- May 17, 2004
- 164
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- Married
It has become unavoidably clear to me, through personal sin and a recently-reactive nature, that my identity has seriously slipped. God has given me a great number of promises in recent months, but instead of seeing them as a result of my relationship with Him, I received them as "this is what will happen when I change myself, when I do this or that, when I learn or accomplish the following to-do list..." Even though, from the beginning, I told myself I wouldn't do that! Thank goodness, we need only to follow Him and stop twisting Him in our minds into something we can understand, a taskmaster who would ask the impossible. (1 Samuel 15:22 Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..., Matt 19:26 .."With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible") Today, God brought to my mind His promise to Jacob (Genesis 28:13 The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed) when Jacob, as I am, was still young and reckless. It wasn't what JACOB would do or what he was, it was what God would do for Him. Here, I'd received His beautiful promises as a consent form and contract for me to sign! How did I think this to be resting in Him? (PS 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him...) Not resting in Him or even living fully in His identity of me made this deception easier to swallow.
One such missing portion in identity was due to my need for fellowship. In this area of weakness, I didn't fully rely on His provision (Php 4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus) and trust Him as all the fellowship I needed. He allowed me to be alone awhile and I determined that it was because I was unworthy of fellowship, that people couldn't bring themselves to love and accept me. [I do have rejection and abandonment issues I'm now finally allowing Him to work out in me, hot embers reignited by this kind of isolation.] Fortunately, it is the love of Christ which constrains us (2 Corinthians 5:14) and it is in accepting His love and trusting in it that I entered into such constraint. Being constrained is to be tightly held, engulfed, surrounded-and therefore, driven by. Being abused and mistreated, it has taken me all this time to really be able to trust in His love as a love that won't fail me, hurt me, leave me; as painful as that is to say, those who've been repeatedly scarred by people understand the natural defense mechanism which causes such a reaction in us. Fortunately, He is most patient as He works to heal us and we reactively push Him away, as a doctor trying to give a useful injection to a child.
We must disgard how secure we are [or aren't] in our appearance, our skills, our knowledge, our wisdom, our faith, our perspective, our work, our social support, our income, our family, our every ability, and everything we are in the flesh AND what we're becoming. We are not to find identity in what He's given us per se, but in who we are IN HIM and who He is in us. Romans 13:14 (Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ) does not say He'll clothe us with the righteous robe of the Lord Jesus, but that He will clothe us with the Lord Jesus as our righteous robe. How can we walk in the Spirit who has rested on Jesus as a dove if we are not in Christ, first and foremost?
In my secret [as in, so secret, I wouldn't let myself see it] desire to be loved, desirable, successful as a woman of God, make God "look good," help others by being easily understood by them, I completely jumped into the pools of this world. (Ro 12:2) It may have seemed one step at a time, but when the heart is divided and serving two masters, a leap into sin is certainly coming if one's heart isn't changed. For John 6:35 (I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst), Christ wasn't saying that just to appease us or comfort us at the nice thought. Our problem is we're too busy seeking out things or people or events in this lifetime to let ourselves be satisfied in Him. But that's completely backward and most of us in this forum are here because we know that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, that there is no other way, no other satisfaction, no other peace or contentment, but in dying to Him and finding ourselves in Him.
So in the knowledge that we are nothing without our God, which must become part of who we are and what we do (John 5:19 The son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing), we are free to find our identity in Him. More than Scripture refers to Him in us, it refers to us in Him, but both are the complete picture. We are His home (1 Corinthians 6:19) and He is ours. As we all have, I've been lacking in my time in the inner chamber, unwilling to dwell too long or go too far beyond a point, where the conviction of my sins would cause me discomfort and unrest. (Matthew 6:6 Enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret.) But if we cannot find time for this in our day, then what is the rest of the day?? If each hour of the day, we are not focused and centered on Him, driven by the remnants of our very intimate conversations and studies, His fresh revelations and convictions, encouragements and comforts and motivations from the dawn, then what is the day for? If all we do is not for His glory, then we are sorely in need of intimacy. For as we draw close to Him, so He does in return and where we lack, there He will be our excessive strength; where we doubt though our faith be placed in Him, He will transform that doubt into abundant trust and often, great understanding, as we dwell in Him, abide in Him, keep His Word always before our eyes, pray without ceasing, hold every thought captive to our Lord, all by Him and for Him and through Him. He IS the only way and by Him all this can be accomplished in and for all of us.
Needless to say, He's replaced my insecurities, made light of my identity, and hopefully, you allow Him to do the same for you. I'm enclosing "identification" Scriptures Neil Anderson collected for "Living Free in Christ." May you be well-blessed and encouraged into a new depth of relationship with our Lord. If you read this far, you must be hungry for more of Him, so you'll be filled! You'll find "The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behaviour will begin to reflect your true identity!" as Neil said.
Much Love,
April
John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 I am Christ's friend.
Rom 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Cor 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.
1 Cor 6:19,20 I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
Eph 1:1 I am a saint.
Eph 1:5 I have been adopted as God's child.
Eph 2:18 I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
Col 1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Col 2:10 I am complete in Christ.
Rom 8:1,2 I am free forever from condemnation.
Rom 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for good.
Rom 8:31f I am free from condemning charges against me.
Rom 8:35f I cannot be seperated from the love of God.
