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Are You A Lukewarm Christian, Or Are You A Disciple…It Really Does Matter!

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Are You a Lukewarm Christian or Are You a Disciple?
– It Really Does Matter!

Introduction

Many Christians assume that believing in Jesus is enough.
But scripture is very clear and direct to the contrary:

    • Belief alone does not get you into the kingdom of heaven.
    • Belief without surrender does not transform.
    • Belief without obedience does not produce life.

Jesus Himself warns us:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” — Matthew 7:21

A person who believes in Jesus, but has not declared Him Lord over their entire life is called a lukewarm Christian.

The difference between a Lukewarm Christian and a submitted disciple is not minor; It is dramatic in this life, and it has eternal consequences.

This blog is intended to help folks realize they may not be where they really think they are relative to Jesus and heaven..

God has given you a choice —  and your life, your destiny, the lives of your descendants, and all of your eternities depend on it.

Why It Is Not Enough to Just Believe

Many claim to believe, Few understand what it means to truly believe.
Belief means to act as if it were actually true…. 

    • Our fall from grace by the introduction of sin in the garden,
    • Our sinful nature, making us naturally self centered and rebellious against God.
    • The severe nature of our fallen nature and the impact i has on our life and the lifeof others
    • Our earning a sentence of eternity in hell for falling short of God’s perfect standard.
    • God choosing to come here in the flesh as a son Jesus to suffer and die in our place.
    • Our option to serve our sentence in hell ourselves or yield our earthly live to Jesus and spend eternity with Him. 
    • It is an easy trade but you have to actually make the trade to get the benefit 

True belief produces obedience, surrender, repentance, and transformation.
Anything else is mental argument, not a saving faith.

Let’s walk through the biblical declarations to be clear.

A. Old Testament Foundation: Deuteronomy 30

God makes His expectations very clear and explicit:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…” – Deut. 30:19 

But how does one choose life?
The next verse tells us:

“That you may love the Lord your God,
that you may obey His voice,
and that you may cling to Him…” –  Deut. 30:20

Three requirements:

      • Love Him
      • Obey Him
      • Cling to Him

Why?  the end of that verse:  “…For He is your life and the length of your days.” –  Deut. 30:20 

This is the pattern of God’s covenant relationship:

Hearing → Obeying → Clinging → Life

In trade for our submission in faith, God makes a promise to help us and provide for us and protect us and work all things for good, but it only works if we do our part.

Belief without hearing, obedience, or clinging is not executing your part of the deal – and you can expect consequences.

B. New Testament Agreement: Faith That Saves Always Transforms

True belief recognizes:

      • The seriousness of sin
      • The certainty of condemnation without a savior
      • The price Jesus paid on the cross
      • The necessity of surrender to receive the benefit

Paul says:

“The love of Christ compels us…
that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them.”  — 2 Cor. 5:14–15

If your belief does not compel you to stop living for yourself,
you have not achieved a saving faith.

James warns:

“Even the demons believe—and tremble!” — James 2:19

Demons believe in Jesus. They know who He is.
They acknowledge His authority. But they do not submit or obey.

A lukewarm Christian is dangerously close to the same condition.

C. You Only Enter Heaven If Jesus Knows You

Jesus does not say:

“You will enter heaven because you believed I existed.”

He says:

“Depart from Me; I never knew you.” — Matthew 7:23 

Knowing Jesus is not intellectual familiarity, It is not inviting him into my heart.
It is relationship based on complete surrender and a commitment to obedience.

Jesus says:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  – John 10:27

Three marks of a disciple:

      • Hear His voice
      • Are known by Him
      • Follow Him

A lukewarm believer may acknowledge Jesus –  but does not follow Him.

D. Jesus Calls Us to Die To Sin Before We Truly Live

Identity in Christ begins with death of the old you:

“If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself,
take up his cross,
and follow Me.”  –  Matthew 16:24 

And continues through transformation:

“Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” –  Matthew 16:25 

You cannot be “in Christ” while clinging to the old life.

You are covered by His blood only when you are united with His death.

This is biblical salvation—not American Christianity.

There Are Three Identity Paths: Which One Are You Living From?

There are three spiritual identity states:

A. Unbeliever (Rejecting)

    • Dead in sin
    • Blind to spiritual truth
    • Self-led
    • Without covenant protection

B. Lukewarm Christian (Convenient, Unsurrendered)

    • Believes but does not obey
    • Acknowledges Jesus but lives self-led
    • Selective obedience
    • Little transformation
    • Spiritually stagnant
    • Dangerously self-deceived

C. Disciple of Jesus (Submitted, Following)

    • Has denied self
    • Carries their cross
    • Walks in obedience
    • Lives by faith, not feelings
    • Experiences transformation
    • Knows Jesus and is known by Him

Only one of these is promised eternal life.
Not because of effort— but because knowing Jesus is eternal life (John 17:3).

Am I Lukewarm or a Disciple?

This is where honesty matters.
Let Scripture and the Spirit reveal your heart.

Indicator

 Lukewarm Christian

Disciple of Jesus
Relationship

Believes in Jesus

 Belongs to Jesus

Lordship

 Jesus is advisor Jesus is Master
Obedience When convenient

Even when costly
Priorities Self first God’s will first
Transformation Minimal, sporadic Increasing, visible
Fear of God Low High (reverence, honor)
Sin Excused or ignored Repented and resisted

Cost

 Avoids sacrifice

Embraces sacrifice

Guiding Questions

    • Do I obey Jesus only when it fits my preferences?
    • Do I fear God and understand what is at stake?
    • Am I pursuing comfort or obedience?
    • Has following Jesus cost me anything?
    • Do I cling to my old life instead of losing it for Christ?
    • Do I see real transformation in my thoughts, emotions, and choices?
    • If Jesus returned today, would He know me?

These questions cut through self-deception.

What’s at Stake? (The Eternal Reality)

The stakes are eternal and unavoidable.

Jesus warns the lukewarm:

“Because you are lukewarm…
I will vomit you out of My mouth.” –  Revelation 3:16 (NKJV)

This is not rejection. This is invitation.

“Be zealous and repent.” –  Revelation 3:19 

You must choose:

    • Comfort or calling.
    • Convenience or obedience.
    • Self-rule or surrender.
    • Belief about Jesus or discipleship under Jesus.

Anything less than surrender is being lukewarm.

How to Move From Lukewarm to Disciple

Here is the biblical path:

A. Repent of Self-Lordship

Confess where comfort, fear, pride, or convenience are ruling your decisions.

B. Surrender Your Life to Jesus

Salvation is not addition or loss.
It is exchange:  Your earthly life for Life Through Him .. now and for eternity.

C. Deny Yourself Daily

True discipleship requires daily choices, not a momentary prayer.

D. Take Up Your Cross

Embrace obedience even when inconvenient, costly, or difficult.

E. Follow Jesus

Read His words.
Hear His voice.
Obey His commands.
Walk in His steps.

F. Cling to Him (Deut. 30:20)

Trust in Him,
Have Faith,
Your life depends on it.

Identity Declaration for Discipleship

Lord Jesus, I renounce lukewarm belief.
I surrender my life fully to You.
I deny myself, take up my cross, and choose to follow You.
I cling to You as my life and my salvation.
Transform me into Your disciple.
Let my identity be rooted in Your truth,
my heart shaped by Your love,
and my steps led by Your Spirit.
I am Yours.
I will follow wherever You lead. Amen.

Final Thoughts

Lukewarm Christianity is the greatest spiritual deception of our time.
It produces the illusion of salvation without transformation.
The appearance of faith without obedience.
The vocabulary of Christianity without the life of Christ.

But God is inviting you into something far greater:

    • A transformed life.
    • A real relationship.
    • A surrendered heart.
    • A disciple’s identity.
    • An eternal purpose.

Jesus does not call you to be lukewarm.
He calls you to follow Him.
And when you do—your life, your relationships, your destiny, and your eternity will never be the same.

See Yourself As God Sees You

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

See Yourself As God Sees You, and Transform Your Life

Introduction

Seeing yourself through God’s eyes is essential for transforming your life and your relationships.

Most people live their entire lives without ever seeing themselves clearly.
They see themselves through:

    • Wounds.
    • Labels.
    • Failures.
    • Achievements.
    • Emotions.
    • Family expectations.
    • Cultural messages.
    • Religious assumptions.

But none of these are the truth.

Your real identity is found only in how God sees you.
Everything in your life changes when you begin to align your thoughts, emotions, decisions, and behaviors with His perspective.

Identity is not a religious concept. Identity is the engine of transformation.

    • Your thoughts flow from identity.
    • Your emotions react from identity.
    • Your behaviors reveal identity.
    • Your relationships mirror identity.
    • Your purpose unfolds from identity.

And when you begin to see yourself as God sees you, everything in your life will begin to change.

    • Your thoughts change.
    • Your emotions change.
    • Your choices change.
    • Your relationships change.
    • Your purpose becomes clear.

This is the journey of transformation — and it begins with a new identity.

What Is Identity?

Identity is the inner story you believe about who you are, why you matter, and what role you play in this world.

It includes:

    • How you see yourself (worth, value, competence)
    • How you believe God sees you
    • What you believe you deserve or don’t deserve
    • What you expect from life
    • What you believe about your purpose

Identity operates beneath the surface. It shapes thoughts, desires, decisions, habits, and the health of your relationships.
If identity is distorted, everything built on top of it becomes unstable.

Your identity is the root of the tree. Your behavior is the fruit.
Change the root. The fruit changes naturally.

Why Is Identity So Critically Important?

Identity determines:

A. How you relate to God

If you believe you are unworthy or unlovable, you will keep your distance or hide from God.
If you know you are loved and cherished, you will draw near with confidence.

B. How you relate to yourself

A broken or distorted fallen identity fuels insecurity, fear, shame, and self-rejection.
A proper God-given identity fuels peace, stability, confidence, and joy.

C. How you relate to others

People with broken identities:

      • Overreact / Unpredictable
      • Withdraw
      • Seek approval / Validation
      • Manipulate / Control
      • Fear abandonment
      • Hurt others unintentionally

People rooted in Chris based identity are able to:

      • Love freely
      • Forgive quickly
      • Remain stable under pressure
      • Serve without seeking return
      • Bring peace instead of conflict

People who know who they are in Christ can love freely and sacrificially without needing others to validate them.

D. How you walk out purpose

Identity directs destiny.
If you see yourself as weak, you will never step into what God designed you to do.
If you see yourself as chosen, equipped, and empowered, you will live boldly.

Identity shapes everything.

3. How Does God See You?

The Bible presents three clear identity categories.
Every person on earth fits into one of them.

Identity 1: The Unbeliever

(Lost • Dead in Sin • Separated • Self-Led)

This person:

      • Does not know God
      • Relies on self
      • Lives in spiritual darkness / Is blind to spiritual truth
      • Is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1)
      • Lives as their own master
      • Is not yet redeemed

This is not condemnation—but they face condemnation if they die in their sins

This is simply the starting point before salvation.

Identity 2: The Lukewarm Believer

(Found but Not Following • Unsurrendered • Dual-Minded)

This is the most common and most dangerous category.

A lukewarm believer:

      • Believes all about Jesus
      • Appreciates His teachings
      • Wants heaven but not a life of holiness
      • Wants blessings but not obedience
      • Selectively obeys if convenient
      • Lives mostly self-led
      • Has not chosen to Follow Jesus by denying self, taking up their cross, and surrender fully
      • Remains largely unchanged in identity and character
      • Fully exposed to consequences in the fallen world

Jesus describes folks in this group specifically in Revelation 3:
Confident in their status, but spiritually poor, blind, and vulnerable.

A lukewarm believer is not rejected by God —
but they are invited to repentance, surrender, and discipleship.

This category matters because many people mistakenly think:

“I believe in Jesus, therefore I am ok.’”

Scripture teaches otherwise – knowing about Jesus is just the beginning – He must know you through your obedience.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” – Matthew 7:21-23 

Belief is the doorway.
Surrender is the pathway.
Discipleship is the life.  

C. Identity 3: The Disciple

(Born Again • Submitted • Following Jesus • Empowered)

A disciple has:

      • Died to the old identity
      • Been born again into a new one
      • Received the Holy Spirit
      • Surrendered to Jesus as Lord
      • Begun walking in obedience
      • Embraced transformation
      • Begun producing spiritual fruit
      • Shifted from self-led to Spirit-led

This is what the New Testament calls being “in Christ.”

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Cor. 5:17

A disciple is not perfect.
A disciple is surrendered and committed to follow Jesus.

A disciple is not sinless.
A disciple is being transformed to learn from mistakes and grow and become more like Christ every day.

A disciple does not earn identity.
A disciple receives identity and lives from it.

How Can I Tell If I Am “In Christ”?

There is clear evidence and it is very clear: This is not about perfection — it is about direction, desire, and spiritual birth.

Below is a Self-Test to help you see where you stand:

Indicator

Unbeliever

Lukewarm Believer

Disciple (In Christ)
View of God Irrelevant

Useful but not central

Father, Lord, King
Relationship

None

Occasional engagement

Worship when convenient

Distant, Remote

Unresponsive – Don’t Hear His Voice, Don’t Do What He Asks

Knows About

Seeks To Get

Multiple Engagements Daily,

Worship At Least Weekly

Close Personal Relationship,

Responsive – Always Talking, Asking, Listening, Hearing, Doing

Knows. Understands. Trusts. Faith in promises,

Seeks To Serve
God’s Word

Irrelevant

Parts useful if they support my desires. Know a few verses, Mostly ignore

The Truth, Daily Focus, Immerse to Understand
Obedience

Not considered

Selective, when convenient

Surrendered
View of Sin

No conviction

Conviction but little change

Repentance and growth
Identity Source

Self, world

 Mixed, Double minded

Christ alone
Primary Desire Self-will Comfort now, Access to heaven then

God’s will
Transformation None Minimal

Evident and Increasing

Guiding Questions

      • Do I obey God always or only when it’s convenient?
      • Does Jesus shape my schedule, decisions, and desires?
      • Have I actually surrendered control of my life to Him?
      • Is there evidence of the Holy Spirit’s transformation in me?
      • Do I love God more than the world, or the world more than God?

Your answers reveal your current identity.

How Do I Become “In Christ” If I’m Not There Yet?

You enter the new identity through faith, repentance, and surrender.

Not by religion.
Not by good works.
Not by church attendance.
Not by mentally agreeing with doctrine.

Identity changes when Lordship changes.

Steps:

    1. Believe Jesus is who He says He is.
    2. Repent (turn away from self-rule).
    3. Surrender (embrace Jesus as Lord, not just Savior).
    4. Receive the Holy Spirit (the power of new life).
    5. Begin following Jesus daily (this is discipleship).

This is spiritual rebirth—the moment identity truly changes.

How Do I Embrace My Identity in Christ?

Identity must be received, then practiced, then grown.

Best Practices:

A. Renew Your Mind Daily

Replace self-lies with God’s truth.

B. Declare Identity Out Loud – see below

Your heart follows your words.

C. Reject Old Labels

Stop rehearsing shame, failure, and fear.

Notice those negative thoughts when they creep in and take them captive

D. Journal With Jesus

Ask:  “What lie am I believing?”

“What truth do You want me to embrace?”

E. Practice Obedience

Obedience strengthens identity.

F. Surround Yourself With Disciples

Identity grows in community.

Identity Declaration

“Lord, I choose to see myself as You see me.
I reject every false label, lie, and wound that has shaped my old identity.
I receive my identity in Christ — forgiven, redeemed, loved, chosen, and empowered by Your Spirit.
I surrender my life to You.
I choose to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You.
Write Your truth on my heart and help me walk it out boldly.
I am Yours, and I will live for Your glory. Amen.”

Am I Living From My New Identity In Christ? 

Most people assume they know where they stand spiritually, yet their daily thoughts, desires, and choices often tell a different story.

Identity is not what we claim—it is what we live from.

The following self-test helps you honestly evaluate whether your life reflects the identity of an Unbeliever, a Lukewarm Believer, or a surrendered Disciple. The goal is not condemnation but clarity. When you understand where you truly are, you can understand exactly what God is inviting you into next. Use this comparison to locate yourself with humility and courage.

