Tag: Transformation

Be Transformed By The Goodness Of God

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

See The Goodness Of God and Be Transformed

Introduction: 

Many people obey God because they fear Him. Fewer are transformed because they truly know Him.

God is both perfectly just and abundantly good. Yet these two aspects of His character do not produce the same outcome in the human heart. Judgment can constrain behaviors.  Goodness changes desires. Judgment can force compliance. Goodness draws us into relationship—and relationship produces transformation.

If you want to live the life God intended, not merely conform to a set of rules, you must learn to see, trust, and respond to the goodness of God.

What Is the Goodness of God?

The goodness of God is His faithful, loving, merciful, covenant-keeping character, consistently expressed toward people who do not deserve it.  This is not to be confused with indulgence, tolerance, or permissiveness. 

“The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”   — Psalm 145:9

God’s goodness includes:

    • Love that initiates before repentance
    • Mercy that withholds deserved judgment
    • Grace that empowers change, and does not excuse sin
    • Faithfulness that keeps promises across generations
    • Patience that gives space for repentance

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”   — Romans 2:4

This verse is decisive: repentance is not primarily produced by fear—it is produced by goodness rightly perceived.

How the Goodness of God Differs from the Judgment of God

God’s Goodness and God’s Judgment are two distinct Divine Tools.

God is both abundantly good and perfectly just at the same time. These attributes do not compete with one another, nor do they serve the same function. 

Confusion arises when judgment is expected to accomplish what only goodness can, or when goodness is mistaken for the absence of judgment.  God employs each tool according to its purpose—and transformation depends on understanding the difference.

Judgment establishes moral reality. Goodness invites us into a relationship.

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways,  Gracious in all His works.”  — Psalm 145:17

God’s judgment defines truth, consequence, and accountability. It sets boundaries in a fallen world where sin distorts judgment and desire.

“For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us.” — Isaiah 33:22

Judgment answers the question: What is right, and what happens if I persist in rebellion?

Goodness answers a different question: Who is God, and can He be trusted with my life?

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1

Judgment restrains chaos and brings order. Goodness invites and builds relationship.

Both are necessary—but they are not the same and are not interchangeable.

How Humans Actually Respond to Each

God’s attributes interact with fallen human hearts, activating very different internal responses; judgment and goodness awaken different postures within us.

Judgment Activates the Mind

Judgment confronts sin through consequence and authority. Its primary internal effect is fear, which triggers self-protection and behavioral restraint.

Judgment primarily engages the mind by clarifying truth and consequences, authority and accountability. It removes ignorance and forces recognition of moral reality. The heart is affected through fear of consequences, this fear restrains behavior but does not inspire the submission necessary to shift our desires and enable transformation.

“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” — 2 Corinthians 5:11

Fear is appropriate and necessary, particularly when a person is unaware of the seriousness of sin. A threat of consequences will get your attention and compel you to understand options to avoid those consequences.   Scripture calls this “the beginning of wisdom”.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10

Fear-based motivation tends to produce:

      • External conformity/compliance
      • Defensive obedience
      • Calculation of risk versus reward
      • Minimal compliance to avoid consequence

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh…” — Romans 8:3

Judgment can expose sin, but it cannot heal desire. It can restrain behavior, but it cannot transform the heart.

Goodness Activates the Heart

God’s goodness engages a different internal mechanism: Trust.

Where fear causes withdrawal, goodness creates safety. Where judgment confronts, goodness invites.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”  — Psalm 34:8

Trust allows the heart to open rather than defend itself. This openness makes repentance possible—not as forced submission, but as willing return to God.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”  — Romans 2:4

Goodness produces:

      • Willing surrender
      • Honest confession
      • Relational obedience
      • Engagement to change Desires

“I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love…” — Hosea 11:4

Summary of the differences

Judgment warns the mind. Goodness wins the heart.

The distinction becomes even more clear in the output.

    • Compliance is behavior constrained by fear.
    • Transformation is identity reshaped by trust.

Judgment works from the outside in. It applies pressure to behavior.

Goodness works from the inside out. It reshapes desires.

“For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” — Hebrews 7:19

People can obey without surrender. They cannot be transformed without it.

Surrender requires trust. Trust requires perceived goodness.

“Your gentleness has made me great.”
— Psalm 18:35

Judgment can stop destructive behavior. That is a mercy. But stopping sin is not the same as becoming new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Transformation involves:

    • New desires
    • New motivations
    • New identity
    • New orientation toward God

These cannot be coerced. They must be chosen—and choice requires trust.

This is why Scripture consistently moves people from law to grace, from fear to love, from external control to internal renewal.

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
— John 1:17

Judgment awakens the conscience.
Goodness remakes the person.

God uses judgment to confront rebellion.
He uses goodness to draw us into relationship—and relationship is where transformation occurs.

If judgment shows us that we must change, the goodness of God convinces us that change is worth making—and that is why Jesus leads not with threats, but with invitation.

Here is a summary of the effects of  Judgement and Goodnes

Aspect

 Judgment of God Goodness of God
Primary Function Accountability Attraction
Motivation Produced Fear Trust
Typical Result Compliance Surrender
Effect on the Heart Restrains behavior Changes desires
Longevity Often temporary Enduring
Relationship Outcome Distance Intimacy

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” — Proverbs 9:10

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” — 1 John 4:18

Fear may start the journey. Love must complete it.

Why Jesus Leads with Love

Judgment says: “Change or else.”
Goodness says: “Come and live.”

Jesus never built His kingdom through intimidation. He described Himself as a shepherd, not a warden.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own…
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:14, 27

Sheep are not driven by fear. They are drawn by trust. They follow because they recognize the shepherd’s voice and character.

Judgment can stop outward rebellion.
Goodness awakens inward allegiance.

Why Transformation Matters

Transformation is not optional. It is central to God’s purpose.

1. We Are Co-Workers in Creation

God does not merely save us from sin; He restores us to purpose.

“For we are God’s fellow workers…” — 1 Corinthians 3:9

An untransformed life cannot steward divine responsibility.

2. We Are Ambassadors and Representatives

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ…” — 2 Corinthians 5:20

Fear-based obedience produces brittle ambassadors.
Goodness-formed hearts reflect God accurately.

3. We Exist to Bring God Glory in All We Do

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31

Only a transformed heart glorifies God consistently—especially when no one is watching.

4. Transformation Prepares Us for Heaven

Heaven is not merely a destination; it is a culture. Those who resist transformation now would find heaven unbearable later.