2 Cor 1:21,22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Col 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Phil 1:6 I know the good work God has begun in me will be perfected.
Phil 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Tim 1:7 I haven't been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and
a sound mind
Heb 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in any and every time of need.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
Matt 5:13,14 I am the salt and light of the earth.
John 15:1,5 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ's.
1 Cor 3:16 I am God's temple.
2 Cor 5:17f I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2 Cor 6:1 I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9)
Eph 2:6 I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
Eph 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Eph 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
One such missing portion in identity was due to my need for fellowship. In this area of weakness, I didn't fully rely on His provision (Php 4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus) and trust Him as all the fellowship I needed. He allowed me to be alone awhile and I determined that it was because I was unworthy of fellowship, that people couldn't bring themselves to love and accept me. [I do have rejection and abandonment issues I'm now finally allowing Him to work out in me, hot embers reignited by this kind of isolation.] Fortunately, it is the love of Christ which constrains us (2 Corinthians 5:14) and it is in accepting His love and trusting in it that I entered into such constraint. Being constrained is to be tightly held, engulfed, surrounded-and therefore, driven by. Being abused and mistreated, it has taken me all this time to really be able to trust in His love as a love that won't fail me, hurt me, leave me; as painful as that is to say, those who've been repeatedly scarred by people understand the natural defense mechanism which causes such a reaction in us. Fortunately, He is most patient as He works to heal us and we reactively push Him away, as a doctor trying to give a useful injection to a child.
We must disgard how secure we are [or aren't] in our appearance, our skills, our knowledge, our wisdom, our faith, our perspective, our work, our social support, our income, our family, our every ability, and everything we are in the flesh AND what we're becoming. We are not to find identity in what He's given us per se, but in who we are IN HIM and who He is in us. Romans 13:14 (Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ) does not say He'll clothe us with the righteous robe of the Lord Jesus, but that He will clothe us with the Lord Jesus as our righteous robe. How can we walk in the Spirit who has rested on Jesus as a dove if we are not in Christ, first and foremost?
In my secret [as in, so secret, I wouldn't let myself see it] desire to be loved, desirable, successful as a woman of God, make God "look good," help others by being easily understood by them, I completely jumped into the pools of this world. (Ro 12:2) It may have seemed one step at a time, but when the heart is divided and serving two masters, a leap into sin is certainly coming if one's heart isn't changed. For John 6:35 (I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst), Christ wasn't saying that just to appease us or comfort us at the nice thought. Our problem is we're too busy seeking out things or people or events in this lifetime to let ourselves be satisfied in Him. But that's completely backward and most of us in this forum are here because we know that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, that there is no other way, no other satisfaction, no other peace or contentment, but in dying to Him and finding ourselves in Him.
So in the knowledge that we are nothing without our God, which must become part of who we are and what we do (John 5:19 The son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing), we are free to find our identity in Him. More than Scripture refers to Him in us, it refers to us in Him, but both are the complete picture. We are His home (1 Corinthians 6:19) and He is ours. As we all have, I've been lacking in my time in the inner chamber, unwilling to dwell too long or go too far beyond a point, where the conviction of my sins would cause me discomfort and unrest. (Matthew 6:6 Enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret.) But if we cannot find time for this in our day, then what is the rest of the day?? If each hour of the day, we are not focused and centered on Him, driven by the remnants of our very intimate conversations and studies, His fresh revelations and convictions, encouragements and comforts and motivations from the dawn, then what is the day for? If all we do is not for His glory, then we are sorely in need of intimacy. For as we draw close to Him, so He does in return and where we lack, there He will be our excessive strength; where we doubt though our faith be placed in Him, He will transform that doubt into abundant trust and often, great understanding, as we dwell in Him, abide in Him, keep His Word always before our eyes, pray without ceasing, hold every thought captive to our Lord, all by Him and for Him and through Him. He IS the only way and by Him all this can be accomplished in and for all of us.
Needless to say, He's replaced my insecurities, made light of my identity, and hopefully, you allow Him to do the same for you. I'm enclosing "identification" Scriptures Neil Anderson collected for "Living Free in Christ." May you be well-blessed and encouraged into a new depth of relationship with our Lord. If you read this far, you must be hungry for more of Him, so you'll be filled! You'll find "The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behaviour will begin to reflect your true identity!" as Neil said.
Much Love,
April
John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 I am Christ's friend.
Rom 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Cor 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.
1 Cor 6:19,20 I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
Eph 1:1 I am a saint.
Eph 1:5 I have been adopted as God's child.
Eph 2:18 I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
Col 1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Col 2:10 I am complete in Christ.
Rom 8:1,2 I am free forever from condemnation.
Rom 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for good.
Rom 8:31f I am free from condemning charges against me.
Rom 8:35f I cannot be seperated from the love of God.
2 Cor 1:21,22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Col 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Phil 1:6 I know the good work God has begun in me will be perfected.
Phil 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Tim 1:7 I haven't been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and
a sound mind
Heb 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in any and every time of need.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
Matt 5:13,14 I am the salt and light of the earth.
John 15:1,5 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ's.
1 Cor 3:16 I am God's temple.
2 Cor 5:17f I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2 Cor 6:1 I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9)
Eph 2:6 I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
Eph 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Eph 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