Identity Self test:

Identity Area

Old Identity (Self-Led)

New Identity (Christ-Led)

Thoughts

Fear, Confusion, Shame

 Truth, Clarity, Hope
Emotions Volatile, Anxious, Bitter

Peace, Stability
Choices Flesh-driven – Feelings/Emotions

Spirit-led – God’s Will, God’s Word, God’s Voice
Relationships Reactive, insecure

Loving, generous

Purpose

 Unclear, small Eternal, God-given

Behavior

 Old patterns dominate Spiritual fruit growing

Guiding Questions

    • What does my daily behavior reveal about who I believe I am?
    • Do I treat others from insecurity or love?
    • Do I make decisions based on fear or faith?
    • Do I live from old wounds or new truth?
    • Am I walking as a disciple or a dual-minded believer?

Where To Learn More

Scripture

    • Romans 8
    • 2 Corinthians 5
    • Ephesians 1–3
    • Colossians 3
    • Galatians 2 & 5
    • John 15
    • Psalm 139

Books

Victory Over the Darkness – Neil Anderson

Renovation of the Heart – Dallas Willard

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness – Timothy Keller

The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren

Keep Your Love On – Danny Silk

Teachers & Video Resources

Dan Mohler – Identity in Christ & transformation

Graham Cooke – New creation realities

Bill Johnson – Kingdom identity

Bible Project – Identity, holiness, salvation videos

Practices

Daily identity declarations – I Have A New Identity In Christ

Journaling with Jesus – You Can Hear God’s Voice Through Journaling

Scripture meditation

Community with disciples

Obedience-based spiritual growth

Final Thoughts

Your identity is the single most powerful force in your life.
If you see yourself through your past, wounds, failures, or emotions, you will stay trapped in the same patterns.

But if you begin to see yourself as God sees you—
loved, chosen, redeemed, empowered—
your entire life transforms.

You must choose:

Stay stuck in an old identity…
or embrace the new identity Jesus purchased for you.

When you choose the new:

Your relationships change.
Your emotions heal.
Your purpose awakens.
Your habits shift.
Your legacy begins.

Seeing yourself as God sees you is not just revelation—
it is the beginning of transformation.

See Others As God Sees Them

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

See Others As Jesus Sees Them
       – So You Can Love Them The Way He Does

Introduction

Seeing others through God’s eyes is essential for transforming relationships. Our natural inclination is to judge, react, or assign motives, but God calls us to something radically different. When we begin to understand the eternal value God places on each person, our treatment of them changes. We become more patient, more compassionate, and more aligned with His heart. This shift enables us to bring God’s love into every relationship and interaction.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” — John 13:34

The Created Value of Every Person

Every person carries God-given worth because they were created intentionally by Him. Their value does not come from performance, personality, achievements, or failures. It is anchored in their design, purpose, and eternal destiny.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” — Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

When we see people as image-bearers, we stop relating to them based on irritations, past hurts, or expectations. Instead, we start viewing them as God’s workmanship, individuals with destiny, dignity, and deep potential.

How Does God See People?

God sees beyond behavior and into the heart. He sees wounds, pressures, fears, and lies that shape people’s actions. His view is not limited to the present version of a person—He sees who they were created to become. That perspective is crucial because it allows us to love people not based on performance but on God’s revealed intention for them.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature… For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” — 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)

God’s love is unwavering because it is rooted in His character, not human conduct. If we adopt this posture, we become more willing to extend grace to others—even when they fall short.

How Do We Know God Loves Every Person?

God loves every single person profoundly and sacrificially.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” — John 3:16 (NKJV)

“The Lord is… not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

“For the love of Christ compels us… that if One died for all, then all died.” — 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV)

Because God loves all people deeply, our responsibility is to reflect that same posture. When we withhold love, we are misrepresenting Him. When we extend love—even when it is difficult—we become ambassadors of His heart.

How Does God Want Us to See and Treat Others

God desires that we view others through the lens of compassion, honor, and patience. This does not mean ignoring sin or avoiding truth—it means leading with love so truth can be received. Jesus did this perfectly.

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” — Romans 12:10 (NKJV)

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

When we treat people the way God treats us, we build bridges instead of walls. We show compassion instead of criticism, patience instead of irritation, and honor instead of contempt. These actions reveal God’s character to the world.

What Does Love Look Like in Real Relationships?

Love is not abstract. It is visible in how we speak, listen, respond, and handle conflict. Love requires intentional choices—especially when emotions pull us in the opposite direction. Without practical action, love remains theoretical.

“Let all that you do be done with love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV)

“Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” — 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

Love looks like compassion in the face of frustration, forgiveness where offense used to live, and patience when someone’s weaknesses are on full display. These are the moments where Christ is revealed most clearly through us.

Do I See Others the Way God Sees Them? ( A Self Test) 

Seeing others through God’s eyes begins with awareness. Most of us don’t realize that we interpret people through filters shaped by past wounds, assumptions, fears, or personal expectations. These filters distort our perception and limit our ability to love well.

This self-test table below helps you slow down and examine the lens you’re using. When you compare your natural responses to God’s perspective, you can begin identifying where your vision needs to be renewed, where compassion is missing, and where judgment or fear has replaced love.

Category

Human / Fallen View Of Others

Enlightened View – How God Sees Them = I See Them

Identity

They are defined by how they look, what nationality they are, what ethnic group they belong to, how they dress, where they live, what car they drive, what job they do, how difficult they are to work with, or the reputation they have.

They are image-bearers with God-given worth, doing their best to get by in this fallen world.

Behavior

Their actions define them. That is who they are.

Their actions reflect wounds, not identity.

Potential

They will never change, cant change, don’t want to change.

God transforms anyone who is willing to yield to Him.
Motives

They may intend harm. They may be working against me.

They may well be acting from pain or blindness.

Value

They are not important to me unless they can help me.

 They matter deeply to God—and to me.

Questions to Ask 

  • When I think of a difficult person, what is my first thought about them?
  • Do I interpret their behavior as identity, or do I see their potential in God?
  • Am I more aware of their weaknesses or their worth?
  • Do I assume motives, or do I pause to consider possible wounds or pressures?
  • Do I value people based on how they treat me, or based on how God sees them?
  • Who have I labeled instead of loved?
  • Where is God inviting me to shift from a fallen perspective to His perspective?

 Do I Love Others the Way God Does?  (A Self Test)

Love is not defined by feelings or intentions but by behavior—how you show up, speak, respond, forgive, and remain present when relationships become challenging. This self-test helps you honestly examine whether your actions reflect the flesh or the Spirit. The goal is not condemnation but clarity. By identifying patterns of fallen love versus Christlike love, you can begin taking intentional steps toward healthier, more God-honoring relationships built on compassion, truth, forgiveness, and sacrificial care.

 

Area of Love

Fallen-Minded Love

Christlike Love

Patience

Short-tempered, irritated

Slow to anger, understanding

Forgiveness

Holds grudges

Forgives freely as Christ forgave

Expectations

Self-focused needs

Seeks to bless others

Communication

Criticism or sarcasm

 Truth in love, gentleness

Conflict

Withdraw or attack

 Seek peace, reconcile

Guiding Questions

    • How do I typically respond when someone frustrates or disappoints me?
    • Do my reactions reveal patience or irritation?
    • Is my forgiveness quick and full, or slow and conditional?
    • Do I communicate to gain advantage or to build up?
    • When conflict arises, do I move toward reconciliation or toward withdrawal or attack?
    • Do I expect others to meet my needs, or do I approach relationships as an opportunity to bless?
    • What would it look like to “love them as Christ loved me” in my next interaction with them?

Practical Steps to See and Love Others Like God Does

  • Pray daily: “Lord, help me see people the way You do.”
  • Replace lies with Scripture truth.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:32 (NKJV)

  • Practice compassionate listening before responding.
  • Ask Jesus: “What does my love look like right now?”
  • Journal to identify patterns and progress.

Where Can I Learn More?

Growing in the ability to see others as God sees them and to love them with Christlike love requires ongoing immersion in Scripture, reflection, and exposure to teachers who model and explain the heart of God with clarity and depth. The resources below offer a strong foundation for continued growth.

1. Key Scriptures to Meditate On

These passages reveal God’s heart toward people and teach us how to adopt His perspective.

God’s View of Humanity and Love

      • Genesis 1:26–27 – Created in His image
      • Jeremiah 31:3 – Everlasting love
      • John 3:16–17 – God’s love for the world
      • Romans 5:6–8 – Christ died for the ungodly
      • 2 Peter 3:9 – God desires all to come to repentance
      • 1 John 4:7–21 – God is love; we love because He loved first

How We Should See and Treat Others

      • Matthew 5:43–48 – Love your enemies
      • Luke 6:27–36 – Mercy as the Father is merciful
      • Romans 12:9–21 – Genuine love, honor, blessing persecutors
      • Galatians 5:22–26 – Fruit of the Spirit
      • Ephesians 4:1–3, 32 – Humility, gentleness, forgiveness
      • Philippians 2:1–8 – The mind of Christ in relationships
      • Colossians 3:12–17 – Compassion, patience, bearing with one another

Meditating on these verses daily reshapes the inner narrative and aligns the heart with God’s perspective.

2. Books and Written Resources

On God’s Love, Identity, and Transformation

“The Purpose Driven Life” – Rick Warren
Clear understanding of God’s purpose and how relationships fit into His design.

“Mere Christianity” – C.S. Lewis
Foundational insights on Christian virtue, humility, and the nature of love.

“The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness” – Timothy Keller
A short but powerful work on identity, humility, and seeing others rightly.

“Keep Your Love On” – Danny Silk
Practical relational tools rooted in honor, connection, and Christlike love.

“The Ragamuffin Gospel” – Brennan Manning
A deep dive into God’s compassion and how it transforms how we see others.

On Inner Transformation and the Renewed Heart

“Renovation of the Heart” – Dallas Willard
Why and how the mind, heart, and will are transformed into Christlikeness.

“Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” – Peter Scazzero
Understanding emotional immaturity that damages relationships and how to grow.

“Victory Over the Darkness” – Neil Anderson
Powerful grounding in identity and spiritual authority.

3. Video Resources (Teachers & Pastors)

Dan Mohler

Dan Mohler’s teaching is unmatched in addressing identity, love, and transformation. Search YouTube for:

“Dan Mohler – Identity in Christ”

“Dan Mohler – Loving Like Jesus”

“Dan Mohler – Seeing With God’s Eyes”

He offers practical, Spirit-filled explanations of how to walk in love without being controlled by emotion, offense, or fear.

John Bevere

“The Bait of Satan (Offense)”
Teaches how offense destroys relationships and how forgiveness restores freedom.

Joyce Meyer

Teachings on the Mind and Relationships
Clear, practical guidance on renewing the mind and walking in peace.

Francis Chan

“Lukewarm and Loving It?”

“You Are God’s Masterpiece”

Chan calls believers into deeper love, humility, and relational sacrifice.

Bible Project Videos

Videos on Love, Forgiveness, Holiness, and Image of God
Excellent visual explanations of biblical themes.

4. Pastors and Teachers Focused on Transformation & Love

Bill Johnson (Bethel Church)

Teaches the nature of God’s goodness and how love expresses heaven on earth.

Graham Cooke

Focuses on identity, new creation life, and seeing others through God’s lens.

Christine Caine

Encourages believers to live courageously, forgive deeply, and love boldly.

Henry Cloud & John Townsend

Clinical and biblical perspectives on relational health, boundaries, and growth.

5. Best Practices for Growth

Journal with Jesus

Capture insights, patterns, triggers, and victories as the Spirit guides you.

Memorize relational Scriptures

    • Ephesians 4
    • Colossians 3
    • Romans 12.

Practice one behavior change per week

For example: “This week, I will listen without interrupting.”

Pray daily for God’s eyes

“Lord, help me see people the way You see them.”

Engage in community

Growth happens in real relationships, not isolation.

Ask wise believers to speak into your life

Invite honest feedback on how you interact with others.

Final Thoughts

You have a choice: you can keep seeing people through old filters shaped by wounds, fears, and assumptions, and you will continue experiencing the same relational frustrations. Or you can allow God to reshape your perspective—to see people as He sees them: valuable, redeemable, and worth loving. When you adopt His perspective, you naturally adopt His heart. And with His heart comes the ability to build relationships that honor Him, bless others, and ripple into eternity.

Love Others As Jesus Loves You

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Love Others As Jesus Loves You

Introduction

Relationships are kingdom assignments. Every person you encounter is an opportunity to reveal God’s heart and demonstrate His love. Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples by our love (John 13:35).

When relationships flourish, the kingdom advances. When they fracture, the enemy gains influence.

What Does Love Look Like? Jesus Shows Us

Jesus modeled perfect love:

  • He humbled Himself.
  • He absorbed injustice without retaliation.
  • He suffered for a higher cause.
  • He forgave His enemies while they tortured Him.
  • He sacrificed His life while we were still sinners.
  • He treated people with compassion, mercy, and truth.

How God Treats Us — The Source of Our Love

God treats us with patience, forgiveness, honor, truth wrapped in grace, and long-suffering love.

We are called to become conduits of the same love.

What Can Go Wrong in Relationships?

Relationships break down through harsh reactions, insecurity, assumptions, control, unforgiveness, withdrawal, pride, and self-protection.

These behaviors flow from ungodly beliefs, lies, and identity patterns in our old fallen, flesh led self

Fallen Me vs. Renewed Me — A Behavioral Self-Test

A majority of relationship problems are rooted in our fallen nature. Our heart is focused on serving ourselves rather than serving God and his kingdom and that flaw sets up a chain reaction of effects in our mind and our will that cause significant problems. The easiest way to discern the state of your heart is to examine your behaviors. Jesus taught that “a tree is known by its fruit,” meaning our outward responses reveal the internal beliefs, motives, and loves that drive us. The table below offers a simple way to see whether you are operating from the flesh (fallen patterns) or from the Spirit (renewed patterns rooted in love and truth). These contrasts will help you identify where transformation is needed and where God is ready willing and able to transform you when your are ready.

 

Area of Life

 Fallen Me (Old Nature)

Renewed Me (Christlike Nature)

Communication

interrupts, accuses, reacts defensively

 listens well, responds gently, speaks life and truth

Conflict

 withdraws, escalates, retaliates pursues peace, forgives quickly, seeks unity

Emotional Posture

anxious, irritable, easily offended

patient, secure in Christ, gracious
View of Others assumes motives, sees threats believes the best, sees God’s image in people
Self-Protection puts up walls, avoids vulnerability practices humility, openness, and connection
Control manipulates, pressures, demands certainty trusts God, releases outcomes, submits desires

Identity Source

 insecurity, shame, comparison grounded in acceptance and love in Christ
Expectations demands others meet emotional needs communicates needs, gives freely, forgives failures

Emotional Responses

 blames, criticizes, keeps score blesses, encourages, lets go of offense
Relational Goal “protect me,” “prove me right,” “meet my needs” “love others,” “bring unity,” “reflect Jesus”

Reflection Questions:

– Which column describes me more often for each area?
– What patterns do I see?
– What one behavior is God inviting me to replace first?

Six Foundational Lies That Damage Relationships

Before behaviors surface, before words are spoken, and before conflict erupts, something deeper is at work: beliefs. Every relationship problem is rooted in a lie about God, about ourselves, or about others. These foundational lies shape how we interpret situations, how we emotionally respond, and how we treat people. If the root is fear, insecurity, pride, or self-protection, the fruit will always be unhealthy. By identifying these core lies and replacing them with God’s truth, we uproot the real source of relational dysfunction.

The table below contrasts the fallen ungodly belief with its relational impact and the renewing truth that sets the heart free.

Foundational Area Ungodly Belief (Lie) Relational Impact Truth That Corrects
Protection “I must protect myself.” Creates defensiveness, tension, shutdown, overreaction God is my defender (Psalm 91). I am safe in His covering.
Control “I must control outcomes.” Produces pressure, anxiety, manipulation, frustration God directs my steps (Proverbs 3:5–6). I can trust His lead.
Identity & Value “My worth depends on how others treat me.” Creates insecurity, emotional volatility, fear of rejection I am accepted, chosen, beloved in Christ (Ephesians 1:6).
Needs & Expectations “Others must meet my needs.” Produces resentment, entitlement, disappointment God supplies all my needs (Philippians 4:19). Others are not my source.
Justice & Forgiveness “If someone hurts me, they deserve punishment.” Leads to bitterness, withholding forgiveness, relational coldness Forgive as Christ forgave you (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness sets me free.
Pride & Being Right “I must be right to be okay.” Escalates conflict, blinds self-awareness, blocks growth Humble yourself before God (James 4:10). He lifts up the humble.

