Embracing Who I Am In Christ, Part 2

Last week, we discussed the importance of understanding what God says about you in His Word, embracing your true identity in Christ, and the process of aligning your life with those truths. Embracing your identity in Christ means recognizing the truths God speaks about you, understanding your worth and value based on His love and grace, and living in accordance with that truth. It's about trusting that God's Word, rather than external opinions or self-perception, defines who you are. 

In the early years, when my kids were small, and Grant was the youth pastor at our church, God was teaching me so many valuable spiritual lessons and preparing me for ministry. I was encouraged to get a pack of notecards and write the Word of God on them, and put them up all over the house. This was based on Deuteronomy 6:6-9:

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down,

and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,

and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write

them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

At this time, I was trying to balance caring for four young children, working part time, helping Grant with the youth ministry, and driving over an hour away to visit my Mom and Dad on weekends, when I could. One of the ways that I choose to embrace my identity in Christ was this simple methods of writing God's Word out on notecards to remind me of HIS TRUTH, and what HE says about me. I would take a pack of index cards and write Bible verses and key truths on them. I taped the note cards inside my cabinets, above my kitchen sink, on my mirror, on the wall between the living and dining room, and all around the house. I even had some phrases taped above the kids playroom to remind me of the importance of investing in my children as a parent. This simple process was the way that the Lord used to help me renew my mind.

PRAYER TIP #18 - Get the Truths of God's Word into Your Heart.

Looking back, it seems so simple, and maybe even silly or juvenile to some, that I put those little note cards up all around my home, especially to those who came over to visit me and saw them without context! When they opened up the cabinet to get a coffee mug, there was a Bible verse - surprise!

But many times it's the simple things in life that enable God's truths to "stick" and get them into our hearts. In the above Scripture, God told the children of Israel to write them on the doorposts of their homes, and on their gates. This would serve as a constant visual, every time they came in and out of their homes, of the truths they were building their lives on.

I want to encourage you that you can confidently build your life on the truths of God's Word. He is your Creator, and He knows every detail of your life. He loves you and cares for you, and He wants the best for You - that's why He has given us His Word! It's worth it to invest in your spiritual life by finding simple ways, like God's people have done before us, to get God's Words into our hearts. We can show the next generation that we value and revere the Word of God - that we care enough to put it in front of our eyes, so that we won't forget the timeless truths of God's Word. Let us be women who will teach these truths diligently to the next generation, and live them out.

 Psalm 78:4

"We will not hide them from their children,

Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,

And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done."

When you discover and embrace your identity in Christ, it has a ripple effect, like tossing a stone into the pond, your life impacts others. When you grow in this area, you are equipped to live out this example to everyone around you, including the generations to come. Our Founding Pastor used to say, "It's better caught than taught." This statement has proven to be true and I've seen that we can influence others in positive or negative ways. Let's be women that impact those around us for Christ.

Here are some of the truths that God says about you: (Adapted from The Bondage Breaker, by Neil Anderson)

I renounce the lie that I am guilty, unprotected, alone, or 

abandoned because in Christ I am totally secure. God says…

• Romans 8:1,2 - I am free forever from condemnation.

• Romans 8:28 - I am assured that all things work together for good.

• Romans 8:31-34 - I am free from any condemning charges against me.

• Romans 8:35-39 - I cannot be separated from the love of God.

• 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 - I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.

• Philippians 1:6 - I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be

perfected.

• Philippians 3:20 - I am a citizen of heaven.

• Colossians 3:3 - I am hidden with Christ in God.

• 2 Timothy 1:7 - I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a

sound mind.

• Hebrews 4:16 - I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

• 1 John 5:18 - I am born of God and the evil one can not touch me.

I pray that you will read and embrace each of these truth statements, that are supported by Scripture. It's not enough to take the good in, but you must ask God to help you get the bad out. Ask Him to reveal lies that you have accepted as truth, and to remove those lies from your thought life. I encourage you to read these truths out loud, over and over. Write them out on note cards. Ask God to help you get these truths deep down in your heart and soul. Choose to believe by faith what God says is true of you, now that you are "In Christ."

 Prayer Points:

• Lord, help me to get the Word of God from my eyes to my heart. Let me soak in the truths of Your Word so that my life can be changed by it.

• Jesus, thank You for making a way for me to have new life in You, a new future and a new identity "In Christ."

• Lord, help me to remember that You have forgiven me and cleansed me from all my sin.

• God, thank You that You provide grace and mercy to help me in my time of need.

Suggested Prayer -

Father God,

I come before You in the mighty Name of Jesus, and I humbly ask You to renew my mind. I ask You to help me get the timeless truths of Your Holy Word into my heart and believe those truths by faith. I renounce the lie that I am guilty, unprotected, alone, or abandoned because in Christ I am totally secure. I choose to embrace my new identity "In Christ" and that nothing can separate me from Your powerful love. I praise You that You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Thank You for Your promise to work all things together for my good. Forgive me for allowing wrong thinking to dominate my mind thus far. I choose to align my thoughts to Your Word. I choose to worship and value You above all else.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

Michelle Staubs

michelle@mid-way.com