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

How the Goodness of God Transforms

Transformation follows a discernible internal progression:

    • Goodness is perceived
    • Trust is formed
    • Surrender becomes possible
    • Obedience flows willingly
    • Character is reshaped

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” — Psalm 34:8

You cannot surrender to someone you do not trust.
You cannot trust someone whose goodness you do not believe.

How God’s Goodness Has Manifested

God’s goodness is not abstract. It is historical, personal, and observable.

Supremely in Christ

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

Jesus is not merely the solution to judgment; He is the revelation of God’s goodness in flesh.

Personally in Your Life

Protection you did not recognize

Provision you did not earn

Patience you abused but were still given

Conviction that prevented worse destruction

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life…”  — Psalm 23:6

How to See, Embrace, and Be Transformed by God’s Goodness

Seeing the goodness of God is not automatic. It must be learned, practiced, and protected.

Many people are surrounded by evidence of God’s goodness yet remain blind to it—not because God is absent, but because fear, wounds, self-reliance, and distorted beliefs filter what they see. Transformation begins when those filters are removed and replaced with truth.

1. Re-frame God Correctly

You cannot embrace the goodness of God if you are relating to a false version of Him.

For many, God has been unconsciously recast as angry and distant:

      • A strict taskmaster
      • A distant authority figure
      • A transactional judge
      • A reluctant giver of grace

These are false images of God and must be rejected and replaced with the truth as revealed in God’s word:

“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”
— Exodus 34:6

Practice:

Consciously replace false assumptions about God with Scripture-based truth.

When any negative thought about God arises (“God is disappointed with me,” “God is withholding good”), pause and ask: Where did I learn this, and does Scripture actually support it?

2. Practice Intentional Remembrance

Transformation accelerates when goodness is remembered.

Many people decide whether God is good based on how life is going. Scripture teaches the opposite: God’s character interprets circumstances, not circumstances interpreting God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…”
— Romans 8:28

Trials do not negate God’s goodness; they often reveal it later.

Practice:

When facing difficulty, intentionally ask:

What might God be protecting me from?

What might He be shaping in me?

How could this be an expression of long-term good rather than immediate comfort?

3. Train Yourself to Notice and Name God’s Goodness Daily

God’s goodness is often subtle, cumulative, and easily overlooked—especially by people trained by the world to focus on lack, threat, and control.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
— Psalm 103:2

Forgetting is not accidental; it is a default condition.

Practice:

Develop a daily practice of reflection and recognition:

Write down things your are grateful for – Goodness that you can see around your or in your life

Write down specific instances of provision, protection, patience, or guidance

Thank God for mercy you did not earn and consequences you were spared

Revisit past seasons and identify where God’s goodness was present but unrecognized at the time

This trains spiritual perception.

4. Spend Time In The Word with Jesus Until His Character Becomes Your Reference Point

Jesus is the clearest, safest, and fullest revelation of God’s goodness.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” – John 14:9

If your view of God contradicts with the way Jesus treated sinners, strugglers, and the broken, your view is wrong.

Practice:

Read the 4 Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John one small section at a time and observe:

        • Who Jesus draws near to
        • How He responds to repentance versus pride
        • What He corrects
        • What He restores
        • Ask repeatedly:
          • What does this passage reveal about God’s heart toward people?
          • Is this how I expect God to treat me?

5. Respond to God’s Goodness with Surrender, Not Suspicion

Goodness invites trust, but many respond with guardedness:

“What will this cost me?”

“What if God asks too much?”

“What if I lose control?”

Trust is the bridge between seeing goodness and being transformed by it.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” — Psalm 34:8

Practice:

Identify one area of your life where you are resisting God and intentionally surrender it—not because you fully understand, but because you trust His character.

If you want help deciding, just ask him. 

“Lord, In what area am i resisting you, What should I surrender to you today.?” 

Write down what He tells you, then do it

Obedience in response to goodness strengthens trust exponentially.

6.  Allow God’s Kindness to Lead You into Repentance, Not Self-Condemnation

God’s goodness exposes sin, but it does so safely—without shame or rejection.

“The goodness of God leads you to repentance.”— Romans 2:4

If conviction produces despair, hiding, or self-hatred, it is not being interpreted through God’s goodness.

Practice:

When convicted:

        • Confess quickly
        • Receive forgiveness fully
        • Return to relationship immediately
        • Do not linger in guilt; linger in gratitude.

7. Reinforce Trust Through Repeated Obedience

Trust grows through experience.

Each time you obey and discover that God was faithful, your capacity to see His goodness increases.

“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine…” — John 7:17

Understanding follows obedience, not the other way around.

Practice:

Start with small acts of obedience. Let lived experience confirm what Scripture declares about God’s goodness.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…” — Romans 12:1

Am I Seeing the Goodness of God?

Before transformation can occur, God must be seen accurately. Many people believe in God, obey God, or even fear God—but they do not truly know Him. If God is primarily perceived as distant, harsh, or easily disappointed, the heart will remain guarded, defensive, and self-protective. Repentance and surrender flow not from terror, but from rightly perceiving God’s goodness.

“Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You…”  — Psalm 31:19

The following table is designed to help you discern whether you recognize God as He reveals Himself—or are you relating to a distorted image shaped by fear, wounds, or religion.

 

Area If I Do Not See God’s Goodness If I Recognize God’s Goodness
View of God God feels distant, stern, easily disappointed God is near, patient, and faithful
Default Expectation I expect correction before compassion I expect mercy alongside truth
Response to Failure Shame, hiding, self-punishment Confession, humility, return
Interpretation of Trials God is against me or punishing me God is refining, teaching, redirecting
Gratitude Rare or conditional Frequent and specific
Scripture Lens Verses feel demanding or threatening Verses feel instructive and hopeful
Prayer Tone Defensive or transactional Honest, relational, trusting

Reflection Questions

When I fail, do I move toward God or away from Him?

Do I believe God enjoys showing mercy?

Would I describe God as someone I want to be with?

Am I Applying the Goodness Of God To My Life?

Seeing God’s goodness is only the beginning; trust is the proving ground. Many acknowledge God’s goodness intellectually while continuing to rely on themselves in practice. Trust is revealed not by words, but by decisions—especially when obedience feels costly, unclear, or uncomfortable.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God…” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

The following table examines whether God’s goodness is actively shaping your choices, priorities, and responses, or whether fear, control, and self-reliance still dominate your day-to-day life.