– Do I frequently defend myself?
– Do I get anxious when I can’t control outcomes?
– Does others’ approval impact me deeply?
– Do I expect others to meet emotional needs?
– Do I struggle to forgive?
– Do I resist admitting I’m wrong?

Ask the Lord to reveal the ungodly fundamental beliefs driving your behavior, repent, and embrace the truth.

The Top 10 Lies That Disrupt Relationships

Once the foundational lies take root, they begin producing a second layer of “functional lies” that shape how we interpret people, handle conflict, and emotionally react in the moment. These lies operate quickly and subconsciously. They distort our perception, fuel offense, justify unhealthy behavior, and block love from flowing freely. Recognizing these lies is essential because they reveal the exact point of breakdown in your relational patterns.

The table below contrasts the lie, its relational effect, and the truth that restores clarity and connection.

Category Lie (Fallen Perspective) Relational Effect Truth That Corrects
Safety & Trust “People are out to get me.” Creates suspicion, distance, hypervigilance God protects me (Psalm 121). I can relate from peace, not fear.
Trust & Vulnerability “I can’t trust anyone.” Produces isolation, guardedness, shallow relationships Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Wisdom guides trust, not fear.
Identity & Worth “I must prove myself.” Creates striving, pride, performance-driven living I am accepted and complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10).
Self-Worth “I’m unlovable.” Causes insecurity, clinginess, jealousy I am beloved by God (1 John 3:1). My worth is settled in Him.
Conflict & Rejection “Conflict means rejection.” Leads to avoidance, shutdown, or people-pleasing Healthy conflict deepens unity (Matthew 18).
Forgiveness “Forgiving them lets them win.” Fuels bitterness, resentment, emotional bondage Forgiveness sets me free (Matthew 6:14–15).
Control & Pressure “If I don’t control it, everything will fall apart.” Produces anxiety, micromanagement, tension God holds all things together (Colossians 1:17).
Interpretation & Emotions “My feelings tell the truth.” Causes misinterpretation, false assumptions, overreaction Truth > feelings (John 8:32). My emotions must be tested by Scripture.
Expectations “If they loved me, they’d know what I need.” Creates resentment, misunderstanding, emotional distance Love communicates clearly and graciously (Ephesians 4:15).
Hope & Change “Change is too hard.” Leads to hopelessness, stagnation, giving up The Spirit empowers transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Which of these lies appears in my internal dialogue?

Which ones show up most during conflict?

Which ones surface when I feel stressed or insecure?

Which lie feels “true” emotionally even though Scripture contradicts it?

Which lie impacts my closest relationships the most?

The Four Transformation Threads That Restore All Relationships

Identifying the problem is only half the journey; transformation requires partnering with God to actually change the roots that drive our relational patterns.

Every unhealthy behavior, emotional reaction, or relational breakdown traces back to deeper spiritual forces:

  1. what we love,
  2. what we believe,
  3. which nature we are operating from.

To restore the flow of love and rebuild relationships God’s way, we must walk through four core transformation threads.

These threads work together to reshape how we see God, how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we behave.

Each thread plays a critical role in healing relationships and aligning your life with the heart of Jesus.

Thread 1: Put God First — Submit to Him, deny self, put off the old man, and walk by the Spirit.
Thread 2: See Yourself as God Sees You — Identity stabilizes emotional life.
Thread 3: See Others as God Sees Them — Honor, compassion, patience, forgiveness.
Thread 4: Replace Old Behaviors With New Ones Rooted in Love and Truth — Renew mind, uproot lies, practice Christlike responses.

These four threads are not quick fixes; they are the ongoing movements of a transformed life.

When practiced together, they dismantle the lies, fears, and self-centered patterns that prevent love from flowing—and they cultivate the Christlike character that makes healthy relationships possible.

Each thread addresses a different dimension of the heart: your allegiance, your identity, your perspective, and your daily actions.

The following sections unpack each thread so you can understand what it means, why it matters, and how to apply it in real relationships with real people.

Thread 1: Put God First

This thread addresses submission, denying self, putting off the old nature, and walking by the Spirit.

This  is important because misaligned allegiance produces fear, control, self-protection, and flesh-driven relationships.

Address this through daily surrender, repentance, Scripture meditation, obedience, and examining motives.

Best Practices:

    • Daily submission prayer
    • Declaration of Submission – see below
    • Take thoughts captive
    • Journal areas of resistance
    • Practice obedience in small things

Declaration of Submission: Lord, I submit every part of my life to You. I deny my old self, lay down my agendas, and choose to live by Your Spirit. I surrender my thoughts, desires, and actions to Your will. Strengthen me to obey and shape me to reflect Your love. In Jesus’ name.Best Practices:

Learn More: Submit to God and The Devil Will Flee 

                              Deny Your Self, Pick Up Your Cross, and Follow Jesus – Lose Your Life To FInd It

Thread 2: See Yourself as God Sees You

This thread addresses identity, worth, acceptance, righteousness, and your place in God’s family.

This is important because insecurity and false identity drive reactivity, fear, and relational instability.
How to Address It: Address it by declaring biblical identity, renouncing lies, receiving God’s love, and practicing gratitude.

Best Practices:

    • Identity declaration
    • Meditate on Ephesians 1–2
    • Ask God how He sees you
    • Reject comparison

Learn More: See Yourself As God Sees You – Stand In Your New Identity in Christ

Thread 3: See Others as God Sees Them

This thread addresses perspective, honor, compassion, forgiveness, and how you interpret others.
This is important because distorted views of others create suspicion, offense, judgment, and emotional distance.
This is addressed through forgiveness, blessing, empathy, believing the best, and slowing down reactions.

    • Pray for others daily
    • Release judgments
    • Practice patient listening
    • Serve without expectation

Learn More: See Others As God Sees Them – Image Bearing Children With Great Potential ( Link to be provided soon)

Thread 4: Replace Old Behaviors With New Ones Rooted in Love and Truth

This thread addresses habits, emotional reactions, speech, conflict patterns, and relational skills.
This is important because transformation requires putting off harmful habits and practicing Christlike responses.
This is addressed through renewing the mind, rehearsing truth, practicing new behaviors, and accountability.

Best Practices:

    • Truth replacement statements
    • Pause before responding
    • Journal triggers
    • Practice kindness daily

Learn More: Ungodly Beliefs Limit You – The Truth Will Set You Free

Take Your Thoughts Captive – Your Thoughts Are Not Your Own

Where To Learn More

Transformation is an ongoing journey. These resources will help you deepen your understanding of God’s love, renew your identity, and grow in relational maturity.

They are organized by Scripture, books, teachers, and practices so you can explore at your own pace.

1. Key Scriptures to Study and Meditate On

Love and Christlike Relationships

1 Corinthians 13 – God’s definition of love; a mirror for relational growth

Matthew 5–7 – The heart posture Jesus expects of His followers

Romans 12 – Living as a transformed sacrifice who overcomes evil with good

Colossians 3 – Putting off the old self and putting on Christlike character

1 John 4 – Love as the evidence of knowing God

Identity and Your New Life in Christ

Ephesians 1–2 – Who you are in Christ and what God has already done

Romans 6–8 – Dying to the flesh and living by the Spirit

Galatians 2:20 & 5:16–25 – Crucifying the flesh and walking in freedom

Forgiveness, Compassion, and Unity

Matthew 18 – Forgiveness, reconciliation, healthy conflict

Philippians 2 – Humility and the mindset of Christ

John 15 – Abiding in Christ to bear relational fruit

2. Books That Equip You for Relational Transformation

Emotional and Relational Health

The Emotionally Healthy Relationships Course – Peter Scazzero
Teaches practical skills for communication, authenticity, and healthy boundaries.

Keep Your Love On – Danny Silk
A powerful guide for reducing fear, choosing connection, and building trust.

Removing Offense, Bitterness, and Ungodly Patterns

The Bait of Satan – John Bevere
Foundational in understanding offense, forgiveness, and spiritual traps.

Unoffendable – Brant Hansen
A humorous and convicting approach to eliminating offense entirely.

Identity and Spiritual Formation

Victory Over Darkness – Neil Anderson
Deep dive into identity, authority, and renewing your mind.

Renovation of the Heart – Dallas Willard
The inner transformation journey of mind, heart, will, and character.

3. Bible Teachers and Video Series Worth Studying

Identity, Love, and Christlike Living

Dan Mohler
Teaches identity in Christ, walking in love, eliminating self-centeredness, and seeing others through God’s eyes.

Freedom, Forgiveness, and Spiritual Maturity

John Bevere
Deep insight on offense, forgiveness, authority, and character.

Pete Scazzero
Excellent teaching on emotional maturity as an essential part of spiritual maturity.

Bible-Based Relationship Teaching

Andy Stanley: “Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets”
Helpful for understanding motives, integrity, and relational impact.

Tim Keller (Marriage & Relationship Series)
Deep theology applied to love, sacrifice, and covenant relationships.

4. Practices That Reinforce Transformation

Daily Spiritual Practices

Morning Submission Prayer
Begin your day by surrendering mind, heart, will, and relationships to God.

Identity Declarations
Speak truth over yourself to dismantle insecurity and fear.

Love Declarations
Declare your commitment to honor, forgive, and bless others.

Relational Practices

The PAUSE Rule — Before responding, Pause, Ask God, Understand, Speak truth in love.

Active Listening — Listen to understand, not to react.

Confession & Forgiveness — Quickly remove relational toxins.

Blessing Others — Pray intentionally for those who irritate or hurt you.

Transformational Journaling  – Ask Jesus:

      • “What lie did I believe?”
      • “What truth do You want me to stand on?”
      • “What behavior came from my old nature?”
      • “What does love look like right now?”

Relational Diagnostics – Monthly review:

      • “Where did I react instead of respond?”
      • “Who do I need to forgive?”
      • “What behavior is God inviting me to replace?”

5. Courses, Tools, and Church-Based Resources

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (EHS)

A structured, church-friendly curriculum for inner healing, emotional maturity, and relational transformation.

Freedom Ministries / Freedom App

Teaches how to dismantle lies, break ungodly patterns, and walk in truth.

Celebrate Recovery (CR)

A Christ-centered program for dealing with hurts, habits, and hang-ups that affect relationships.

Alpha Course (Relational Evangelism)

Teaches how to engage others with compassion, humility, and patience.

Final Thoughts

You have a choice. You can continue doing what you’ve always done and keep getting the same painful, predictable results. Or you can change the entire game by aligning your life with God’s design. When you put Him first, embrace how He sees you, learn to see others through His eyes, and replace old reactions with truth and love, everything shifts. Relationships begin to heal. Patterns break. Love flows where fear once lived. You stop managing damage and start building something eternal. Apply these truths to every interaction, big or small, and you will create relationships that carry real value, leave a legacy, and bring glory to God’s name for generations.

 

Deny Yourself and Pick Up Your Cross – Lose Your Life to Find It

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Deny Yourself and Pick Up Your Cross – Lose Your Life to Find It

Introduction

Jesus’ invitation to discipleship is not a call to self-improvement, religious performance, or moral self-polishing.

His words touch identity, desire, and destiny:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

To many, these words feel weighty or unclear—but they are an invitation into true life.

To ‘lose your life’ for Christ is not to lose yourself—it is to exchange the false self for the life you were created for.

What It Means to Deny Yourself

Denying yourself is an identity-level surrender.

It is laying down:

  • Your self-made identity  – based on worldly perspectives like ego, performance, positions, possessions
  • Your self-rule and self-will
  • Your version of your story
  • Your demand for control and comfort

It is the release of the old identity shaped by wounds, pride, fear, shame, and self-reliance so Christ can define who you truly are.

What denying yourself is NOT:

It is not:

  • Self-hatred or self-rejection
  • Losing your God-given personality
  • Suppressing your worth or dignity
  • Punishing yourself or rejecting joy

Jesus is not asking you to erase yourself—but to release the false self-centered self so your true life can emerge.

Crucifying the Flesh – The Daily Internal Battle

The ‘flesh’ is the fallen nature within us—self-centered impulses, emotional reflexes, and ungodly desires.

It includes:

  • Pride
  • Lust
  • Resentment
  • Anger and retaliation
  • Fear and self-protection

To crucify the flesh is to yield to the Holy Spirit as He dismantles what you cannot kill on your own.

It prepares your soul to carry your cross with love, endurance, and forgiveness.

What It Means to Pick Up Your Cross Daily

Picking up your cross is the external expression of internal surrender.

It is not just enduring hardship—it is embracing obedience and sacrificial love even when it costs you.

It includes:

  • Choosing obedience when it is costly
  • Loving when it hurts
  • Absorbing mistreatment without retaliation
  • Forgiving instead of resenting
  • Enduring pressure without quitting

This is only possible when self is denied and the flesh is crucified. The cross requires a dead flesh and a living Spirit.

Why This Is Important

Humanity was created for purpose—to reflect God, walk with Him, and partner with Him in a world filled with His glory.

Sin disrupted this purpose, twisting identity, warping desire, derailing destiny, and separating us from God.

Your purpose was interrupted as well. To be restored to the life God intended, the old self must die so the new life can rise.

The early church said:

“Die before you die, so that when you die, you will not die.”

Surrender now restores purpose, shapes eternal destiny, and prepares you for the joy of heaven.

How to Deny Yourself and Pick Up Your Cross

A practical pathway emerges:

  1. Deny Yourself – surrender identity, will, and story.
  2. Crucify the Flesh – allow the Spirit to kill sinful patterns.
  3. Pick Up Your Cross – embrace sacrificial obedience.
  4. Follow Jesus – live as His disciple, partner, and representative.

Best practices:

  • Daily surrender prayer
  • Declaring Your Surrender Out Loud – Declaration provided below
  • Staying focused on your purpose: bring God glory, become love, manifest Christ, shine as a beacon
  • Journaling identity lies and exchanging them for truth
  • Confessing sinful desires and yielding them to the Spirit
  • Practicing forgiveness and humility
  • Embracing discomfort for serving God’s purpose

Declaration of Surrender and Cross-Bearing

Lord, I choose to lose this fallen life to find new life through You.
I deny my old self: I will let go of every false identity, every self-centered motive, and every attempt to control my own way.
I will release my pride, my wounds, my demands, and everything that once defined me.
My life no longer belongs to me—it belongs to You.

I crucify my flesh: I will put to death every sinful reaction, desire, and pattern that rises from my old nature.
I will choose patience over impulse, purity over compromise, and truth over the lies that once shaped me.
Holy Spirit, strengthen me—because I cannot change myself, but You can transform me completely.

I pick up my cross today: I will choose to sacrifice my interest and flow God’s love even when it costs me something.
I will forgive quickly, refuse offense, obey when it’s uncomfortable, and endure without quitting.
I will love others the way Jesus loves me, even when it hurts.

I will follow and imitate Jesus: I will walk in humility, compassion, servanthood, and surrender.
I will seek to become love in every situation, letting His nature guide my thoughts, words, and actions.
Where Jesus would go, I will go; what Jesus would do, I will do—by the power of His Spirit.

Lord, It is no longer “I” who lives, but Christ lives in me and through me.
Apart from Christ I can do nothing, but with the Holy Spirit all things are possible.
With His help, I will bring glory to God in all I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Self-Diagnostic: Old Self vs. New Life in Christ

Before we can follow Jesus fully, we must honestly evaluate which parts of our old self are still alive and which parts of Christ’s new life are now active within us.

The table below is a tool to help you recognize where the self-life still holds influence and where the Spirit is already at work.

Reflect on each row honestly. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth.

Ask Him: “Lord, what flawed/fallen part of me needs to die today so more of You can live in me?”

See which column best describes the recurring patterns in your life.

Confess those areas of weakness to God and surrender them to His authority.

Celebrate and reinforce areas where new life is evident.

Allow this assessment to guide intentional spiritual growth and daily cross-bearing.

