all that you have said , some times we need to remove the barriers that we have built up over time to 'protect us' before we can allow God's blessings to flow into our lives.

1. Pulling down the strongholds
2. surrendering all the 'wrong thinking' we develop as children growing up in imperfect homes
3. trusting In God with all our mind and leaning not unto our own understandings
alllowing God to be Lord of all of our lives and not just a part of it.

for example if we immagine our lives arre like a mansion
we can allow God to be in just the parlor or allow Him to clean up every area of our lives
so painful but very necessary

Taking your mansion analogy a bit further, sometimes we even envision only one mansion (our own,or someone else's), forgetting that "in My Father's house there are many mansions."

For me, studying what the Bible says about who we are in Christ has been an eye and heart opener for the rest of the areas you've covered. I've only posted a few of the studies I've done in this regard, as an encouragement for others to examine the scriptures to see who the Bible says we are in Christ. I hope it's not been inappropriate, it seemed to me to fit in this thread.

Blessings and peace,
EarthMomma

 

[GrammasFaith]

Over the years, people have argued about what it means to be safe in Jesus. Some still argue in vain hope that safety means earthly safety from worldly things. Well, in a way, there is safety in knowing that He will provide and protect us, but this safety and provision is first and formost a spiritual concept. And until we have entered into a spiritual relationship with our Savior, we'll never be convinced of His provision and protection.

I am learning this daily, EarthMomma, in a very real way. I work as a baker, at night, all alone. The devil tries to use this at times, to give me fear. Fear for my safety and not in just a physical, worldly sense either. It is comforting to me when God brings so many verses to my mind to remind me of His protection and love. He is never away from me, and in the midst of a spiritual battle, all I need do is reach for his ever-present Hand.

 

[EarthMomma]

Thank you for sharing this Gramma.

I really think it's important that we give testimony and witness when God brings us glimpses of His kingdom, for the Bible tells us to encourage each other, and this is one way we can do it.

I am learning this daily, EarthMomma, in a very real way. I work as a baker, at night, all alone. The devil tries to use this at times, to give me fear. Fear for my safety and not in just a physical, worldly sense either. It is comforting to me when God brings so many verses to my mind to remind me of His protection and love. He is never away from me, and in the midst of a spiritual battle, all I need do is reach for his ever-present Hand.

I too have had the joy of eradicating fear in my life (by God's grace, certainly by nothing I've done), and I firmly believe that is a necessary for learning to walk in the Spirit. He's so good!

Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[MadFingerPainter]

Good morning all! ~Hugs~ God bless this day for all of you. ~Smiles~

 

[angelwind]

I have been reading and thinking of the recent posts...am sure I need to be strengthened in this love God has for me...how constant and singular it is...He never wavers...or changes His mind about loving me...hard to really understand at times isn't it...

also know I have fears that are sublte...work on me and I don't see it for a while...also have old thought patterns...that I can see right now, but am having a difficult time breaking free from them...almost feels like an oppression...hhhmmm

Anyway...this is such a good place to come for strenght and encouragement in the word and fellowship...group hug...

 

[MadFingerPainter]

I have old thought patterns too that I have trouble letting go of angelwind. It's funny, even though we change inside when we get saved...our minds seem to take us back to visit places in our lives that we don't want to go to. ~Hugs~

 

[EarthMomma]

I have old thought patterns too that I have trouble letting go of angelwind. It's funny, even though we change inside when we get saved...our minds seem to take us back to visit places in our lives that we don't want to go to. ~Hugs~

I think we all struggle with thought patterns. When we are saved, we get a new heart and spirit, but the Bible cautions us that we must renew our mind. And that renewal is constant because of our constant interaction with the worldly. The mind truly is the battlefield, as satan desires to control or divert our thoughts, to keep us from serving God. One way He does this is to plant seeds of doubt and condemnation, another way is to numb our feelings into passivity. Understanding the difference between the methods of the adversary (who uses guilt and condemnation), and Jesus (who did not come to condemn but to save) and the sweet grace of conviction by the Holy Spirit into repentence helps us to sort out and ignore these attacks.

Luckily, God our provider, our everthing, has not only redeemed us, but has enabled us. Purposely thinking about what we think about is one way scripture gives us to defeat these attacks.

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

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We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, to take these thoughts straight to God, as if we plead as David did, God is faithful:

Psalms 51:10-12 (KJV) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

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And it is possible to renew our mind, as it is conformed to the mind of Christ, because God gives us the faith to do it (and more faith, and more grace, as we need it).

Romans 12:2-3 (KJV) 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

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In our own strength, controlling our thoughts would be impossible, we don't have a chance of being successful, but through Jesus, we can be like Jesus. The Example of our obedience is also the Enabler of our obedience. Not only does God put it in our hearts to want to obey, He is responsible for our obedience,

Philippians 2:13-15 (KJV) 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

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Adriene Rogers likened God working in us with power steering:

The word “worketh” in Philippians 2:13 is the word from which we get our English word “energy.” God energizes us to do His will. It is like the power steering in your automobile. The power steering is there to work for you, but it waits on you to turn the wheel. The moment you turn the wheel, you will notice the wonderful power. The moment you decide to serve God, His power takes over. God is waiting on you right now to serve Him.

We must be gentle and meek with ourselves (as we are taught to be with others) as we humbly submit our imperfect thoughts to God, and thereby taking response to the ability God has given us, and knowing with holy expectation, that we can overcome those thoughts.