 

Area Trust Is Weak Trust Is Growing
Obedience Delayed, negotiated, selective Prompt and willing
Motivation Fear of consequences Confidence in God’s wisdom
Decision-Making Heavy self-reliance Prayerful dependence
Control Difficulty releasing outcomes Peace after surrender
Risk Avoids obedience that feels costly Obeys even when uncomfortable
Prayer Content Mostly requests and complaints Praise, alignment, listening
Scripture Use Used for justification Used for correction and guidance

Reflection Questions

Do I obey only when I agree or understand?

Where am I still hedging instead of surrendering?

What would full trust look like in my current situation?

Am I Being Transformed?

Transformation is not measured by intention, knowledge, or religious activity—it is measured by change.

Behavioral improvement alone is not the goal; God calls for inward renewal that reshapes desires, identity, and character over time. Many people manage sin without being freed from it, restrain behavior without renewing the heart, or perform righteousness without intimacy with God.

The following table is meant to help you honestly assess whether the goodness of God is producing real, observable transformation in you—or whether you are still operating primarily in self-effort and compliance.

 

Evidence Behavior Constrained Heart Transformation
Desires Same desires, better restraint New desires emerging
Conviction Comes late and feels harsh Comes early and feels gentle
Sin Patterns Cyclical and recurring Interrupted and weakening
Humility Defensive when corrected Teachable and responsive
Love for Others Conditional and selective Expanding and sacrificial
Inner Dialogue Fear, self-justification Trust, surrender, hope
Fruit of the Spirit Inconsistent and forced Increasing and natural
Identity Still rooted in performance Rooted in sonship

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

Reflection Questions

Are my desires changing or just my behavior?

Do I recognize conviction sooner than I used to?

Are others experiencing God’s goodness through me?

So Where Are You?

Life is a journey and we all need to start somewhere. Which stage do you find yourself?

Stage Description
   
Blind / Oblivious Living Life, Ignoring God. Hoping for the best
Fear-Driven Compliance Obeying to avoid consequences
Mixed Motivation Obeying partly from fear, partly from trust
Goodness-Driven Obedience Obeying because I trust God’s heart
Transformed Living Desires, identity, and purpose reshaped

Where to Learn More

Scripture Themes to Study

God’s character and names (Exodus 34; Psalm 103)

Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10)

Grace and transformation (Romans 5–8; Titus 2)

Life in the Spirit (Galatians 5)

Key Questions for Study

How does God describe Himself?

How does Jesus treat sinners versus the self-righteous?

What does grace train me to do?

Call to Action

Stop obeying God merely to avoid consequences.

See His goodness. Trust His heart. Surrender fully.

Judgment may keep you from destruction.
Goodness will lead you into life.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good.” — Psalm 34:8

Do not settle for mere compliance when God is offering transformation and being set free.

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.

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

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

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

 

 

Be transformed by the renewal of your mind

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Be Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind

Introduction

We don’t fix the world by rearranging its furniture — we fix it by letting God rearrange us.

The Christian life starts with truth about who we were made to be, what broke that design, and what Jesus has done to restore it. Then it becomes a daily practice: replacing fallen, self-centered thoughts with God’s thoughts revealed in Scripture so we can actually live as the image-bearers we were created to be.

Below is a short biblical roadmap and a simple, repeatable practice you can use today to receive your own transformation.

The practical hinge — renew your mind

The everyday process runs through the mind. Paul’s command and promise is simple and strategic:

“be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2

Renewing your mind means intentionally replacing your own thoughts rooted in this fallen world (fear, self-exaltation, scarcity, shame, lust, bitterness) with God’s truth — what he says about Himself, about you, and about your calling.

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Start with God’s purpose: you were made in His image

God made humans as reflections of himself.

“So God created man in His own image…”  Genesis 1:27

That original design means we were created to receive God’s life and to be conduits of his love — not to hoard love or build life around self.

Recognize the damage: Sin broke that image and separates us from God

Because of Adam and Eve’s fall we began living as people in need of love rather than as channels of love — searching for substitutes the world offers. That’s the background problem: the mind, affections and will were re-directed away from God.

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

Know the solution: Jesus paid the price and re-connects us

Jesus’ blood restores access to the Father and makes forgiveness possible. Jesus’ blood cleanses us from sin when we walk in the light.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Ephesians 1:7 

“… the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 

That finished work is the foundation: your transformation flows from the work Jesus did for you..

Embrace Your New identity: You are made new in Christ

When you receive Christ you are not merely improved — you are re-created.

 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, all things are new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

That is radical: old patterns don’t get a cosmetic makeover — they are put away as God forms the original image again in you by his grace.

See Yourself as God Sees You: Innocent And Holy

You will never fulfil your full potential until you start to see yourself as God sees you through Jesus blood

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” Colossians 1:21-22

Your sinful nature and your past thoughts and actions are hidden under the robe of Christs’ blood.

“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Put off the old and put on the new — a purposeful decision

Paul connects belief to action: we are to put off the old and put on the new

“… put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

That is not self-help; it is discipleship. The Spirit applies truth to your heart so the new life takes shape — but you cooperate by refusing the old patterns and practicing the new.

Stay Focused on Your new purpose: Bring Glory To God

A key to transformation is to focus on your purpose:  Why are you hear, what are you trying to accomplish. You are here to bring God glory.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

A short practical plan: “See → Think → Speak → Do”

  1. See — Start by looking at Jesus’ finished work. Remind yourself that you are forgiven and seen by the Father through Christ’s blood. (A 60–90 second quieting prayer works well.)

  2. Think — Pick one fallen thought pattern (e.g., “I must secure my worth by achievement” or “I’m unlovable”). Search one short verse that speaks God’s truth about that area and read it aloud. (Example: Romans 12:2’s command to be transformed by renewed thinking.)

  3. Speak — Confess the sin and declare God’s truth aloud. Confession + declaration fixes truth in the heart (see confession template below).

  4. Do — Take one small obedient action that demonstrates the new thought (for example, give away time or money, forgive someone, stop a negative habit for 24 hours). Obedience trains the heart.

  5. Repeat — A recurring loop, done consistently, rewires the mind and heart.

Example confession / declaration (fill in the blank and say it boldly, aloud)

“Heavenly Father, I thank You that you love me and sent your Son.

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming here, paying the price for our sins on your body and shedding your innocent blood.

By your stripes i am healed, and by Your blood I am forgiven and cleansed.

I receive Your work on the cross for me.

By faith I repent of _______ (name the specific attitude or action).

I hereby crucify my self-centered agendas and emotions and submit them to you.

I hereby put off my old self and I put on the new man, I put on Christ.