 

Aspect

Old Self Indicators

New Life in Christ Indicators

Identity

Self-made identity, insecurity, role-dependence

 Identity rooted in Christ, security, belovedness

Will

Self-rule, resistance, control

Submission, yieldedness, trust

Desires

Impulses, lusts, resentments

Spirit-shaped desires, purity, compassion
Emotions

Reactivity, resentment, fear

Peace, forgiveness, emotional stability

Relationships

Self-protection, pride, withdrawal

 Love, humility, reconciliation
Suffering Response

Bitterness, retaliation, escapism

 Endurance, faithfulness, forgiveness

Obedience

Convenience-based obedience

Costly obedience, joyful submission
Purpose

Living for self

 Living for God’s glory, becoming love

Where to Learn More

Key Scriptures To Read / Meditate On:

  • Luke 9:23–25 — The Core Call to Discipleship

Jesus’ most direct teaching on denying self, taking up your cross daily, and losing your life to find it. Essential for grasping the heart of discipleship.

  • Galatians 5:16–25 — Crucifying the Flesh

Explains the battle between flesh and Spirit, the works of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit. Shows that flesh crucifixion is only possible through the Holy Spirit.

  • Romans 12:1–2 — A Living Sacrifice

Reveals how surrender leads to transformation through renewal of the mind. Emphasizes presenting your whole life to God as worship.

  • John 12:24–26 — The Grain of Wheat Must Die

Jesus explains that fruitfulness, impact, and eternal value flow from dying to self.

  • Philippians 3:7–14 — Losing All to Gain Christ

Paul’s personal testimony of exchanging self-driven purpose for Christ-driven purpose.

  • John 15 — Abiding, Fruitfulness, and Pruning

Shows that life flows from abiding, and pruning (removal, surrender) leads to greater fruit.

Books:

  • The Practice of the Presence of God — Brother Lawrence

A classic on walking with God in all things. Helps readers cultivate a surrendered, moment-by-moment awareness of God’s presence—essential for denying self.

  • Renovation of the Heart — Dallas Willard

A deep treatment of spiritual transformation. Willard explains how God reshapes identity, desires, will, emotions, and habits—the “inner self” Jesus calls us to deny.

  • Victory Over Darkness — Neil Anderson

A practical resource for identity in Christ, authority over sin, and overcoming the lies of the flesh—excellent for crucifying the old nature.

  • The Purpose Driven Life — Rick Warren

Focuses on God’s purpose for your life and how surrender leads to meaning, mission, and fulfillment in Christ.

  • Cost of Discipleship — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A sobering, profound work that declares: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” A must-read for understanding the cross-bearing life.

Teachers:

  • Dan Mohler — Intimacy With God

Powerfully explains relational Christianity, identity in Christ, and why self-centered living must die.
Focus: Removing self, becoming love, manifesting Christ.

  • Dan Mohler — Cultivating a Genuine Relationship With God

Shows how surrender, trust, and ongoing fellowship change everything—excellent for learning to deny self practically.

  • Dan Mohler — Getting Alone With God

Stresses the importance of fellowship with the Father as the foundation for transformation.
Focuses heavily on identity surrender and removing self-awareness.

  • John Bevere — The Awe of God

Emphasizes the fear of the Lord, obedience, and holy surrender.
Great for understanding why denying self is essential.

  • Craig Groeschel — Mastermind (Renewing Your Mind)

Helpful series for renewing thinking patterns and crucifying mental habits of the flesh.

  • Francis Chan — Surrender / Lukewarm Christianity

Stirs conviction and vision for wholehearted discipleship.

Practices: 

  • Daily Surrender Prayer

Start each day by offering your identity, will, desires, and plans to God.
This resets your “inner compass” toward Christ.

  • Scripture Meditation (Slow, Reflective Reading)

Focus especially on passages about identity, surrender, love, and transformation.
Allow the Spirit to spotlight areas where the flesh must die.

  • Journaling (Lie → Truth Exchange)

Write down lies of the old self, confront them with Scripture, and replace them with the truth of who you are in Christ.

  • Holy Spirit Partnership

Ask the Spirit daily:
“Show me what in me must die today so Christ can live more fully.”
Crucifying the flesh is His work, not yours.

  • Practicing Forgiveness in Real Time

Cross-bearing requires releasing resentment the moment it tries to take root.
This is one of the clearest indicators of a crucified flesh.

  • Choosing Costly Obedience

Whenever obedience requires discomfort, choose obedience—this builds the spiritual muscles of cross-bearing.

  • Community & Accountability

Walk with others who are pursuing deep transformation.
Ask them to help you identify blind spots in the flesh and to encourage your spiritual growth.

  • Maintaining Focus on Eternal Purpose

Remind yourself daily:

“I exist to bring God glory.”

“I exist to become love.”

“I exist to manifest Christ.”

“I exist to shine His light into darkness.”

Purpose fuels surrender; surrender fuels purpose.

Final Thoughts

Denying yourself, crucifying the flesh, and carrying your cross daily cannot be learned by accident.
They require:

    • revelation
    • consistent training
    • immersion in the Word
    • models to follow
    • practical tools
    • Spirit-empowered transformation

These resources and best practices will help guide and sustain the journey.

God Wants An Active Relationship

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God Wants a Relationship with You, Not Just Transactions

Introduction

Many people relate to God like He’s a distant cosmic vending machine:

• I put in prayers, good behavior, church attendance…
• He’s supposed to give me protection, blessings, answers, success…

That’s not Christianity. That’s a contract.

The God of the Bible is not looking for transactions.  He is seeking relationship — real, ongoing, personal, responsive connection.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
— John 17:3, NKJV

Eternal life is not about knowing a secret pass code or speaking a special prayer just to get into heaven someday. Eternal life is knowing God.

What Is an Active, Personal Relationship with God?

Think of the healthiest human relationships you know—where there is:

  • Real conversation
  • Mutual trust
  • Shared life
  • Growth over time
  • Joy in simply being together

An active relationship with God is all of that, plus infinitely more—only He is God and you are not.

At its core, a personal relationship with God means:

  • You invite Him into your real life—decisions, struggles, joys.
  • You talk with Him honestly and frequently (not just at Him occasionally).
  • You listen for His leading through His Word and His Spirit.
  • You care about what He cares about and let Him shape your priorities.
  • You respond: when He convicts, you repent; when He leads, you follow.

It’s ongoing, two-way interaction with a living Person, not a distant idea.

How Is This Different Than A Distant Transactional Relationship?

A transactional relationship with God sounds like this:

  • “If I’m good, He owes me good things.”
  •  “If I read my Bible today, He’ll protect me.”
  • “If I give money, He has to bless my finances.”
  • “If I pray hard enough, He must say yes.”

Key features of transactional faith:

  • It treats God like a system to work, not a Person to know.
  • It focuses on outcomes more than closeness.
  • It often produces fear (“Did I do enough?”) or resentment (“Why didn’t He come through?”).
  • It makes obedience a bargaining chip, not a love response.

By contrast, a relational walk with God says:

  • “I obey because I love Him.
  • “I trust Him even when I don’t understand.”
  • “I seek His presence more than His presents.”
  • “I value His will above my preferences.”

In a personal relationship, God is the treasure, not just the means to other treasures.

Why Is It So Important to Know God Rather Than Just Know About God?

You can:

  • Quote verses,
  • Win biblical arguments,
  • Serve in ministry,
  • Be busy for God…
    …and still not actually know Him.

Knowing ABOUT God is having information.
Actually Knowing God is connection.

  • Information can impress people.
  • Connection changes you.

Jesus warned about people who did “religious things” without relationship:

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not…done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…’”— Matthew 7:22–23

Why does relationship matter so much?

  • Because love requires knowing the other person.
  • Because trust is built through personal history with Him.
  • Because obedience flows from love, not fear.
  • Because only relational knowledge produces real transformation, not just behavior modification.

How Does a Relationship with God Lead to Transformation and Partnership?

When you walk closely with God, two major things happen:

A. You Are Transformed

    • His truth confronts your lies.
    • His love heals your wounds.
    • His holiness exposes your sin patterns.
    • His Spirit strengthens your weakness.

The more time you spend with Him, the more you become like Him:

“…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image…”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18

Transformation isn’t you trying harder. It’s God changing you from the inside out as you walk with Him.

B. You Become a Partner in His Work

God doesn’t just want to fix your life. He wants to work through your life.

As your relationship deepens:

    • You begin to see people through His eyes.
    • You care about what He cares about.
    • You sense His nudges to encourage, serve, pray, give, speak, step out.
    • You find yourself joining God in what He is already doing.

The Flow Is:   Relationship → Transformation → Partnership.

How Do I Know If I Have an Active Relationship with God?

Here are some honest diagnostic questions. Not to condemn, but to clarify.

A. Is there real interaction?

    • Do you talk to God at least once a day, or only in emergencies?
    • I Your Prayer A one Way Monolog?  or Do you ever stop to listen?

B. Is there real dependence?

    • Do you actively seek Him in decisions, or mostly rely on your own reasoning?
    • When life gets hard, do you run toward Him or away from Him?

C. Is there real change?

    • Is God’s Word actually shaping your beliefs, attitudes, and choices?
    • Are there areas where you can say, “I’m not who I used to be because of Him”?

D. Is there real affection?

    • Do you ever want to be with Him simply for Him, not just to get answers?
    • Is there a growing sense of love for God, not just obligation?

If most of your spiritual life feels like:

    • Checking boxes
    • Keeping rules
    • Managing guilt
    • Hoping to “stay on God’s good side”
      …you may be operating more transactionally than relationally.

The good news? That can change—starting now.

How Do I Establish (or Re-Establish) an Active Personal Relationship With God?

Here are some best practices and relational rhythms—not laws, but life-giving patterns.

1) Come to Him Honestly, Not Perfectly

Relationships deepen through honesty, not performance.

    • Tell Him the truth about where you are.
    • Bring your doubts, fears, confusion, even your anger.
    • Stop editing yourself for God—He already knows.

Pray something like:
“Lord, I want a real relationship with You. I admit I’ve often treated You like a system instead of a Father. I bring You the real me. Teach me to walk with You.”

2) Meet Him Daily in His Word as a Person, Not a Rulebook

Don’t just “check off” Bible reading.

Read to meet Him.

    • Ask: “What does this show me about who You are?”
    • Look for His character, His heart, His ways.
    • Let a single verse sink in and respond to it.

The Bible is not just information; it’s a meeting place.

3) Practice Two-Way Prayer

Move from monologue to conversation.

    • Talk to Him about your day, decisions, temptations, relationships.
    • Ask specific questions: “Lord, how do You want me to respond here?”
    • Then pause. Be still. Pay attention to Scriptures, impressions aligned with His Word, and wise counsel that He may use to answer.

You won’t always feel something dramatic, but consistency builds sensitivity.

4) Obey Promptly in Small Things

Nothing deepens a relationship with God like obedience.

    • When He convicts you: repent quickly.
    • When He nudges you: respond, even if it’s small.
    • When Scripture confronts your pattern: adjust, don’t argue.

Obedience is how you show God, “I value Your voice.”

5) Invite Him Into Your Real Life, Not Just “Spiritual Moments”

    • Ask Him into your work, your errands, your parenting, your conversations.
    • Turn everyday tasks into conversation points with Him.
    • Learn to say, “Walk with me in this, Lord.”

That’s how He becomes Lord of your life, not just a religious category.

6) Walk With Others Who Walk With God

God designed relationship with Him to be lived in community.

    • Spend time with people who actually know and love God.
    • Join or build a small group focused on following Jesus relationally, not just intellectually.
    • Let others encourage, challenge, and sharpen you.

Being around people who truly know God will stir your hunger to know Him too.

7) Guard Against Slipping Back Into Transactions

Keep an eye out for thoughts like:

    • “If I do this, God has to do that…”
    • “God owes me because I…”

When you catch them, correct them:

“No, Lord. You don’t owe me anything. You’ve already given me everything in Jesus. I obey and seek You because I love You, not to control You.”

That mindset shift is huge.

Where Can I Learn More

Key Sections of Scripture to Meditate On

    • John 15 – Abiding in Christ: Jesus explains how life flows from remaining in Him and walking in ongoing relationship.
    • Psalm 27 – Seeking God’s Presence: A model of desire, confidence, and trust rooted in relational intimacy.
    • James 4 – Drawing Near to God: Clear truth about approaching God, resisting the enemy, and cultivating humility.
    • Romans 12 – Renewing the Mind: Transformation comes from presenting ourselves to God and letting Him reshape our thinking.
    • Philippians 3 – Knowing Christ Above All: Paul shows that knowing Jesus personally surpasses religious accomplishments.

Books and Written Resources

    • The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren: A foundational guide to discovering God’s purpose and walking with Him daily.
    • Reaching for the Invisible God – Philip Yancey: Honest, reflective writing on pursuing intimacy with God in the middle of real life.
    • The Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence: A classic work on learning to walk with God moment by moment.
    • Renovation of the Heart – Dallas Willard: A deep dive into how God transforms character through relational discipleship.
    • Victory Over Darkness – Neil Anderson: Practical teaching on identity, spiritual authority, and freedom in Christ.

Videos to Watch

    • Dan Mohler – Cultivating a Genuine Relationship with God: A powerful message on moving from obligation to intimacy.
    • Dan Mohler – Intimacy With God: Practical teaching on how closeness with God reshapes identity and behavior.
    • Dan Mohler – Getting Alone With God: A reminder of the importance of private time with God as the foundation of spiritual life.
    • Dan Mohler – Knowing About God vs. Knowing God: Explores the critical difference between information and transformation.
    • John Bevere – The Awe of God: Examines how the fear of the Lord deepens connection and strengthens spiritual maturity.

Best Practices for Building an Active Relationship with God

    • Meet with God Daily- Consistent time in prayer, Scripture, and honest reflection builds sensitivity to His voice.
    • Read Scripture for Relationship-: Approach the Bible to discover God’s heart, not just to gather information.
    • Practice Two-Way Prayer: Share openly with God and pause to listen; allow Scripture and the Spirit to guide.
    • Obey Quickly in Small Things: Responding to God’s nudges builds trust and deepens relational connection.
    • Walk with Godly Community: Surround yourself with believers who pursue God relationally, not transactionally.
    • Welcome God Into Everyday Life: Invite Him into decisions, struggles, conversations, and ordinary routines.
    • Reject Transactional Thinking: Replace performance-based approaches with relational trust and love-driven obedience.

Final Encouragement: God Wants You, Not Your Performance

If your spiritual life has felt dry, distant, mechanical, or heavy,

it may be because you’ve been relating to God as a system instead of as a Father, Friend, and Lord.

The invitation today is simple and profound:

    • Move from performance to presence.
    • From bargains to trust.
    • From occasionally checking in to continually walking with Him.

God does not just want things from you.
He wants you.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
— James 4:8, NKJV

Take Your Thoughts Captive

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Take Your Thoughts Captive – Do Not Be Deceived or Distracted

Introduction

Your thoughts are not background noise.
They shape your emotions, your choices, your habits, your spiritual clarity, and ultimately your destiny. Scripture commands you plainly:

“…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 10:5,

This blog post will help you understand what thoughts are, why you must master them, what correct thoughts look like, how to take thoughts captive, and how to test yourself for truth vs. lies so you can walk in freedom, clarity, and purpose.

What Are Thoughts and Where Do They Come From?

Thoughts are internal messages—interpretations, reactions, conclusions, assumptions, imaginations, and desires.

They arise from four primary sources:

A. Thoughts from God (Truth & Revelation)

These align with Scripture, produce peace, convict without condemning, and lead toward holiness.

They sound like clarity, invitation, alignment, protection, and wisdom.

B. Thoughts from Yourself (Desires, Fears, Habits)

Neutral thoughts shaped by your upbringing, beliefs, habits, wounds, personality, and experiences.

They often reveal what you value or fear most.

C. Thoughts from the Flesh (Old Patterns)

Self-centered impulses, cravings, pride, anger, lust, or control.

These thoughts push you toward sin or self-exaltation.

D. Thoughts from the Enemy (Lies, Accusations, Distortions)

Satan cannot read your mind—but he can whisper lies, distortions, doubts, and accusations, all designed to:

    • Undermine trust in God
    • Distort your identity
    • Interrupt your purpose
    • Inflate or collapse your emotions
    • Pressure you into sin or passivity

Jesus described him as:

“…a liar and the father of it.” — John 8:44

Your thought-life is not neutral—it is a battleground.

 Why Should I Care About My Thoughts?

Your thoughts become beliefs, your beliefs become actions, and your actions become your character and life outcomes.

Category

Right Thinking

 Wrong Thinking
God God is Good God is Harsh
  God is Near God is Distant
  God is Wise God is Unreliable
  God is For Me God is Against Me
  God Provides God Withholds
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Your thoughts shape emotions, decisions, habits, identity, and spiritual clarity.