Titus 3:2-6 (KJV) 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

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It is the kindness and love of God that renews us, and through the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit residing in us, we can learn right thinking. We become God-minded, and begin to meditate upon how much God loves us, leaving no room or tolerance for satan's attempts on our minds.

I think this will be an ongoing process, in fact, I'm sure satan will continue his attacks the closer we draw to God. Thank God that through Jesus Christ we shall overcome by faith and His grace alone!

As we've been studying spiritual warfare in Bible Study at church, I've personally noticed the adversary kicking up his efforts against me personally. And believe me, satan is far more powerful and smarter than I am. I have no chance against him, apart from Jesus Christ, who thank God, has not only defeated the death that is satan, He has strengthened me to stand.

Praise God, and think about Him constantly, meditating day and night on Him, casting down every wrong imagination that satan brings against us.

Thanks ladies for very good and honest comments that got me to thinking and took me into His word this morning.

Have a blessed day!
Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[angelwind]

I have old thought patterns too that I have trouble letting go of angelwind. It's funny, even though we change inside when we get saved...our minds seem to take us back to visit places in our lives that we don't want to go to. ~Hugs~

Boy, this is sooo the truth...my mind is doing a number on me lately...

Today is better...

 

[MadFingerPainter]

focus on God angelwind...you know i often times like to just open my bible and go to a book i haven't been into for a while and start reading. i like to pick out a verse or two to examine later. maybe that would help? ~smiles~

 

[GrammasFaith]

focus on God angelwind...you know i often times like to just open my bible and go to a book i haven't been into for a while and start reading. i like to pick out a verse or two to examine later. maybe that would help?

Doing this is a big help. God is not only training our spirits, but our minds as well. He wants us to focus on Him, while satan wants to keep our focus on self. It's not an easy habit to get out of. I often have thoughts of past stuff come flying at me out of nowhere. When I can't break the thought pattern, sometimes even by praying, I turn to a childrens song we all know. Jesus loves me, this I know. It works every time. LOL

 

[EarthMomma]

Doing this is a big help. God is not only training our spirits, but our minds as well. He wants us to focus on Him, while satan wants to keep our focus on self. It's not an easy habit to get out of. I often have thoughts of past stuff come flying at me out of nowhere. When I can't break the thought pattern, sometimes even by praying, I turn to a childrens song we all know. Jesus loves me, this I know. It works every time. LOL

This is so true: God is not only training our spirits, but our minds as well.

The Bible tells us that we have the mind of Christ -- a new heart and spirit.

1 Cor 2:16 (AMP) For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
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He has promised to give us the way to be able to follow His Word.

Ezekiel 36:26,27 (AMP) A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.
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It's not automatic, we must believe and obey, but the blessed assurance is there, isn't it?

The adversary has a lot to gain by attacking our thoughts. We have a lot to gain by thinking about what we think about, training our thoughts on the Word of God, being God-minded, and God-loves-me-minded, as Joyce Meyers points out in chapter 15 of The Battlefield of the Mind, which we have been studying in Bible study.

Understanding and meditating on His love is one of the strongest things we can do to spiritually take control over our thoughts. I really appreciate this topic being raised, and the replies, and am still smiling over the "Jesus loves me" reference, because that is a song that I've relied upon as well.

Your sister in love and in Christ, learning to get a grip on my thinking,
Earth Momma

 

[angelwind]

focus on God angelwind...you know i often times like to just open my bible and go to a book i haven't been into for a while and start reading. i like to pick out a verse or two to examine later. maybe that would help? ~smiles~

Hi friends...I was away for a few days...and am doing much better...have not been listening to the negative stuff...it really helps...started singing to the Lord again.

I was staying at an RV park...there was a Christian group near us singing praises and having a small meeting on Sunday...it was so refreshing...ran into other Christians there too. I needed that...have not been able to go to church for over 2 years now.

 

[EarthMomma]

Dear angel,

Thanks for sharing this uplifting report! You've been in my prayers. And I love that you ran into other Christians! A friend and I went to the beach the other day and visited with the most delightful woman, after she left we commented on just how often you find God present through His people when you look for it! Spirit knows spirit, and spirit knows what spirit needs!

Nice to have you back!

Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

Hi friends...I was away for a few days...and am doing much better...have not been listening to the negative stuff...it really helps...started singing to the Lord again.

I was staying at an RV park...there was a Christian group near us singing praises and having a small meeting on Sunday...it was so refreshing...ran into other Christians there too. I needed that...have not been able to go to church for over 2 years now.

 

[angelwind]

Dear angel,

Thanks for sharing this uplifting report! You've been in my prayers. And I love that you ran into other Christians! A friend and I went to the beach the other day and visited with the most delightful woman, after she left we commented on just how often you find God present through His people when you look for it! Spirit knows spirit, and spirit knows what spirit needs!

Nice to have you back!

Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

It's good to be back...and thank you for your prayers...I am much better now. PTL

 

[EarthMomma]

Joining you in praising the Lord! [pong] [/pong]

And thanking Him for your presence here, and all you share in building us up!

 

[GrammasFaith]

Praising the Lord as well! I actually have been praising the Lord more and more lately. It's great to be His!

 

[MadFingerPainter]

Angelwind...
I'm so sorry to hear that you haven't been able to go to church. ~Hugs~ I wasn't able to for a while because my job was interfering so I can understand. It is miserable.