I choose today to think Your thoughts about myself: I am loved, forgiven, chosen, and sent.

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and transform my mind so I can do the works You prepared for me and bring you glory.

I speak this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Short scriptural “memory anchors” you can use

(keep these short — say them aloud and ask the Spirit to make them true in you)

  • “God created man in His own image…” Genesis 1:27  Bible Gateway

  • “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God…” Isaiah 59:2  Bible Gateway

  • “The blood of Jesus … cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7  Bible Gateway

  • “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2 Bible Gateway

  • “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…All things are new” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Bible Gateway 

  • “Put off the old man… put on the new man…” Ephesians 4:22-24 Bible Gateway

  • “Do all things to the glory of God”  1 Corinthians 10:31 Bible Gateway

Use one of those as a 10–20 second “reset” whenever an old temptation or fear returns.

Practices that speed the renewal process

  • Daily quieting — 5–15 minutes to read one verse, pray the confession, and listen.

  • Journaling — Write the false thought, the truth verse, and one small obedient action for the day.

  • Accountability — Share one weekly progress point with a trusted believer (one-on-one discipleship accelerates growth).

  • Scripture replacement — When a lie comes, immediately replace it with a verse (speak, write, or sing it).

  • Service — Frequent acts of small, humble service rewire motives from self to others (works flow from grace, not vice versa).

FAQs

Q — Isn’t this “works”?
A — No. Transformation is gospel-first. Salvation and renewal are by grace; the mind-renewal and obedience are how the grace is worked out in daily life. The finished work of Christ is the foundation; our obedience is the fruit.

Q — How long does it take?
A — Growth differs. Paul describes being transformed “by the renewing of your mind” and that is a process. Expect steady, patient progress, not instant perfection. The more you focus with intention and yield to the spirit, the more quickly the spirit can execute transformation in you.

Resources to learn more

  • Dan Mohler — short, practical teaching on identity, confession and walking in God’s reality (search “Dan Mohler identity in Christ” for his shorter clips and demonstrations).

  • NKJV scripture tools — Uee Bible Gateway,   or Bible.com , or OpenBible.info  for quick lookups and reading plans.

  • Read: short works on sanctification and renewing the mind (look for titles or pastors you trust; many congregational Bible studies focus on Romans and Ephesians).

Your Calling – Closing encouragement

God’s aim is restoration: to make you again what he originally made you to be — an image-bearer flowing with his love and power.

That restoration is both a one-time legal miracle (the cross) that defeats death and opens up eternity for us, and a life-long journey (the renewals of your mind and heart). Start today with one verse, one confession, and one obedient act. Over time, grace will do what effort alone never could.

 

Spend Quality Time With God

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Be Transformed By Spending Quality Time Alone With God

The Opportunity

Many modern western churches are creating generations of false converts; Folks who think Christianity is all about them getting into heaven someday, Folks who think they are all set for eternal life because they heard about Jesus and spoke a sinner’s prayer once. Folks who treat Christianity very superficially and only adopt Christian principles when it is convenient, or not at all. Christians in name only; Folks who think it is fine to continue on in their old self-centered ways, behaving badly, treating others horribly, not becoming good ambassadors for Jesus, and in fact repelling many from considering Christianity as a desirable option.

Dan Mohler does an awesome job bringing these points out and showing us how to do much better. This write up is inspired by Him and is an attempt to capture the essence of His message for your use.

It is all about Knowing God and Jesus

Scripture is very clear, you Gain eternal life when you KNOW God and Jesus. KNOWING God is much different than Knowing ABOUT God.

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

You can tell if someone KNOWS God by their attitude and how they behave towards others. If they KNOW God, they will exhibit love. If they don’t know God they will exbibit self-centered behaviors: pride, anger, impatience, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

To Know God You Must Spend Time With Him

To KNOW God you need to spend time with Him, Time alone in His presence, One-On-One.

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 1 Chronicles 16:11

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…. James 4:8

God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1O

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees you in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6

As you get to KNOW God, you will be changed by the process.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

As you get to know HIM and are changed, you will come into fellowship with Him, and He will get to KNOW you, and will invite you into the kingdom.

“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. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-24

OK, So Now You See You Need To Spend Time Alone With God, What should you do?

How Do You Spend Quality Time Alone With God

Kneel and Humble Yourself

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! Psalm 95:6

Speak to the Lord in faith so that His grace can be released into you.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-9

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Acknowledge God’s Love

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

Acknowledge Jesus’s love and His humble sacrifice for you

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

You are encouraged to get the ball rolling with the communion elements – the bread and cup. Break the bread and lift it up remembering that Jesus broke His body on the cross for you. Accept that sacrifice and Eat the bread. Lift up the cup, remembering that he shed His innocent blood to forgive your sins and make you righteous here and now and give you a path to eternal life.

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19-20

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Invite the Holy Spirit to come and take up residence in you.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13

Repent and Allow Your soul to be refreshed.

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

Submit yourself fully to Him. Yield control, and invite Him in.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.” James 4:7:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Express you desire to become like Christ, To have Him form In You and restore the original Image Of God In You.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corinthians 15:46-49

Actively embrace the call to cut off any self-serving agendas, deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Jesus.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24

Actively put off the old man and his ways, and put on the new man who’s mind is renewed.

“…if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24

…since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. Colossians 3:9-10

Commit yourself to His calling and purpose – To Bing Him Glory In All You Do, and To Shine as a Beacon for the kingdom.

Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Say Yes To His Promises of Transformation

“For all the promises of God in Christ are Yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God through us” Corinthians 1:20,

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Examples: 

 

I transcribed two examples from Dan’s Video and provide them here so you can use them for inspiration to build on.

Simple Example:

A good first session, or a great warm up for every session.

Grab the two communion elements: the bread and the cup, then go into a bedroom and start remembering Him.

Lift your eyes up to the ceiling. Lift up the bread, break it,  and say, “Jesus, this represents your body. You gave your life for me, not because you were mad at me, not because you felt sorry for me, but because you love me. You knew me and how I was living, I’m so much more when I am in You. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for not judging me. Thank you for not coming mad, but as a humble, meek, loving Savior, gentle and kind, but so powerful; The Lion and the Lamb. Thanks for what you’ve done. As best I understand, I yield my body to You, and I give myself to You. I ask You to mold me and shape me into everything You desire. Thank You for covenant.” Embrace what He has done for you and eat the bread. Then take the cup and begin to talk to Him. “So Father, I come to You. I believe that You love me and want to father me. I embrace you and submit myself to you. You are the potter, I am the clay, make me who you intended me to be when you put me here. .Please keep truth in front of me so I may learn to follow you and grow. Help me transform my mind and my heart so that I can perfect the flow of your love to others and bring you glory in all I do. I drink this cup in remembrance of you” Submit yourself to Him and drink the cup.