Thoughts that go unchallenged become strongholds that limit your capabilities.

 

Category

Right Thinking

 Wrong Thinking
GOD God is Good God is Harsh
God is Near God is Distant
God is Wise God is Unreliable
God is For Me God is Against Me
God Provides God Withholds
YOURSELF (Identity) Deeply Loved Unlovable / Rejected
Fully Forgiven Condemned / Guilty
Chosen & Valued Worthless / Forgotten
Able in Christ Powerless & Weak
Growing Daily Stuck Forever
VIEW OF  OTHERS (Relationships) Forgive Freely Hold Grudges
Assume Good Assume Evil
Love Sacrificially Self-Protect Constantly
Seek Unity Stir Division
Offer Grace Demand Perfection
LIFE (Purpose & Trials) Purpose Driven Aimless Living
Kingdom Focus Earthly Obsession
Trials Refine Trials Punish
Hopeful Future Fearful Future
God Leads Me I Must Control Everything
SIN & SPIRITUAL WARFARE Resist the Devil Give In Easily
Take Thoughts Captive Let Thoughts Wander
I Have Authority I Am Powerless
Renew Mind Daily Stay Double-Minded
Walk in Freedom Stay in Bondage

Your life will move in the direction of your dominant thoughts. Choose make them good thoughts

What Are the Correct Thoughts to Hold? The Top 10 Critical Truths

These foundational truths stabilize your spiritual life.

Below is a table of the top 10 critical truths, the lies that attack them, and the consequences of believing those lies.

Review these truths.. Do You believe them whole-heartedly, Do you resonate with the lie? Do you see any of those consequences?

 

Area

 Truth to Believe

Common Lie

Consequence of Believing the Lie

God’s Character

God is good, loving, wise, faithful, trustworthy.

God is distant, harsh, unreliable, unknowable

Withdrawal, distrust, anxiety.

Your Identity

I am loved, forgiven, chosen, valuable.

I am unworthy, forgotten, defective.

Shame, insecurity, anxiety.

Salvation

Jesus has fully saved me; I stand in grace, forgiven, a resident of heaven, with Jesus.

I must earn God’s favor;

Exhaustion, fear, legalism.
Your Purpose

I was created with purpose and destiny.

My life has no purpose.

 Passivity, despair, escapism.
Your Authority

I have authority in Christ.

I am powerless; nothing will change.

Fear, oppression, defeat.
God’s Provision God supplies my needs. I must control everything or I will lack. Anxiety, greed, hoarding.
Transformation

God is changing me.

 I cannot change; this is who I am. Hopelessness, addiction.

Relationships

 I am called to love, forgive, and walk in unity. People are threats; I must protect myself.

Isolation, bitterness.
Trials

Trials refine me.

 Trials prove God doesn’t care. Resentment, quitting.
Destiny My life is part of God’s eternal story. This life is all there is, live for now Materialism, fear of death.

How Do I Take My Thoughts Captive?

STEP 1 — IDENTIFY

Ask: What am I thinking?

What emotion does it create?

What is the likely source?

        • God? – Wisdom, Truth, Calm, Quiet, Encouraging
        • My Mind?  Memories, Beliefs, Habits, Replaying painful wounds from the past
        • My Flesh? –  Urges,  Impulses, Desires, Cravings, Pride, Anger, Lust, Control.
        • The Devil? – Lies, Accusation, Blame  – Loud, Pressing/Urgent, 

STEP 2 — EXPOSE

Compare the thought to Scripture,

God’s character,

and the 10 critical truths.

STEP 3 — REJECT

Break agreement with the lie.

Say aloud: “I reject that thought in Jesus’ name.”

STEP 4 — REPLACE

Find a Scripture truth that defeats the lie and declare it repeatedly.

Self-Test Tool

Use this the Top 10 Critical Beliefs table above as a tool to evaluate your thought-life:

A. Do I believe each of the 10 critical truths? (Rate each 1–5)
B. Do I believe any lie categories? (God, self, purpose, past, future, trials, relationships)
C. Do I see consequences? (Anxiety, shame, sin cycles, isolation, confusion)
D. What do I do next? Identify → Reject → Replace → Reinforce.

Where Can I Learn More?

Scripture:

  • 2 Corinthians 10,
  • Romans 12,
  • Philippians 4,
  • James 1,
  • Matthew 4

Books:

  • The Screwtape Letters,
  • Victory Over Darkness,
  • The Bondage Breaker,
  • Battlefield of the Mind

Best Practices:

Journaling ungodly beliefs,

Speaking truth aloud as seclarations,

Memorizing Scripture,

Worship,

Fasting to break attachments to the flesh.

Submit Yourself to God, and the Devil Will Flee.

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Submit Yourself to God, and the Devil Will Flee.

Introduction

Few promises in Scripture are as concise, powerful, and misunderstood as this:

“…submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” –  James 4:7

This is not merely poetic language—it is a spiritual law.
It describes why the enemy presses you, how he gains influence, and what unlocks God’s power to make him flee.
To understand it, we must understand what the devil does, what is happening inside us, and why submission is the key that activates spiritual authority.

What Is Going On With the Devil—and With Me?

The devil is a very real and active adversary who seeks to distract us from God and His purpose, steal the things we love, kill us before our time, and destroy every good thing in God’s creation.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy….” – John 10:10

He and his cast of demons operate in very predictable patterns and attack our unique vulnerabilities.  Our opportunity is to understand his methods and guard against them while we address our specific vulnerabilities.

“…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” — 2 Corinthians 2:11

His primary weapons are lies, distortions, accusations, and agitations.

“When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” — John 8:44b

They work to influence and corrupt any parts of our mind, will and emotions we leave vulnerable to them; These include our identity, purpose, desires, emotions, beliefs, and thought patterns.

They often gain access through emotional wounds or trauma, and over time work to build elaborate patterns of false beliefs, recurring patterns of negative thoughts, distorted perspectives, elevated emotional sensitivities, and undesired behaviors. This process results in increasingly destructive patterns that, if left unchecked, play off each other to destroy relationships, destroy our ability to function in society, destroy our health and well being, and leave us in desperation.  

What can they attack?  – The devil can attack anything we hold onto and try to control ourselves rather than giving to God and trusting Him.

The enemy can only exploit what is not submitted to God. Submission removes the mental “handles” the devil pulls, and removes the emotional “buttons” the devil pushes and realigns us under God’s truth, authority, and protection.

Why Do I Need to Submit to God?

Adam And Eve Created A Mess

Adam and Eve rebelled against God by deciding to eat of the forbidden fruit in the garden. That was a self-centered decision and they were changed by that decision, they became self-conscious and started to hide from God and deflect blame for their action. They put themselves first rather than putting God first and obeying. Whatever you put first instead of God will gradually distort your thoughts and emotions to serve it as your master.

We inherit this sinful self-centered nature from Adam and Eve.  It gives us a tendency to look at things from our own perspective rather than Gods, it makes us more concerned and focused on optimizing our own situation in our earthly lives more than our impact on others in this life and our destination for eternity after.  This flawed, self-centered nature gives the devil a target rich environment to play in. 

God Has Been Working To Fix It

God has been working for generations to restore creation. He first reset the playing field with Noah, an ark and a great flood. He chose a group of people to lead the way through Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob. He worked with Moses to delivered His people from slavery and provided the law – the 10 commandments – to help folks realize how far off track they had gotten and the consequences they face for their sins… death.  He also introduced a path towards salvation…a substitutional sacrifice. This helped for while, but the devil learned to leverage the commandments to tempt folks and then condemn them. Eventually God came in person, lived a sinless life to fulfill the law, and paid the price for our sins with His broken body on the cross. When we understand our broken nature and the eternity in hell we have earned by our sins, we can choose to accept Jesus sacrifice on our behalf. If we trust Jesus for salvation, the Holy Spirit will move in us and change our heart, we will love God and want to serve Him in obedience, and we will have compassion to serve others.

We need to embrace Gods plan, and the work of Jesus on our behalf

We are called to love God with all our heart.  We don’t just somehow invent a love for Him, we love Him because He loves us and sent His son to suffer and die in our place. We need to truly embrace what Jesus did for us…. He gave his earthly life so we could be restored to our intended purpose here, and then spend eternity with Him. 

We need to cut off the flow of what Adam Did…

We are called to deny ourselves, and pick up our cross. We need to back out of what Adam and Eve did. They created a “self”, we need tt deny that self and cut off the flow of energy coming from it.

We are to crucify our flesh and its desires and submit ourselves in obedience to God.

This allows the Holy Spirit to come in and actually restore the original image of God Adam and Eve corrupted

Why is Submission So Important?

Submission restores the designed order of creation:

God → Identity → Desires → Actions → Fruit → Fulfilled Purpose.

When self replaces God, this order collapses. We seek to worship other things in place of God  – Our self image or perceived value,  our “things”, our comfort or pleasure.  

Self → Identity distortion → Ungodly desires → Sinful actions → Broken fruit → Blocked purpose

Submission realigns us with who God is, who we are, and why we were created.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…” — Matthew 11:29, NKJV

Submission is the doorway to divine authority, clarity, and freedom. 

Without submission:

Resistance is weak.

Emotions dominate.

Lies feel believable.

Temptation gains traction.

Identity becomes unstable.

The enemy finds footholds and drives the agenda.

With submission:

God’s authority becomes your authority.

God’s truth replaces lies.

God’s Spirit strengthens your will.

God’s peace displaces spiritual chaos.

God’s presence shields you from attack.

Submission is not God taking something from you. It is God freeing you from what was destroying you.

Submission is how you return to the life you were made for—free, fruitful, protected, empowered.

And crucially:

Submission activates resistance.

Resistance activates authority.

Authority makes the devil flee.

How Do I Submit Myself to God? Principles & Best Practices

Submission is not passive.
It is an active, intentional, daily alignment of every part of your life under God’s rule.

Below are the core practices:

A. Submit Your Will

Why:   The will is the steering wheel of your life. Whoever controls your will controls your direction.

    • If self drives your will, the enemy can influence you.
    • When God governs your will, the enemy loses access.

Best Practices:

    • Pause before decisions and invite God’s direction, Let Him have the final say,
    • Surrender outcomes instead of clinging to what you want.
    • Listen to Your Conscience, Practice immediate obedience when God convicts.

Pray: “Lord, not my will but Yours be done. Bend my desires into harmony with Your purposes.”

Speak: “My will is surrendered to God. I choose obedience, even before I understand the outcome.”

Self-check prompts:

    • Do I insist on my own destination
    • Do i insist on my own way to get there?
    • Do I resist God’s nudges?
    • Do I negotiate with God instead of obey?

B. Submit Your Identity

Why: Identity determines how you interpret life.

    • If identity is rooted in wounds, performance, or rejection, the enemy can destabilize you with a single failure.
    • A submitted identity rooted in Christ is unshakable.

Best Practices:

    • Replace labels and lies with truth.

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
— Galatians 3:26,Declare identity truths daily.

Pray: “Father, define me. Strip away every false identity that does not come from You.”

Speak: “I am a child of God—loved, chosen, accepted, redeemed.”

Self-check prompts:

    • What defines me today—God or my circumstances?
    • Do failures feel like personal destruction?
    • Do I chase approval to feel valuable?

C. Submit Your Thoughts

Why: Your mind is the battlefield. Whoever shapes your thoughts shapes your emotional world and decisions.

Best Practices:

    • Test every thought, Capture thoughts immediately when they don’t align with truth.
    • Replace lies with Scripture—not willpower.
    • Limit inputs that stir fear, lust, pride, anger, or comparison.

Pray: “Lord, shine Your light on every lie I believe. Renew my mind with Your truth.”

Speak: “I take this thought captive. It must obey Christ.”

Self-check prompts:

    • What thoughts am I rehearsing?
    • Do my thoughts produce peace or turmoil?
    • Would Jesus agree with what I’m thinking right now?

D. Submit Your Desires

Why: Desires become the motivations behind your actions.

    • Ungodly desires become entry points for demonic influence.

Best Practices:

    • Identify dominant desires, are they aligned with God, ask God to refine them.
    • Ask God to reorder what you love most.
    • Confess your purpose daily, and use fasting to weaken attachments.
    • Fast periodically to weaken attachments to the flesh and realign desires with God.

Pray: “Lord, reshape my desires. Plant in me what You want me to want.”

Speak: “My desires are being transformed. I delight in the will of God.”

Self-check prompts:

    • What do I crave most today?
    • What would devastate me if God asked for it?
    • Am I driven by want or by obedience?

E. Submit Your Emotions

Why:  Emotions are indicators, but if they rule you, they become dictators the enemy uses.

Best Practices:

    • Name the emotion instead of suppressing it.
    • Align your emotions with truth, Ask God what truth your heart needs.
    • Practice forgiveness quickly when hurt.

Pray: “Lord, lead my heart. Heal what is wounded and quiet what is anxious.”

Speak: “My emotions serve God; they do not rule me.”

Self-check prompts:

    • Do my reactions align with Christ, do they bring Him glory?
    • Do I justify my emotional outbursts? or learn from them to seek help from God?
    • Are my emotions louder than God’s Word in my life?

F. Submit Your Behaviors

Why: Habits shape your character. Even small repeated behaviors become footholds if not submitted.

Best Practices:

    • Stop known sin immediately.
    • Build holy habits (prayer, immersion in the Word, frequent worship).
    • Develop accountability with a trusted believer.

Pray: “Lord, break every sinful pattern in me. Strengthen my will to choose righteousness.”

Speak: “I walk in obedience. My actions honor God.”

Self-check prompts:

    • What behavior is causing harm in my life? relationships? engagement in society?
    • What behavior is costing me spiritual clarity?
    • Are my habits leading me toward God or away from Him?
    • What am I hiding?
    • What is my conscience telling me I need to address next?

G. Submit Your Circumstances

Why: Unsubmitted circumstances create anxiety, control issues, fear, and exhaustion.

Best Practices:

Pray: “Lord, this situation belongs to You. I release control and trust Your wisdom.”

Speak: “God is in control of my circumstances. I walk in His timing and plan.”

Self-check prompts:

    • What am I trying to control right now?
    • What worry do I rehearse daily?
    • Do I trust God with timing?

I. Submit Your Trials

Why: Trials reveal what is unsubmitted. Those who refuse submission grow bitter; those who surrender grow stronger.

Best Practices:

    • Ask not “Why me?” but “What are You forming in me?”
    • Look for fruit, not escape.
    • Practice gratitude during difficulty.

Pray: “Lord, form Christ in me through this trial. Do not waste my suffering.”

Speak: “I will endure with faith. God is producing something eternal in me.”

Self-check prompts:

    • Do I complain or worship in hardship?
    • Do I run to God or run from Him when things hurt?
    • What fruit is God trying to grow in me?

J. Submit Your Things (Possessions, Money, and Resources)

Why: Your things — money, assets, possessions,— are powerful spiritual indicators.
Jesus spoke about money more than almost any other practical topic because:

    • What you own easily becomes what owns you.
    • Possessions create false security that replaces trust in God.
    • Money and things often become identity markers — status, comfort, significance, self-worth.
    • Hoarding or overspending can both signal self-trust instead of God-trust.

Resources are meant to be stewarded, not clung to.

    • When possessions are unsubmitted, they create fear, greed, pride, self-reliance, and spiritual blindness.
    • When possessions are surrendered, they become tools of love, generosity, and kingdom impact.

View your “things” as resources, and you are God’s custodian to ensure they get used to best serve Him.

Nothing reveals the heart more quickly than how a person handles what God has placed in their hands.

Best Practices:

    • Acknowledge God as Owner. Everything you have came from Him; you are a steward, not the source.
    • Give First, Not Last: Prioritize generosity as an act of worship, not leftover thinking.
    • Simplify Your Life: Reduce excess that feeds identity or pride; keep what serves God’s purposes.
    • Use Things to Love People; Never Use People to Get Things.
    • Ask God Before Major Purchases: Not out of legalism, but as partnership with the true Owner.
    • Practice Open-Handedness: Be willing to let God redirect your resources at any time.

Pray: “Lord, everything I have comes from You. I declare that You are the Owner and I am the steward. I submit my money, possessions, tools, and resources to Your kingdom purposes. Break every attachment in me that substitutes things for trust in You.”

Speak: “My identity is not in what I own. My security is not in money. My possessions serve God — they do not rule me. I steward what God gives, and I release what He asks for.”

Self-Check Prompts:

    • Do I feel anxious when God asks me to give something away?
    • Do possessions increase my pride or sense of identity?
    • Do I buy things to comfort myself?
    • Do I resist generosity even when I feel nudged?
    • Am I trusting money more than God to provide security?
    • Do I treat resources as tools for the kingdom or as treasures to protect?

How Can I Tell If I’m Really Submitted?

Submission isn’t a feeling—it is revealed in what rules your choices.

Use this table as a self assessment to locate unsubmitted areas of your life and then actively surrender them to God.

 

Aspect

Controlled by ME (Indicators)

Submitted to God (Indicators)

Key Verse 

Identity

Defined by performance, roles, success, or approval. Easily shaken by failure or criticism.

Identity rooted in being God’s beloved child. Failure does not define worth.

Galatians 3:26 – Sons of God through faith.
Thoughts

Worry, replaying offense, fantasy, or self-condemnation dominate.

Thoughts tested against Scripture; lies rejected; mind intentionally directed.

2 Corinthians 10:5 – Take every thought captive.
Desires Life shaped around comfort, success, pleasure, or self-driven goals.

Seek God’s priorities first; desires shift as He directs.

 Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom.
Emotions React with anger, withdrawal, bitterness, or self-pity; justify reactions.

Bring emotions to God; grow in peace, forgiveness, and self-control.

 James 1:19–20 – Be Slow to anger.
Relationships

Use people, avoid conflict, hold grudges, attack, or withdraw.

Love sacrificially; pursue forgiveness, truth, and reconciliation.

 John 13:34–35 – Love one another.
Time Driven, rushed, overloaded; easily frustrated by interruptions. Invite God into planning; peace when plans shift; rest and margin. Proverbs 3:5–6 – Trust God to direct paths.
Money/Things

Cling to money/things; fear lack; find status/value; giving feels like loss.

 Give first; trust God’s provision; steward resources well. Matthew 6:19-21– Pursue treasures in heaven not earth.
Trials

Complain, blame, feel abandoned by God; see hardship as punishment.

Seek what God is forming; trust His purpose; grow in endurance.

James 1:2–4 – Trials produce patience.

Declaration of Submission and Spiritual Authority

Lord, I submit myself fully to You as my God and my rightful Lord.

I yield my thoughts, my heart, my desires, my will, and my actions to Your authority and Your Word.

I acknowledge that the devil is a real and active enemy, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, but he has no rightful claim over any area I submit to You.

Therefore, in obedience to Your Word, I resist him. I stand firm in faith, refusing every lie, accusation, temptation, and disturbance he brings.

He has no power over me except what I once allowed—but now I submit every part of my life to You.

As I draw near to You, the enemy must flee, for the Spirit of the Lord dwells within me, surrounds me, and strengthens me. Your presence is my refuge. Your Word renews my mind. Your power guards my life.

I am clothed with the armor of God; I choose obedience, truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the living Word of God as my weapon and shield.

I declare that the enemy has no place, no foothold, no authority, and no permission in my life. Every scheme of darkness is exposed and defeated by the light of Christ in me.

Lord, Your presence fills me. Your truth guides me. Your power sustains me. I belong to You, and I walk in the victory Jesus has already won.

As it is written, so let it be for me. I speak this, and I stand in this, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Where Can I Learn More?

A. Understand Gods Word – Read / Meditate

• James 4 (context of humility, cleansing, double-mindedness)
• 1 Peter 5 (humble → resist → devil flees)
• Ephesians 6 (armor of God)
• Romans 12 (renewing the mind)
• Matthew 4 (Jesus submits → resists → defeats Satan)

B. Bible Study / Discussion

Worship God, Not Yourself: There Is One and Only One God, And I Am Not It

Trust God, Not Yourself: Trust The Lord With All Your Heart

Find Your Identity in Christ: My New Identity In Christ

Understand Your Real Purpose: Your Purpose I Christ

Be Aware of The Devil: The Devil Is Very Real

C. Books

• The Bondage Breaker — Neil Anderson
• Victory Over Darkness — Neil Anderson
• Mere Christianity — C.S. Lewis
• The Pursuit of God — A.W. Tozer

D. Practices That Build a Submitted Life

• Daily surrender declarations

• Journaling root loves & ungodly beliefs
• Confessing and replacing lies with truth
• Fasting
• Spiritual mentorship & accountability
• Worship, stillness, silence, Scripture meditation

Final Encouragement

Submission is not loss—it is liberation.
It is realignment with your created purpose and your spiritual authority in Christ.
When you submit, God will move.
When God moves, the devil flees.

 

Do You Want to Change? Let’s Use God’s Path And Actually Change

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Do You Want to Change? Let’s Use God’s Path And Actually Change

Introduction

Every person reaches a point where they want real change — not temporary motivation, not emotional highs, not coping skills — but deep, lasting transformation. The kind that reshapes who you are at the level of motive, desire, thought, and behavior. The kind that brings peace, maturity, stability, and spiritual power.

There is only one path that reliably produces this kind of transformation: God’s path. It works because it deals with the entire internal chain that produces behavior. Most change strategies only address symptoms. God addresses the roots.

“But we all… are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”
—2 Corinthians 3:18

What Are We Trying to Accomplish?

The goal of transformation is not simply becoming a ‘better version’ of yourself. The goal is becoming the person God intended you to be — someone who reflects His character, walks in His love, operates in His truth, and lives in His power.

Transformation aims at:

• Reshaping motives
• Correcting beliefs
• Healing emotions
• Renewing thoughts
• Strengthening decisions
• Reforming habits
• Rebuilding identity
• Restoring purpose

This is more than behavior modification. It is internal re-creation.

Why Does This Matter?

Transformation matters because it affects both eternity and daily life.

• **Eternally** — God is preparing you for life with Him forever. Character matters. Loving God with all your heart matters most.

• **Here and now** — Your internal world determines your peace, relationships, confidence, and stability. You are an ambassador for Christ, Bring Him Glory.

When transformation is ignored, life becomes reactive, chaotic, and repetitive. When embraced, life becomes fruitful, meaningful, and aligned with God’s design.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
—Romans 8:29 (NKJV)

Understand the Chain: Why You Do the Things You Don’t Want to Do

Every behavior — desirable or undesirable — is produced by an internal sequence. If you only fight the behavior, you will always lose. But if you understand the chain, you can break it early.

Here is the full chain of behavior we are working with:

1. Root Love (Self vs. God)

The deepest motive driving everything. Love of self produces disorder; love of God produces life.

2. Lust Channel (Eyes, Flesh, Pride)

The craving system that activates desire and pulls the heart away from God.

3. Specific Ungodly Love / Temptation Object

A concrete desire becomes a substitute for God — comfort, control, recognition, escape.

4. Ungodly Belief

A lie forms to justify the desire and make it feel necessary.

5. Ungodly Emotion

Emotion fuels the belief and prepares the body to act: fear, anger, shame, envy, irritation.

6. Ungodly Thought / Inner Voice

Mental rehearsal: accusations, justifications, fantasies, arguments.

7. Ungodly Decision

The will chooses the self-serving path — often automatically.

8. Ungodly Behavior

The visible action: reacting, withdrawing, indulging, attacking, escaping.

9. Undesired Consequence

Shame, frustration, relationship damage, spiritual dullness, reinforced bondage.

We need to break the chain and clean out the roots wo we can get aligned with God’s intention for us

“Make the tree good and its fruit good.”
—Matthew 12:33

Why Other Change Strategies Don’t Work

Most secular or pop-spiritual approaches fail because they address only fragments of the chain — usually the behavior, emotion, or thought level — while ignoring the root. Only God can change what you love, and only God can uproot the lies that shape your identity and drive your desires.

Here are common strategies and where they fall short:

• **Self-help** — Tries to change habits but never addresses the heart’s motives or spiritual roots.
• **Positive thinking** — Focuses on thoughts but ignores beliefs, desires, and root love.
• **‘Love yourself’ ideology** — Attempts to heal emotions without addressing the reason they form: misplaced loves.
• **Secular therapy-only models** — Helpful for insight but limited in spiritual root healing.
• **Mindfulness/spirituality** — Tries to calm the mind but cannot transform desires or crucify the flesh.

These approaches may temporarily reduce symptoms, but they cannot heal the tree because they cannot change the heart. Only God can do that — when we give Him permission, align with His truth, and crucify the self-centered root.

Where True Transformation Begins

Transformation begins with intention — the desire to change. But desire alone accomplishes nothing unless it is expressed through obedience. Obedience is the first action that invites God into the root of the chain.

Once obedience is chosen, even before your emotions or thoughts agree, God begins reshaping your motives, healing your beliefs, retraining your emotions, and renewing your mind.

• Intention starts the journey.
• Obedience opens the door.
• The Spirit transforms the heart.
• A renewed heart produces sustained renewed behavior.

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
—Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)

God’s Path for Transformation (The Only One That Actually Works)

God’s transformation path addresses every stage of the chain — root, belief, emotion, thought, and action. Here is the full sequence:

1. **Reveal the Root** — Ask God to expose what you really loved in the moment.
2. **Confront the Lie** — Identify the belief shaping your emotion.
3. **Insert God’s Truth** — Replace the lie with Scripture spoken aloud.
4. **Repent and Realign** — Realign your will with God.
5. **Crucify the Flesh** — Deny the self-centered motive.
6. **Choose Obedience** — Act on God’s truth even if it feels unnatural.
7. **Walk by the Spirit** — Depend on God’s power, not willpower.
8. **Practice Righteous Behavior** — Rewire the brain with repeated godly action.

This is the only process that changes the entire person — root, heart, mind, will, and behavior.

Where to Learn More

 Focus on Gods word – The truth will make you free

• Romans 12 – Renewing the mind
• Galatians 5 – Walking by the Spirit
• John 15 – Abiding in Christ

Resources

• Mark Virkler – Hearing God’s voice and emotional healing
• Neil Anderson – Freedom in Christ
• Dallas Willard – Renovation of the Heart

 

 

Why Do I Do The Bad Things I Do? Understand the Chain And Break It

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Why Do I Do Bad The Things I Do? Understand the Chain And Break It

Introduction

.Every person struggles with behaviors they don’t like. Angry reactions, withdrawal, avoidance, lust, overthinking, people-pleasing, defensiveness, and addiction-like cycles feel automatic and confusing. But nothing is random. Every behavior follows a precise internal chain. When you understand this chain, you can interrupt it and break it.

The principles that explain this chain are spiritual truths about the heart and how it functions. Behavior science confirms these truths and explains the mechanisms—how motives form, how beliefs shape emotion, how emotions direct thought, and how repeated cycles create automatic patterns.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
—Proverbs 23:7

Putting This Struggle in Perspective

When you repeatedly do things you do not want to do, it is not simply weakness. It is a sign of an internal system operating outside its original design. You were created to operate with pure Godly love, in truth perfectly aligned with God’s intentions, as a partner with Him in ongoing creation on this earth. When the heart is disordered—when self-centered love replaces God-centered love—the system becomes distracted and focused internally which diverts God’s love and builds layers and layers of unintended actions and reactions that work against Gods creation and harm ourselves and others.

Behavior science explains that most actions come from automatic patterns stored in the emotional brain. Scripture explains the same truth: patterns flow from the heart, and the heart directs the entire life.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
—Proverbs 4:23 

The Chain That Produces Undesired Behavior

Here is the sequence that leads to undesirable behavior. Each stage naturally produces the next, just as a seed produces a plant. The earlier you interrupt the chain, the easier it becomes to break the behavior.

1. Root Love (Self vs. God)

The deepest orientation of the heart. You will either act from love of God (serving God and His kingdom in obedience, trust, and holiness) or a love of self (serving your own interests through comfort, ego, control, safety) . Your heart is creative force, the root love determines the entire direction of the chain your heart drives.

2. Lust Channel (Eyes, Flesh, Pride)

If the heart is not rooted in Love of God and oriented to find satisfaction in serving Him, It will be oriented internally towards itself and will be looking for a source of satisfaction somewhere else.  There are three pathway through which self-centered love looks for love – Through thoughts in the mind focused on things the Eyes can see, Through feelings in the Heart focused on cravings of your physical earthly body. And through the Will which is trying to decide how you fit into this world.  These are powerful craving systems: bodily cravings, visual cravings, or prideful cravings. Scripture calls them lusts; neuroscience calls them reward pathways. This is the reality of our fallen heart “looking for love in all the wrong places” as the song goes.

3. Ungodly Love (Specific Temptation Target Object)

The heart will pursue the lust paths until if finds a target,  something to focus on, A concrete substitute for God.  This target object becomes the thing you desire: comfort, recognition, control, things, money, escape, praise, pleasure. This is the moment your heart says: “I need this to be okay.”

4. Ungodly Belief / Lie

A lie forms that justifies the desire: “I won’t be safe unless… I need this to feel better… I won’t be respected unless…” Beliefs generate emotions, and emotions generate action.

5. Ungodly Emotion (Energy)

The lie creates emotional force: fear, anger, shame, irritation, envy, anxiety, resentment. Emotions take control of your attention and push you toward action.

6. Ungodly Thoughts / Inner Voice

Your mind starts rehearsing narratives: accusations, justifications, fantasies, internal arguments, revenge scenarios. This is the brain preparing for behavior—mental rehearsal. If these thoughts are constrained by God’s truth, anything off track will be noticed and corrected,  If they are not constrained by a framework of Gods word and go out of bounds, they will trigger unhealthy emotions and build internal energy looking for a way to escape into action. 

7. Ungodly Decision

A choice is made—usually quickly and automatically—to serve the desire rather than obey truth. Decision is often subconscious unless interrupted.

8. Ungodly Action (Tangible Sin)

The visible behavior: words, reactions, habits, responses. The undesired action is simply the physical release of energy from the chain above it.

9. Ungodly Fruit (Undesired Consequences)

Ungodly behaviors have consequences that adversely impact your ability to serve God’s intended role for you. They either distract you, or impede your ability to function, or ruin relationships, or cut you off God, or cut you off from society: Inner turmoil, shame, relational conflict, spiritual dullness, or strengthened bondage. Consequences either reinforce the cycle or motivate change.

Where Does True Transformation Begin?

Transformation does not begin with behavior. It does not begin with willpower or trying harder. It begins with intention—a genuine desire to change. Intention expresses itself through obedience, even before your emotions or thoughts agree.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
—Romans 12:2

Behavior science confirms this: taking a small action in a new direction begins re-routing neural pathways. Spiritually, obedience aligns your heart with truth, and the Spirit uses your obedience to reshape your motives, beliefs, desires, and emotional patterns.

“Make the tree good and its fruit good…”
—Matthew 12:33

Therefore:

• Transformation begins with intention.
• Intention expresses itself through obedience.
• Obedience allows the Spirit to renew the heart.
• A renewed heart produces new behavior.

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
—John 13:17

Breaking the Chain at Each Stage

You don’t have to wait for the behavior to happen. You can interrupt the chain early:

• Root Love – Recommit to honoring God above comfort, ego, or control.
• Lust Channel – Notice which craving is activated (eyes, flesh, pride).
• Temptation – Name the ungodly love trying to take over.
• Ungodly Belief – Identify the specific lie you are believing.
• Ungodly Emotion – Label the emotion; naming reduces its control.
• Ungodly Thought – Notice ungodly thoughts, Replace destructive scripts with truth.
• Decision – Pause long enough to choose obedience.
• Action – Practice the desired righteous behavior.
• Life Fruit / Consequence – Reflect, notice opportunities to do better,  and adjust for next time.

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
—Galatians 5:16

Breaking one link weakens the entire chain.

How Can I Apply This?

Journaling with Jesus is very effective:

Key Questions To Ask:

• Lord, What undesired behavior shall we fix today?
• What Ungodly love is driving it?
• What Ungodly belief is enabling it?
• What Godly truth will cut it off?

Then:

    • Repent for the undesired behavior, for pursuing ungodly loves, and for believing ungodly lies
    • Declare the Godly belief that guides us in the right direction,
    • Accept Jesus’ finished work on the cross,  by his stripes you are healed, by his blood you are cleaned/forgiven.
    • Crucify your flesh, deny self serving agendas and emotions and pick up your cross.
    • Put off the old man and his habits and behaviors
    • Put on the new man renewed in Christ.