More detailed example:

Father, I thank You that You love me. I thank You that over years of weakness and misunderstanding and reactions to life, You never changed Your mind about me. You never changed Your mind about my value. You never changed Your mind about my destiny. You did not rewrite a book out in front of me, but instead You wooed me and You drew me and You came to me and You turned my heart to You. And I thank You that You’re not mad at me. I thank You that You forgive me. I thank You that You wash me clean of everything that I have ever done. I thank You that You’re pleased to give me the kingdom.

You said I should never fear, and You called me a little sheep in the flock, and never to fear because it’s Your good pleasure. It’s not Your burden. It’s not Your obligation. It’s Your pleasure to give me the kingdom. And I just thank You for giving me who You are and the way You function. I thank You that the depths of Your heart and the depths of Your being have become the reality of my life. I don’t want to just serve You. I don’t just want to do good deeds. I don’t want to be seen by men as a do-gooder. I want to be seen as Yours. I want to be seen for Your image, for Your love, for Your nature. And I just thank You that You’re doing a work on the inside of me.

I give You my “why”; I give You my motives. I give You my reason for being. I turn my mind to the kingdom. Father, I don’t want affirmation. I have no expectation on men. I release men; Men owe me nothing. Men don’t owe me a thing. My own spouse owes me nothing. I realize I’m privileged to love her, to lay down my life and bring out the best in her and be rain on her life and let her flower bloom. I’m here to be like You are to me, to her, and I yield myself to You. She owes me nothing. Marriage isn’t 50/50 and a lot of work. Marriage is, “I love you, and I thank you for the honor of love.” The way You love me is the way I want to always love her, and I thank You for empowering me. The way You love me as Your son, I want to love my son. The way You love me as Your son, I want to love my daughter.

God, I yield myself to You. You’re my teacher. Jesus, I don’t want anything else teaching me. I see it in Your life and I want it in mine. And I’m a big yes. Search my heart, God. Search it, Father. I’m a big yes. When I go to work, I want people to see who You are in me without me trying, without me striving. I don’t want to have to yell through a bullhorn. I don’t want to have to just wear a Christian t-shirt. I want them to see You through my life. So do a work in me. I yield to You.

I thank You, Lord. You’re taking contentions out of me, the need to be right out of me. I cast my old self off. I lay it down. If it’s not edifying, if it’s not profitable for your kingdom, I don’t want it in my life. If it doesn’t bring life, stir life, impart life, I don’t want it in me. I yield to You. Teach me what it means to be a man of God and let my life have impact. Let people know You a little more because they’ve met me. Let them know You a little more because they’ve worked beside me. Holy Spirit, empower me. Let them know You a little more because they’ve met me.

Jesus, I want to live everything You paid for. And I don’t want what the world taught me anymore as wisdom. I want a brand new thing—a new creation, a new mind, a new way, a new reason. Thanks for always loving me. Thanks for being so patient. Thank You. I’m not a step away from breaking Your heart. You do nothing but father me. My desire is to never miss You. And even in weakness, You’ll make me strong. And I’m not banking on weakness. Today, let the weak say, “I am strong.” You are the strength of my life. Did You not die for me? Did You not pull me out of sin? Did You not rescue me from darkness? Surely You empower me now that I’m in the light. Surely You’ll save me from wrath through the One that lives. Thank You for more than enough grace in my life. You took away all my flesh excuses. You took the blame off of everyone. And You’ve given me the right to just be Yours. I yield myself to You. You’ve been a great change in me because You love me, and Your love will never fail.  I thank you Lord for all you have done, and all your are doing in me and through me. I will bring you glory in all I do.

Hope you find this process helpful. Let me know how you are changed.

Reference:

Dan Mohler: How To Be Alone With God  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SqVX8JvkUU

 

What Is Your Why?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

What is Your Why?

What is the Why for your life? It matters.

You are called to live a life that brings glory to God

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made….” Isaiah 43:7

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

The way to bring Him glory is to stop living for ourselves and live for HIM.

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Let’s look at why this is a big deal, and see where we are in the process of making it happen.

What you love deep in your heart determines who you really are. It determines how you will experience life; It determines how you perceive and experience this temporary life and it determines where and how you will experience the eternal one that follows.

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

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7

You can tell what is in your heart by where your treasures lie, what comes out of your mouth, and what kind of fruit you produce with your actions.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

If your treasure is here on earth, your focus is on you and your earthly life: your body (how you look, physical capabilities),  your reputation (how others see you, how they treat you, getting recognition for your effort),  your position in life (education, job title, social status, salary), what you have (money, house, cars, things), and how to pursue pleasure (Alcohol, Drugs, Sex, Thrills, Luxury, Entertainment, Manipulation of others).

If your treasure is in heaven, you focus is on God, His kingdom and your eternity with Him: Getting to know Him, Understanding Him, Seeing from His perspective, Listening to Him, Doing His will. You are to be focused on flowing His love to others through your thoughts, words and actions. Denying your self, making you and your earthly life of less importance than serving God and His children.  Being of service to others rather than serving yourself. Generously reaching out to help those in need. Picking up your cross: sacrificing aspects of your earthly life as necessary to serve God, and forgiving those who sin against you. God promises that every person gets what they deserve in due time. He promises rewards in heaven for those who suffer in this life for His sake. When you are focused on God and His kingdom, you shine as a beacon for Him.

You know in your heart what is right and good. You just need to be honest with yourself.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hebrews 8:10

Do a self-test:

What is your why?  What drives you and your day-to-day actions

            Think through your day, your week,  What do you do and why do you do it?

Does each activity just serve you, or does it somehow serve others?

Can you connect each activity to serving God and His kingdom somehow?

Ex: I go to the gym 5x per week.

Why? To Look Good?  if so why?…keep asking why until you get to “to serve God and his children?” or “to serve ME” 

If the anwer is “To Be Healthy”…if so why?  “So I will live longer and not be sick”..that answer so far is all about ME.

Why is it important to you to live longer and not be sick? “So I don’t die young”…That is all about Me.

How about, “So I am not a burden to others as I age”…That is a little better.

How about, “So I am healthy and capable of serving God and others for many years to come.” Now you are on the right track

Or, How about, “So I can be healthy and serve God and others for many years to come, and be a positive influence on the folks at the gym and shine a beacon for the kingdom for anyone I may encounter along the way.  Now that is a worthy why.