There are specific strategies to defeat each of the three lusts –   

Lust of the Eyes

Lust of the eyes works in the mind, trying to build your identity based on things you can see – Give the mind something different to focus on

Stop studying and admiring (worshiping) things you do not really need at this point in your journey.

Focus on things above instead. – your identity and purpose, gods promises.

Declare your identity as a Born Again Child of God, Fleshly sin crucified with Christ, old ways buried in the grace, New man raised into new life.

Lust of the Flesh

Lust of the flesh works through the heat trying to pursue feleings, building up pleasures and avoiding pains..

Defeating the flesh requires discipline – Reading the word of God daily, Fasting

Pride of life

Pride of life work through the Will to build up our identity relative to others or put others down to minimize them

– above God and above others. 

Declare Submittal and trusting God

 

Focus on God’s Word

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
—Psalm 119:105

  • Romans 12 – Renewing the mind
  • Proverbs 4:20-23 – Pay Attention To Gods Words
  • Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
  • Galatians 5 – Walking by the Spirit
  • John 15 – Abiding in Christ

Where to Learn More

Many excellent resources are available, here are a few

• Dan Mohler – Put Off The Old – Put On the New
• Mark Virkler – Hearing God’s voice and inner healing

 

Generational Curses Are Real.

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Generational Curses Are Real. What Should You Do About Them?

Introduction

Many believers wrestle with patterns in their lives that seem older than they are. Cycles of fear, anger, addiction, poverty, relational breakdown, or spiritual oppression can feel inherited rather than chosen. Scripture speaks openly about generational iniquity, blessings, and consequences. This post explains what generational curses are, how they operate, how they differ from the sinful nature inherited from Adam, and what you can do to break their influence through the power of Jesus Christ.

What Are Generational Curses?

A generational curse is a pattern of spiritual, emotional, or behavioral influence passed down from one generation to the next. These can include iniquity, trauma, destructive habits, belief systems, spiritual open doors, or demonic influence that travels through family lines. Biblically, these are not arbitrary punishments but reflections of cause-and-effect spiritual laws.

Why Should I Care?

Generational patterns operate whether you acknowledge them or not. They can shape identity, trigger broken behavior, distort thinking, and open spiritual vulnerabilities. Understanding the source empowers you to break cycles rather than repeat them.

How Do Generational Curses Work?

Generational influence operates through:

• Modeled behavior
• Emotional and trauma imprinting
• Spiritual legal access

In other words: what is not healed in our own lives is often handed down.

How Are Generational Curses Different From the Sinful Nature Inherited from Adam?

All people inherit a sinful nature from Adam (Romans 5), that is a built-in tendency to be focused on ourselves instead of resist God, and to be driven by self-centered agendas and self-conscious emotions. Generational curses are specific patterns passed through family lines. Sin nature is universal; generational curses are particular, breakable, and often tied to unhealed wounds or unrepented actions.

Who Can Be Affected?

Anyone—believers and unbelievers. Salvation breaks the curse of sin, but emotional wounds, learned behaviors, and spiritual access points can remain until intentionally confronted and resolved.

How Do I Detect a Generational Curse?

Look for repeating patterns across generations:
• Divorce or relational failure
• Addiction or bondage
• Chronic fear or shame
• Financial collapse
• Anger, violence, or control
• Occult involvement
• Spiritual resistance that feels inherited

The direct method is to use Journaling.

Lord Jesus, Am I am impacted by a generational curse? If so which one,
If so, did it come from father or mother?
Where did they get it….keep following back until you find the root

How Do I Break a Generational Curse?

Freedom comes through applying the finished work of Jesus:

  1. Confess the pattern
  2. Repent on behalf of the lineage
  3. Renounce the enemy’s claim
  4. Forgive family members who flowed it to you
  5. Break ungodly agreements
  6. Apply Jesus finished work to the initial source, the intersection of sperm and egg, and your soul.
  7.  Invite the Holy Spirit to fill the space held by the curse
  8. Walk in renewed patterns

Where Can I Learn More?

Recommended resources:
• Key scriptures: Exodus 20:5–6, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Galatians 3:13
• Mark Virkler – Hearing God’s voice and breaking spiritual influences
• Derek Prince – Blessings and curses
• Neil Anderson – Freedom in Christ
• Henry Wright – Spiritual roots of disease

 

 

 

Ungodly Beliefs Limit You — The Truth Sets You Free

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Ungodly Beliefs Limit You — The Truth Sets You Free. Use It.

Introduction

Beliefs are the things we treat as *real enough to act on*. Your life moves in the direction of your beliefs. They shape every part of life—how we see reality, how we relate to God, how we see ourselves, and how we treat others.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

Godly beliefs, rooted in Scripture and revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus, align us with reality as God defines it and open the door to freedom

Ungodly beliefs—lies planted by the enemy—distort perception, limit identity, fuel sin, and block spiritual transformation. When you agree with lies—about God, yourself, others, or your future—your world becomes smaller, darker, and harder. Ungodly beliefs quietly influence your emotions, decisions, relationships, and the way you see God.

Jesus made the battle lines clear:

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”— John 8:32

Freedom comes when The Truth replaces lies. Not someday, not theoretically, not someone else—You here and now today.

WHAT Are Ungodly Beliefs?

Ungodly beliefs are any conclusions, assumptions, or internal narratives that contradict Scripture. 

They based on lies and deceptions introduced by the devil and are empowered by fear, shame, pride, and emotional wounds.

An ungodly belief can sound reasonable, familiar, or even virtuous, yet completely undermine your walk with God.

Ungodly beliefs form slowly—through upbringing, trauma, culture, and exposure to repeated lies from the adversary. Once embedded, they shape your emotional responses, your expectations, and your self‑perception.

These beliefs distort:

  • Your view of God
  • Your identity
  • Your sense of purpose
  • Your emotions
  • Your expectations
  • Your relationships

Ungodly beliefs shape how you interpret situations and how you respond to challenges. Most dangerously, they shape what you expect from God.

WHY Ungodly Beliefs Are So Dangerous (The Consequences)

Every decision you make flows from what you believe is **possible** and **appropriate**. This is the essence of *Possibility Thinking*, a principle that profoundly aligns with Scripture.

“If you do not believe something is possible, you will not attempt it. And even if you believe it is possible, you will only act if you believe it is appropriate.”
Ungodly beliefs damage every level of life:

• **Spiritually** — they block intimacy with God and dull spiritual discernment.
• **Emotionally** — they reinforce shame, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness.
• **Relationally** — they create cycles of mistrust, unforgiveness, and self‑protection.
• **Behaviorally** — they manifest as repeated undesired behaviors that feel ‘automatic.’

In short: lies enslave. Truth frees. And freedom requires identifying the lie at the root.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

Ungodly beliefs always produce ungodly consequences. Consider the effects:

  1. Psychological consequences — fear, anxiety, shame, identity confusion, hopelessness.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7

  1. Behavioral consequences — self-sabotage, addiction, anger, drifting into sin.

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit…” — Matthew 7:18

  1. Relationship Consequences — isolation, offense, division, manipulation.

“Pursue peace with all people…” — Hebrews 12:14

  1. Purpose & destiny consequences — lost calling, diminished potential, confusion.

“For we are His workmanship… created for good works…” — Ephesians 2:10

  1. Spiritual consequences — agreement with the enemy, hardened heart, blocked intimacy with God.

“Give no place to the devil.” — Ephesians 4:27

Ungodly beliefs do not sit still. They grow, multiply, and shape the course of a person’s entire life.

WHO: Who Struggles With Ungodly Beliefs?

Everyone.

Believers carry ungodly beliefs when emotions override truth or when faith is weakened. Unbelievers build their worldview entirely on them.

Different backgrounds produce different types of lies:

– Religious guilt and performance-based acceptance

– Fear-based views of God

– Identity confusion reinforced by culture

– Lies inherited through family patterns

This is a universal battle. No one is exempt—and no one is without hope.

The Four Tiers of Truth

Your beliefs form a layered structure. To transform fully, each tier must be aligned with The Truth—the unchanging reality God reveals through Scripture and the life of Jesus.
• Tier 1 — Worldview: Your Eternal Reality
• Tier 2 — God’s Nature and His Promises to You
• Tier 3 — Your Identity and Relationship With God
• Tier 4 — Your Relationships With Others and the World

Lies Lead to Undesired Behaviors

Ungodly beliefs always manifest as undesired behaviors. Often the connection is invisible until the Holy Spirit reveals it. Below is a concise but meaningful overview of how ungodly beliefs manifest at each tier of life.

Tier 1 — The Devil’s Top 10 Lies (Worldview)

• There is no God → Nihilism, moral collapse, self‑exaltation.
• Truth is relative → Confusion, instability, erosion of justice.
• Life has no inherent purpose → Apathy, self-destruction.
• People are basically good → Naïveté, denial of sin, poor boundaries.
• The spiritual realm is not real → Blindness in spiritual warfare.
• Satan and demons are myths → Unopposed spiritual influence.
• Morality is subjective → Rationalization of sin.
• Humans can fix themselves without God → Pride, burnout, legalism.
• There is no eternity → Short-sighted choices, worldliness.
• Scripture is not authoritative → Drift, deception, confusion.

Tier 2 — Lies About God’s Nature

• God is not truly good → Mistrust, resentment.
• God is distant or uninvolved → Prayerlessness, self‑reliance.
• God will not protect me → Anxiety, control.
• God will not provide for me → Hoarding, greed, compromise.
• God’s promises are for others, not me → Passivity, fear.
• Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough → Shame, self‑punishment.

Tier 3 — Lies About Your Identity

• I am worthless → Shame, hiding, withdrawal.
• I cannot change → Hopelessness, stagnation.
• My past defines me → Bondage, guilt, self‑limitation.
• I am alone and powerless → Fear, surrender to sin.
• I have nothing to offer → Passivity, avoidance.
• I have no spiritual authority → Vulnerability, fear.

Tier 4 — Lies About Relationships and the World

• People cannot be trusted → Isolation, offense.
• Forgiveness is impossible → Bitterness, division.
• Serving others is weakness → Pride, selfishness.
• Boundaries are unloving → Burnout, resentment.
• My choices don’t affect others → Irresponsibility.
• My faith is private → Silence, missed assignments.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God…” — 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)

HOW: How to Replace Ungodly Beliefs With The Truth

Here is a simple, repeatable process that invites the Holy Spirit to uncover the root of every undesired behavior. Use this prayer‑journaling sequence regularly:

  1. “Lord, what undesired behavior should we address right now?”
  2.  “What self-centered love drives this behavior?”
  3. “What ungodly belief is enabling this behavior?”
  4. “What truth corrects this belief?”
  5. Execute correction by declaration:
    • Confess the behavior.
    •  Repent for holding the ungodly belief and the self-centered love.
    •  Reject the lie.
    •  Embrace the truth.
    •  Ask the Holy Spirit to empower new behavior by grace.

Here is an example declaration:

“Heavenly Father, I confess and repent of undesired behavior (xxx),
      I repent for holding self-serving love (xxx) that drove it, and ungodly belief (xxx) that enabled it to continue,
      I forgive person (xxx) who gave it to me, they were blinded and lost in this fallen world.
      I accept Jesus’ work on the cross to rescue me. His broken body paid the price, and His blood now covers me.
      I rebuke the unclean spirit that has been operating in me, I demand you leave and never return.
      I claim healing and deliverance in Jesus’ name, by his stripes I am healed.
      Holy spirit, fill me and help me remember every word of God to stand firm in this battle and bring you glory.
       As it is written, so let it be done for me! In Jesus’ name. AMEN”

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

 

Some Other Considerations

Here are proven best practices drawn from Scripture, deliverance ministers, and discipleship leaders.

  1. Stay filled with the Word — read, listen, meditate.

“Faith comes by hearing…” — Romans 10:17

– Read Scripture daily.

– Listen to sermons and worship.

– Meditate on passages that speak to your identity and purpose.

  1. Journal to identify ungodly beliefs.

Lord, What issue should I address next to become the person you intended me to become?

 – What undesired behaviors shall we stop?

 – What ungodly belief allowed them to happen?

– What godly belief will stop them?

Confess you undesired behavior, Repent for holding ungodly beliefs, Ask Holy Spirit to help you instill the Godly belief and walk in alignment with it.

  1. Anchor your beliefs in the seven truth categories:
    • – God’s Character
    • – God’s Promises
    • – Your Identity
    • – Your Purpose
    • – Your View of Others
    • – Truth & Reality
    • – Your Responsibility

These categories help you replace lies with the correct kind of truth. (Ref list of truths)

  1. Use 3×5 verse cards to memorize specific truths.
    • – Choose a verse each morning.
    • – Carry the card everywhere.
    • – Speak it aloud several times a day.

This rewires your thinking and strengthens your faith.

  1. Speak declarations out loud.
    • – “God is…” declarations strengthen your view of Him.
    • – “I am…” declarations reinforce identity.
    • – “Because God promised…” declarations build confidence.

Replace lies with truth immediately when spotted

Where to Learn More

These teachers offer deep insight into renewing the mind and replacing lies:

– Dan Mohler

– Derek Prince

– Neil Anderson (Bondage Breaker)

– John Bevere

– Joyce Meyer (Battlefield of the Mind)

– Jordan Peterson (psychology of belief)

– Dallas Willard (spiritual disciplines)

Conclusion

Ungodly beliefs limit you. They shrink your world, restrict your potential, and distort how you see God. The Truth sets you free—*but only if you use it*.

Start today:

– Identify lies.

– Replace them with Scripture.

– Declare truth.

– Walk in freedom.

This is the life Jesus paid for—step into it.

 

Demonic Spirits Work In Chains, Break Them With Truth

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Demonic Spirits Work In Chains, Trigger → Aggravate → Destroy

Introduction: Understanding Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is the ongoing conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. We have a real enemy—Satan—who uses spiritual forces of wickedness to deceive, tempt, pressure, and ultimately destroy. Demonic spirits are fallen angels aligned with Satan, operating with intentional strategy to steal, kill, and destroy. They cannot possess a believer’s spirit, but they can influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors when given access. They use deception, temptation, emotional pressure, and destructive influence to derail God’s purposes in our lives.

The enemy works through predictable patterns and strategies, not randomness. Understanding their schemes is the first step toward resisting them effectively. 

One of the most common demonic mechanisms is the three‑stage spiritual influence chain:

Trigger → Aggravate → Destroy.

Understanding this chain equips believers to identify attacks early, resist effectively, and walk in lasting freedom.

This post introduces one of the most common demonic patterns—how spirits work together to move a person from a moment of vulnerability into patterns of destruction. This pattern is called the Trigger → Aggravate → Destroy chain.

1. TRIGGER — The Opening Move

A trigger is the moment a demonic spirit attempts to activate an internal weakness, wound, or ungodly belief. It is not sin, but it is the point where spiritual pressure begins.

“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” —James 1:14 (NKJV)

Triggers can take the form of rejection, shame, loneliness, disrespect, boredom, fear of failure, correction, or anything that presses on an unhealed part of the heart. The trigger activates an ungodly love (self-protection, pride, comfort, approval) or an ungodly belief (“I’m not enough,” “I’m alone,” “I’ll never change”).

2. AGGRAVATE — The Intensifier

Once triggered, aggravating spirits rush in to increase emotional pressure. Their job is to take a small spark and turn it into a fire—fear into anxiety, irritation into anger, sadness into despair.

“When the enemy comes in like a flood…” —Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)

Aggravator spirits usually work through persistent mental suggestions: “You’re failing,” “No one cares,” “You can’t handle this,” “They don’t respect you,” “It will never get better.” The goal is to destabilize the heart until the person feels overwhelmed.

3. DESTROY — The Outcome

If the aggravation is not resisted, destroyer spirits step in. These spirits push for outward, visible, and damaging actions. Their intention is always the same—cause harm to the person, their relationships, their reputation, and their spiritual life.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” —John 10:10 (NKJV)

Destroyer spirits manifest through rage, addiction, sexual sin, violence, self-harm, isolation, sabotage, or compulsive behaviors. Their influence leads to broken trust, damaged families, ruined opportunities, and spiritual bondage.

Breaking the Chain: Three Strategies

The chain can be broken at ANY stage, but the deepest freedom comes when all three layers are addressed.

Scripture gives three clear strategies:

    • Renew the Mind — breaks TRIGGERS

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” —Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

    • Resist the Enemy — silences AGGRAVATORS

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” —James 4:7 (NKJV)

    • Walk in the Spirit — blocks DESTROYERS

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” —Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)

1. Breaking Triggers — Addressing Self‑Centered Loves

Triggers work because they press on self‑centered loves such as comfort, control, reputation, approval, or self‑protection. These loves represent areas of the flesh not fully submitted to Christ.

To break triggers, identify the self‑centered love being pressed, expose the ungodly belief attached to it, and replace it with a God‑centered truth. This is the essence of renewing the mind.

This will be expanded in the upcoming Trigger Reference Table.

2. Breaking Aggravators — Dismantling Lies and Ungodly Beliefs

Aggravators thrive on ungodly beliefs such as ‘I’m unsafe,’ ‘I’m alone,’ ‘I must defend myself,’ or ‘Nothing will ever change.’ These lies amplify emotions and cloud judgment.

Breaking aggravators requires identifying the lie, confronting it with Scripture, and speaking truth out loud. This disarms the emotional momentum the enemy depends on.

The Aggravator Reference Table will outline key lies, truths, and scriptures for practical use.

3. Breaking Destroyers — Stopping Sin and Behavioral Cycles

Destroyer spirits push for outward actions that cause real harm. They rely on emotional chaos, ungodly beliefs, and past sin patterns to pressure the believer into destructive behavior.

Breaking destroyers requires: interrupting the moment, declaring Scripture, praying in the Spirit, and implementing practical boundaries. Long‑term freedom comes from consistent obedience and walking in the Spirit.

The Destroyer Reference Table will map common destroyers, their motives, lies, truths, and verses.

Where to Learn More

Kirkgasser Home Group Bible Study – Use God’s Words To Resist The Devil (Video)  ( Presentation)

Catalog of Demonic Spirit Families, Ungodly Truths, Biblical Truths

Sin Chains Reference Table

Devil Strategies Reference Tables

 

For deeper study in spiritual warfare, demonic influence, and Christian freedom, explore:

  • Ephesians 6 — The Armor of God
  • 2 Corinthians 10 — Taking thoughts captive
  • Mark 4 — How Satan steals the Word
  • 1 Peter 5 — Be sober and vigilant
  • Derek Prince — Teaching on Deliverance
  • Neil Anderson — The Bondage Breaker
  • Dan Mohler — Identity & Transformation

These resources reinforce the principles in this post and prepare the foundation for the upcoming Trigger, Aggravator, and Destroyer Reference Tables.

 

Jesus Expects You To Be An Exorcist Like Him

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Jesus Expects You to Be an Exorcist Like Him

Introduction

Jesus was not only a teacher, healer, and miracle-worker—He was an exorcist. Deliverance was a core expression of His mission to destroy the works of the devil, liberate people, and advance the Kingdom of God.

1. WHAT — Jesus Was an Exorcist (And What Demons Are)

Scripture consistently shows Jesus directly confronting, exposing, and removing demons as part of His normal ministry.

What Demons Are

Demons are unembodied spirits—disembodied personalities aligned with the kingdom of darkness. They agitate, deceive, and pressure people toward destructive actions.

What Demons Do

Their strategy typically follows:

  1. Plant a lie
  2. Agitate emotions
  3. Influence decisions
  4. Produce destructive actions

Jesus’ Exorcism Ministry

“He cast out the spirits with a word.” (Matthew 8:16 NKJV)

“He was casting out a demon, and it was mute…” (Luke 11:14 NKJV)

“With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:36 NKJV)

“The demons are cast out.” (Matthew 11:5 NKJV)

2. WHY — To Root Out the Devil’s Works and Restore Creation

Deliverance reverses the corruption introduced by the fall and restores people to God’s original design. It is creation-restoration work, not merely personal freedom.

3. WHO — The Chain of Authority: 12 → 70 → Believers

The Twelve

“He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out…” (Matthew 10:1 NKJV)

The Seventy

“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:17 NKJV)

All Believers

“He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also.” (John 14:12 NKJV)

“In My name they will cast out demons.” (Mark 16:17 NKJV)

4. HOW — Jesus Equipped Believers

Jesus equipped believers with His Name, His Spirit, His Authority, and His Commission.

His Name

“In My name they will cast out demons.” (Mark 16:17 NKJV)

His Spirit

“If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God…” (Matthew 12:28 NKJV)

His Authority

“I give you authority… over all the power of the enemy.” (Luke 10:19 NKJV)

His Commission

“Teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20 NKJV)

5. WHEN — When Believers Step Into Deliverance

Believers should engage in deliverance when

  1. When encountering oppression
  2. When someone seeks freedom
  3. During discipleship
  4. During evangelism
  5. When the Spirit prompts
  6. Self-deliverance

Where to Learn More

Scriptures

Mark 1–5

Luke 9–10

Ephesians 6

Acts 8, 16, 19

Books

  • Derek Prince – They Shall Expel Demons
  • Frank Hammond – Pigs in the Parlor
  • Neil Anderson – The Bondage Breaker

Teachers

Derek Prince Ministries

Isaiah Saldivar

Dan Mohler

Frank Turek

 

How Can I Understand My Created Value?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

How Can I Understand My Created Value?

Introduction:

Every person, at some point, wrestles with three fundamental questions about life:

1. How did I get here?
2. Why am I here?
3. Where am I going when I leave?

This post focuses on the second question: Why am I here?
It’s a question about purpose, meaning, and value — not just what we do, but why we exist.

How The World Measures Value

It’s easy to measure our worth by what we can see or what we can measure.
We might look at:

  • How strong and capable our body is
  • How many compliments we get about our looks
  • How capable our mind is
  • How many Degrees we have earned
  • How much money we have in the bank
  • What our Job title is
  • How big our house is,
  • How fancy our car is,
  • Or what people say about us.

We can make a list of past accomplishments – Education, Work, Athletics, Performance, Building Things, Accomplishing Milestones 

We can estimate our future earnings potential

We can also perceive a reduction in our worth

  • Major setbacks, Health issues, Physical or Emotional injury, Failed relationships
  • Guilt, Shame, Condemnation for things we have done,
  • Damaged self-image from things others have done to us: Rejection, Abandonment, Bullying, Abuse, Manipulation, Control    

We are conditioned to think that our worth is built on those things, But that kind of value is temporary — and it changes as circumstances change. You are only as good as your last conversation.

A Bigger Picture of Value

To understand true worth, we have to look beyond the temporary visible world and take on an eternal perspective — to see ourselves as God sees us.

You are not a random occurrence, not “just another person” who happened to be born on this planet. You are specifically designed by God for a purpose.

You are a vital part of His Kingdom — uniquely gifted, intentionally placed, and continually shaped by His hand.

  • Jesus formed you in your mothers’ womb (Psalm 139:13–14).
  • He has more thoughts about you than there are grains of sand (Psalm 139:17–18).
  • He has plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
  • He gave you gifts and talents so you can be useful (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Peter 4:10).
  • He has prepared works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10).
  • He provides for all your needs (Matthew 6:31–33).
  • He is molding you like a potter molds clay (Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:3–6).
  • And most importantly to understand, He gave His life for you. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

That means you are not something random, or a mistake, or an accident. You are an intentional creation — a vital instrument in the hands of a loving Creator.

Embracing the Purpose God Designed

If you belong to Christ, you’re part of His divine plan — a cog in the great machine of the Kingdom of God.
He calls you to shine like a beacon (Matthew 5:14–16) and to serve as His ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20).
To do that fully, we must embrace what Jesus did for us on the cross.

The problem of sin / sinful nature / self consciousness

We were created in God’s image and connected with Him in the Garden. Adam and Eve chose to rebel and as a result they became self-conscious (naked, afraid, hiding from God, deflecting blame) and corrupted the image. We inherit that corrupted image and have a tendency to focus on ourselves rather than God, and our worldly situation and our past rather than focusing on our eternal destiny and how best to prepare.

Sin makes us self-conscious and self-centered  — it turns our focus inward instead of upward. When we are focused away from God we become separated from the source of love and begin to feel a vacuum of love, a need for love. We start to seek that love from all the wrong places.  We try to fill that “God shaped” hole in our soul  with things like building ours ego up, seeking recognition, fancy cars, big houses, creating an identity based on work, or party animal, or being promiscuous. This approach make us vulnerable to our circumstances.  Every setback rocks our world, every word spoken to us can destroy our self image. All of this works against God’s intentions for us and defeats the actual purpose and plans God had set out for us.   That is why He chose to com here in person, in the flesh, to restore what was lost through Adam. 

The Solution: God comes in person for restore us – Love came and suffered for us, The Truth sets us free

God chose to come to earth in person, in the flesh, in the form of a son – Jesus  (John 1:1, 1:14). He is Immanuel, God wth us (Matthew 1:23) , Most folks get the idea that God sent his son so that we could have eternal life with Him in heaven (John 3:16). But they miss the point that He also came to restore “That” which was lost through Adam, the original image of God which is the foundation for our actual purpose here in this life. 

“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

What exactly did He do for us on the cross? 

  • We were born into a fallen world and inherited a sinful nature, we all have sinned, the wages of sin are death, we all have earned an eternity in hell.
  • He allowed His earthly body to be beaten and broken to the point of death to pay the price for our sins. He suffered death so we do not have to. He paid our fine.
  • He lived a sinless life so that He could be the Perfect Lamb sacrificed to forgive the sins of the world.
  • When we acknowledge we have earned eternity in hell, and embrace His sacrifice for our sins, we are born again and given a new heart and new spirit
  • When we acknowledge His loving sacrifice, and give our lives to Him as Lord, His blood covers us, forgives and forgets our sins.

Jesus is the truth:  The truth that God loves us, the truth that true love voluntarily suffers for a higher purpose, and the truth that the only way back to God the Father is through Jesus.  When you understand, embrace, and apply that truth, it will set you free.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”1 John 3:1

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 

Our Response To Jesus’ Love: Deny our “self”, Pick up our own cross,  and Follow Jesus 

In order to undo the mess that Adam and Eve did in the garden and fix the image in us, and leverage what Jesus did for us on the cross,  we must cut off the old and get rid of the baggage it brings into our lives. 

We ae called to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23), crucify our fleshly desires (Galatians 5:24), bury our old self in the grave with Christ (Romans 6:6; 6:4), and then be raised into new life (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In that new life, Jesus empowers us with supernatural grace to do things we could never do in our own strength (Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:13).

What Eternal Value Can I Create Here/Now?

Are you a force for Good in the world – positive, encouraging, helpful, providing a useful service, treating others with respect?

Do you acknowledge God’s roles in your life: Do you acknowledge Gods hand in your life, Do you give Him credit, Do you do it publicly?

Do you help others connect with God ?

Do you sow God’s love through your actions? Give Him credit publicly? Share your testimony? 

Nurturing peoples journey is a multiple step process and takes many forms, but it is valuable  (1 Corinthians 3:6–9).

Your life, love, and testimony impacts every person you come in contact along your journey, and that impact is eternal.

Your words shape minds. Your presence alters atmospheres. Your comfort heals wounds. Your wisdom redirects destinies. Your sacrifices change stories. Your example inspires faith. This is the real measure of your created value.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”
—Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

What Is My Created Value?

You create value for God with the *impact your life has on others* — the spiritual, emotional, relational, and eternal ripple that spreads from you to every life you touch.

Your created value is the God-designed effect your life is meant to have on others, this is the fruit your life produces — the ripple effect that brings life, healing, strength, clarity, and faith to the world around you.

Created value is not measured by titles, careers, status, or image. It is measured by the eternal imprint you leave on human souls. It is the multiplication of goodness, truth, and love that flows outward from your life.
Your life is intended to bear fruit that remains — fruit that changes people, families, and generations.

“…I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”
—John 15:16 (NKJV)

Channels Through Which Your Created Value Flows

Value Flows as actions or effects flow through a channel or path of connections and impacts someone in a meaningful way

Presence

    • The atmosphere you carry — peace, love, stability, or tension and anxiety.

Words

    • The encouragement, wisdom, correction, or damage your words create.

Relationships

    • The lives you shape through family, friendship, mentorship, and community.

Works / Service

    • The good you do by serving, giving, supporting, helping, or ministering.

Example / Model

    • The life-pattern others imitate: integrity, humility, faith, perseverance.

Legacy / Generational Influence

    • The ripple your actions create in children, grandchildren, disciples, and beyond.

Spiritual Authority & Prayer

    • The unseen impact of your intercession, declarations, blessings, and warfare.

Teaching / Guidance

    • Your influence through spiritual wisdom, counsel, mentorship, or leadership.

How Far Does Your Impact Reach?

Your created value is far more expansive than you realize. Studies on influence, social reach, and relational networks suggest that the average person directly impacts **500–2,500 people** in their lifetime.
Indirect and generational impact multiplies exponentially:
• The people you influence then influence others.
• Those people influence more.
• And the ripple continues long after you’re gone.
This means the total impact of your life may reach **tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions** over generations. Scripture affirms this principle:

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”
—Galatians 5:9 (NKJV)

Even one encouraging word, one transformed child, one restored relationship, one person you help find God — these effects continue far beyond what you see.

What You Can Do Now That You Understand Your Created Value

Your created value becomes powerful when you intentionally cultivate it with God.

Here is the path:

 

  1. Ask God to help you see the impact you are having – Lord, What fruit am I bearing in this life?
  2. Ask God to reveal your strongest channels – Lord, Where is my value flowing most effectively?
  3. Evaluate each channel from the list above honestly – Lord is this channel producing life and fruit… or is it blocked?
  4. Ask Jesus to help you prioritize — Lord, Which channel do you want to heal or strengthen first?
  5. Identify your internal blockers — Lord, What ungodly loves, lies, wounds, fears, or habits are restricting my flow?
  6. Identify the truth to correct the lies – Lord, What Truths will correct these lies?
  7. Apply the Transformation Path — Lord, I repent of ungodly loves, ungodly beliefs. and harmful behaviors.  I declare godly love, godly beliefs and life giving behaviors.
  8. Strengthen your roots — Deepen your identity in Christ, your surrender, humility, trust, and dependence on Him.
  9. Practice fruit-bearing behaviors — Speak life, love consistently, forgive quickly, encourage generously, and serve with joy.

As the inner tree becomes healthier, your created value flows more freely into every part of your world.

If heaven rejoices over every lost soul that’s found (Luke 15:7), imagine how valuable you are when you help bring even one person closer to God.

These are eternal investments — works that ripple forever.

Jesus died so that He could come and form in you and enable you to do be an ambassador for Him in this world .

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

That is one measure of eternal value.

God promises there are many mansions in heaven prepared for followers of Christ (John 14:2–3).
If God has a mansion waiting for you, then you must be worth something unspeakably precious to Him.

How Can I Assess My Value — and Help Others Do the Same?

1. Reflect on what God has already done for you. His continued care is proof of His investment in your life. Make a list of the ways God’s hand has shaped your life.
2. Ask God to help you see yourself through His eyes. His perspective reveals value and worth where the world sees only weakness.
3. Look for fruit, not fame. Your influence on hearts and souls carries eternal value.
4. Encourage others to see their worth. When people discover they were created with purpose, they begin to live it out boldly.

A Closing Thought

Your value isn’t earned — it’s inherent.
You were created with purpose, redeemed by love, and empowered by grace.
God’s hands shaped you.
His Son redeemed you.
His Spirit empowers you.
Live like someone designed by God — because you are.
Shine brightly, love deeply, and let your life reflect His glory.
You are priceless, because the One who made you paid the ultimate price for you.

Reference – Key Verses

God has invested in you

Psalm 139:13–14 — “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

Psalm 139:17–18 — “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”

Ephesians 2:10 — “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Isaiah 64:8 — “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”

Jeremiah 18:3–6 — “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’”

Romans 12:6–8 — “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

1 Peter 4:10 — “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Matthew 6:31–33 — “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

God Came In Person – A son Jesus – To Rescue You

John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God Has High Expectations For You

Matthew 5:14–16 — “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 — “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

John 14:2–3 — “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Crucify Your Sinful Nature, Purge The Past, and Be Transformed For The Future

Luke 9:23 — “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

Galatians 5:24 — “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Romans 6:4, 6 — “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life… knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Live Your New Life By The Spirit – And Bring God Glory

Ephesians 3:20 — “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Luke 15:7 — “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

1 Corinthians 3:6–9 — “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

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