Embracing a why like for yur activity will change the very nature of your gym visits…expecially your attitude towards others as you execute.        

Why do you say the things you do? Why do you say them the way you say them?

Are you building yourself up? Are you tearing yourself down?

Are you building someone else up? Are you tearing someone else down?

Are your communications positive and encouraging? Are they critical and condemning?

What fruit are you producing with your life?

Earthly fruit that perishes when you die?

or Fruit that lives on for eternity in someone else’s soul?  

If your treasures are still on earth and not in heaven, and your activities are not focused on serving others, and you are not producing fruit that is eternal, I encourage you to dig a bit into why God did what He did by sending His son in the Gospel message below. 

The Gospel

God is love. His love flows into you in several forms: He provides the raw energy of life, He formed you in your mothers’ womb, and He provides every breath you take. He provides people in your life to show you love and affection. He provides gifts and talents so you can be useful if you choose to nurture them. He provides every opportunity you have ever had to do something wonderful. He gives you free will to choose whether to acknowledge Him and align to His will, or ignore Him and suffer the consequences.

You love only because God loved you first. Every ounce of love in your heart came from God.  The love in your heart is God resident in you. When you pursue selfish agendas, that love reaches a dead end, the flow stops with you. When you get your own agendas out of the way and find a way to flow God’s love through you to someone else, the flow of His love has been perfected.

You are called to love God with all your heart. ALL is ALL, 100%.

“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30-31

If you love Him with all your heart, there is no room for loving you and your earthly life. You are to be a vessel for His use. He is the potter, you are the clay. You are to deny your “self”,  crucify the old you, and let Jesus form in you, and let His love flow through you.

“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.” Isaiah 64:8

“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

We are at war with God when we are focused on ourselves. God set rules to guide our behavior so that we would not cause harm to each other. God is saddened when we choose to violate His guidance and cause harm to others.  

God knows what is in your heart, and He wants to help us fix it.

“For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:20

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

He sent His son to restore that which was lost,  the image of God. He wants to come into you and help you transform into that image.

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:11

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” Colossians 3:9-10

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Our sins have consequences. He paid the price with His body, He shed innocent blood to forgive us, He bought us with a price. The least we can do is give Him our lives in return.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Ephesians 1:7

“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

When you embrace Jesus, He will work in your heart.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

God sent His son to restore us to the original image of God. He paid for our souls with His life.  His intention is to take up residence in each of us and help us transform from self-centered people to folks submitted to Him and focused on flowing love to others. When we do that we bring glory to the Father and His kingdom. That should be your purpose, your why.

We are created to bring God Glory

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:7

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

“For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

Focus on receiving God’s love into you through embracing Jesus’ and His work on the cross. God loves you so much He sent His son to suffer and die for you. He did that even while you were working against Him via your own sins; you were acting as an enemy against Him and He still forgives you and even blesses you. He paid the price for you sins. You are righteous, and reconnected with the Father; no longer separated by sin but restored to perfect unity. Your past is erased; The Father sees you as innocent and beyond reproach when He sees you through Jesus blood. Once you repent of your sins and accept Jesus work for you, you are wiped clean, there is no room for guilt, shame, or condemnation. You focus forward.  As you deny your own self, and cast aside self centered agendas, Jesus can work inside you to help you see things differently, to think about things differently, to soften your heart, to shift your priorities from serving yourself, to serving others. This changes the why for your life. You begin to focus on flowing God’s love through you to others.  The changes accumulate and you start to become more and more like Jesus, seeking and doing the Fathers will.  

Take a snapshot of your heart: What portion of your heart is rooted in love of God and His kingdom with intentions to bring Him glory, either upwards to serve God or outwards to serve others/neighbors? What portion Is rooted in love for your own self or for your earthly life?   How close to loving God with ALL your heart are you?  Ask Jesus for help to move closer to 100%.

Prayer:

Lord, help me identify the remaining self-centered loves I still hold in my heart. Help me hate them the way you hate them. Help me to repent of any self-centered agendas and turn to follow you. Help me renew my mind and see things from your perspective. I wish to serve you and perfect your love as it flows through me. Lord, help me shine as a beacon for your kingdom and bring you glory.  I ask this in  Jesus’ name, to bring glory to the Father.

 

Become Like Jesus, Become Love!

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Become Like Jesus – Become Love!

You have an huge opportunity:

We live in a fallen world where the sin of mankind continues to creates layers and layers of adverse consequence. We are each born with a sinful nature, a tendancy to love ourselves more than we love God or those around us. This inner nature makes us self-conscious, meaning we spend a lot of our time and energy worried about “ME”, what I look like, what I can do, what I have, what others might think about me, how others treat me; It is all about ME. This self-conscious perspective works itself into patterns of thoughts, emotions, intentions and actions over time. These thoughts, emotions, and intentions keep us focused on short term self-centered agendas which are often counter to our own long term success and often come at the expense of others. If you let this flawed inner nature continue to drive your thoughts, emotions and intentions, you will eventually self-distruct. If you try to manage them yourself with discipline and self-control, without addressing the root issue of your flawed inner nature, you will lead an increasingly difficult and frustrating life and never reach your full portential.  The God who created you sent His Son here to provide an upgrade path out of this fallen world and your flawwed inner nature. All you need to do is acknowledge the problem and follow Him. He promisses to fix the root issue by replacing your flawed self-centerd inner nature with one rooted in Love. He will then help you undo the self-centered thought and emotion patterns which get in your way and cause problems for others. and replace them with thoughts and emotions rooted in Love. These changes unlock the hidden potential within you; You will become the best possible you. These changes yeild benefits for you and those around you. The benefits can be experienced here and now, and they last for etenrity. Follow this brief discussion and see what salvation can really look like when you embrace it.

Call to action:

You are called to transform.  To transform from the You that was born with a self-conscious inner nature. The You that has been shaped by a life time of experiences in this fallen world. You are called to become like Jesus, to submit the old you and let Him form in you. Instead of self-consciousness driving you, you vecome driven by Love;  Love of God and Love of others. As you release your own self-centered agendas you start acting selflessly, you become Love in action.  When you do this, you become the best possible “You”; the “You” God intended when He crreated you. You will shine in this dark world, You will be a beacon for His kingdom. This transformtion is both possilbe and appropriate. 

Why are things so screwed up? 

Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God and they experienced peace and harmony with God and paradise in the garden. That all changed when Adam and Eve exercised their free will, listened to lies, and decided they would be better off to eat of the forbidden tree which violated Gods’ one big rule.  The self-conscious thoughts about becoming like a god by knowing good and evil started a chain reation. It led to a self-centered action to ignore Gods commandment and eat the forbidden fruit.  This corrupted the perfect image of God in them and made them permanently self-conscious and self-centered. They became aware they were naked, became afraid, and started hiding from God. They each deflected accountability for thier aciton by blaming someone else: Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed Eve, and then he blamed God. This flawed inner self-conscious and self-centered inner nature has been passed on from generation to generation and has only gotten worse over time. This has resulted in a world where people are focused entirely on themselves. The external consequences are all around us: Violence, Corruption, Immorality, Hate, Divisiveness, Suffering, etc. The inner agendas are evident when you look: Everything is all about “ME”!  This effects how people view themselves: What does my body look like? What do others think of me? How can I make myself look better in their eyes? How can I show off what I have? How can I avoid blame?  This effects how they view others: What do others have that I don’t? How can I get the things they have?  How can I use people to serve my interests? This also effects how they relate to God: “I have accomplished these things..not God through me.” These folks are actually stealing credit from God and there will be consequences.  “I will deal with this myself”…you can address some symptoms but you can’t get to the root. He will present increasingly difficult situations to the point where you suffer so much you give up and call out to Him for help.  Here is your opportunity to avoid all that suffering and address it now. 

Why should I care?

Like it or not, You were born with this flawed inner nature; a tendancy to be self-conscious and to adopt self-centered agendas. This inner nature is a force deep in you and it is shaping your life. It drives your thoughts, your emotions, and your choices. To the extent you let this force run free, you end up operating from a self-conscious perspective, focused on you and optimizing your short term experience. You become distracted from God and His plans for you. You view other people as competition to compare yourself to, or even worse, you view them as resources to be used for your benefit. This creates an endless cycle of distracting emotions and bad decisions as you struggle against lifes’ inevitble challenges. The rules of scociety are establsihed to keep people who are operating with this nature from causing excessive harm to each other.

People who overcome this inner flaw become awakened to the bigger perspective and make longer term decisions, loose the enless distractions and wasted energy, and realize a tremendous joy when they find themselves playing a useful role in a much more important aspect in peoples lives.   

You can detect this nature operating in you if you pay attention.

Have you ever heard yourself say any of these things, outloud or even just to yourself?

I deserve more… What is in it for me…  How will I ever get credit for doing this?

I’m sick and tired of…   I’ll show them…  Well they got what they deserved… 

I know it is wrong but I can’t stop myself… 

Do you feel a tendancy toward any of these emotions:

Pride? Impatience? Anger? Hate?

Envy? Jealousy? Lust?

Fear? Dispair? Desperation?

Guilt? Condemnsation? Shame?

Those are just some of the symptoms produced by the flawwed inner nature you were born with.   

The antidote to all of this is to “Become Love”.

God is love.  He loves us so much He sent His only begotten son as a human to suffer and die for us.

Jesus is the expressed image of God, He is love in the flesh. Jesus is love in Action.  Become like Jesus. Become Love.

We are each called to to follow Jesus, to become like Him.  To submit our old self to him and nail it to His cross. To be raised in new life with Him through His ressurection. To invite Him to come live inside us; Let Him teach us and guide us, Let Him form in us. To let Him flow through us.

What does becoming Love look like?

The following is a summary of what love looks like in thoughts, emotions, intentions, and actions

Love is patient; It is calm, It does not act or react in haste.

Love is kind; It is gentle, it appreciates others and seaks to nurture and be useful towards them.

Love is satisfied; It does not envy what others have.

Love is humble; It does not get puffed up and proud.

Love does seek attention; It does not boast or parade itself.

Love behaves properly; It is never rude or offensive.

Love is happy to flow one way; It does not need reciprocation; It does not seek its own.

Love is not provoked; It doen’t react to actions against it; It sees others as children needing Love.

Love thinks no evil; It does not generate evil thoughts, It does not wish evil on others.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity; It avoids causing harm or injustice.

Love rejoices in truth; It enjoys understanding and doing what is right.

Love bears all things; It maintains composure in the face of struggle.

Love believes all things; It embraces God’s love and trusts His promises.

Love hopes all things; It is optimistic and expects the bright future in this life and the next.

Love endures all things; It persists with conviction and overcomes challenges.

You are called to become rooted in Love and exhibit ALL of these desirable characteristics. These are each counter to the thoughts, emotions, intentions and actions driven by the self-centered nature you were born with. 

This list of characteristics can serve as a mirror to your current thoughts, emotions, intentions and actions. Are you acting in pure love? Which ones are a particular challenge for you? Does one stand out as the biggest issue? If one does not stand out, Ask the Lord to illuminate one for you so that it comes into clear focus. 

Jesus came here to restore your inner nature to the image and likeness of God – which is pure love. When you acknowledge your flaws, and accept Him as the Lord of your life, You open the door for Him to flow into you and start fixing things.  When you ask for His help, He sends the Holy Spirit to come in and take up residence inside you. If you truly give Him permission to work, it is transformational. You start seeing things differently. You start to notice some of the things you think, say, or do are not right. You start to care. You start to hear His voice trying to teach you and lead you. You can try to fix these things yourself through discipline and focus. This can impact things on the surface, but it is much more effective to give Him permission to do the necessary work deep inside you and adress the root of the issue.

How do I become Love?

Only Jesus can fix our flawed inner nature:

We ware created in Gods’ image. Adam corrupted the image through sin. Jesus came to restore what was lost through Adam, the image of God in us.

When we accept Jesus, we are born again and get a fresh start. As we deny ourselves and invite jesus to come and form in us, and the image of God is restored. You can try all the self-help do it yourself strategies you want, but only Jesus can actually restore the image of God in you.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? 

There is no down side.  The only things He will ask you to give up are the things you were never meant to have in the first place.

We need to transform our mind:

Once our spriit it born again, we then need to rewire the thoughts, emotions, and intentions that were previously established in us. We need to purge the ones rooted in our original sinful nature, and establish desireable ones that flow from Love out of our new natue.

You can try to work on this yourself and you will make some progress through focus and discipline, but at some point you willl realize this runs deep and is beyond your control. What you may not realize is that your potential will be limited by what you can imagine is possible based on your past expeirience, not what God had in mind when He formed you. 

The most effective approach is to leverage Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 

What can I do move forward and “Become Love”    

There are a couple of structured steps to help this process happen quickly and effectively.

  • Get intimate with Jesus in a quiet place. Sit with Him. Talk with Him. Listen to Him.
  • Follow this flow and speak your statements outloud directly to Jesus, speaking with intention directly from your heart.
  • Acknowledge the shortcoming you notice
    • “Jesus, I clearly have missed the mark. I was doing xxx (undesired behaviour). By doing xxxx, I was not being love.”
  • Acknowledge the consequences
    • “I can now see that doing xxx causes yyyy, this is a problem, It prevents your love from flowing through me to others”.
  • State your intention to change
    • “I no longer want to do xxxx, I want to love others the way you do, I want to become love, I want your love ot flow through me, I want to be love in action!”
  • Ask Him to execute the change in your heart.
    • “You gave your life for me, I hereby give my life to you,:
    • “I nail my old sinful self to your cross. I put my old self to death in your grave”:
    • “I am rasied into new life with you and your resurrection”
    • “I put off my old self, and put on Jesus”
    • “It is no longer me that lives, but You live through me”
    • “I invite you to come in and change my heart – help me become love”
    • “Transform my thoughts, emotions and actions – help me become love in action for others”
  • Declare the desired result in faith – trusting that it is happening as you speak
    • “The Holy Spirit is in me, leading me, teaching me, helping me”
    • “You are working in me; You are the potter, I am the clay”
    • “You are helping me see things from your perspective”
    • “You are leading me into all truth”
    • “You are purifying my heart to love others as you love them”
    • “You are crushing my selfish agendas”
    • “You are helping me put xxxx (specific focus issue) far behind me”
    • “You are helping me become yyyy (desired characteristic): a humble man, a patient man, etc”
    • “I look forward to becoming more and more like You”
    • “Your love will flow through me to others.”
    • “People will get a good look at You when they see me in action.”
  • Be thankful and give glory to the Father through the Son
    • “I thank you for all you have done and what you are doing in me”
    • “This is Your amazing work, not anything I have done”
    • “You are the vine and I am the branch, I can do nothing without you.”
    • “May your work shine through my life”
    • “May I be a bright beacon for you and the kingdom.”
    • “I speak all of this in Jesus’ name to bring glory to the Father through the Son.”

Go for it. Be committed to becoming love, You will become your best you. Submit your flawed old self and committ your new self to follow Jesus. Invite the Holy Spirit to come in and help you. Be receptive as the Holy Spirit helps you identify issues and opportunities, Yield to Him completely and let Him do His best work in you. Declare the bright future in faith even before it comes to pass. Be thankful for His work in you and make sure God gets all the credit.

Keep after this agenda as you work through the progression of issues that will inevitably peel off, it is well worth the effort!

Supporting Scriptures

God is love

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8

Jesus is the expressed image of God, Jesus is love in the flesh

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Colossians 1:15

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” Hebrews 1:3

You are called to imitate Jesus, to be like Jesus, To walk in love

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

“…‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Love is…

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Becoming Love involves transforming how you think, speak and act, and aligning with Jesus

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2:5

“Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” 1 John 2:6

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

This involves getting your old self out of the way, and letting Jesus flow through you

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

The Holy Spirit is available to all who ask

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

The Holy Spirit will take up residence in you if you make an appropriate home for Him

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The Holy Spirit will highlight your opportunnities ot improve

“And when He has come (The Holy Spirit), He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” John 16:8

The Holy Spirit will work in your heart and your mind, and even your physical body

“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11

As you renew your mind and reorient your thoughts and emotion, you will align your behaviors with God’s intention.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Shine like a beacon for the kingdom

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Glorify the Father through the Son

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13

 

You can’t do it, Only He Can!

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

You want to become your best self? You can’t do it, Only He can!

Opportunity:

I have come to appreciate the power of God to change things inside us. It is amazing to see how dramatically and how quickly He can make changes if we give Him permission and some space to work. He can change what we notice, how we think, what we want, what we do, and how we do it; And He can do it practically overnight. We each have an opportunity to leverage this powerful force in our lives.

We were put on this earth to manifest Gods love. The sinful nature introduced by Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the garden has gotten in the way of that purpose; We all struggle in a fallen world as a result. We are each called to transform from being “Self”-centered to becoming “Love”-centered so that we manifest Gods love to others on this earth. 

Self Improvement Approach:

Some folks try to do this themselves in self-improvement or self-help mode: Try to understand the rules, Apply the rules to our lives when practical, Do our best to control our urges and emotions, and strive to be a good person. This approach can achieve decent results in outward behavior, but it does not address the root issue driving undesired thoughts, motivations, and feelings. This approach is prone to failure, and It can gernerate internal struggles and extreme levels of frustration. It also misses the opportunity for Grace to come in and help make change.

God Powered Approach:

The alternate approach is to submit yourself to God and invite the Holy Spirit to come in and change you. If you give Him permission, He will replace the sinful nature deep in your soul with the loving nature He originally intended. That will remove the driving force for self-centered agendas (thoughts, motives, emotions) that you otherwise will have to continuously fight against.  If you continue to give Him permission, He will work in you to rewire thought patterns and emotions built up around your old sinful nature and help establish improved patterns where you start to see things from His perspective, see His love in action in your life, see the opportunities He presents, find ways to flow His love out to others with your unique gifts and talents, and feel the Joy of being part of His kingdom.

These are very different process with very different results. The “you” that results from your best efforts is limited by your ability to continuously deal with your sinful inner nature. The “you” that results from transformation by God’s grace, is freed from that inner constraint and is limited only by your own imagination of what is possible and your willingness to release yourself to the Holy Spirit.

If you want to expeirence your ultimate God powered transformaiton there are a few things to consider.

1) Free Will: You have free will to decide how you want to proceed with your life. God wll not force anything on you. You have to decide to make a change before He can change it. 

2) Your inner love: God will continue to give you what you love deep in your heart. This sounds great, but you have to understand what you really love. If you still love your self-centered self, He will not take that away from you. If you want to give Him permission to make changes, you must recognize in your mind that you are creating undesired consequences with your current approach and you must become committed in your heart that a change is necessary. It is only after these two steps then you have actually given Him permission to make changes in your life.

3) Grace: Grace is the free flow of blessings from God to those who believe. Grace works through Faith.

4) Faith:  Faith is when you believe and hope for something to happen in the future before you see any of the tangible results. For example, when you agree to mow a lawn for the first time, you are acting in faith that you will get paid when you are done. You are willing to work now and get paid later based on an understanding established up front. You mow the lawn, i’ll give you $20. If you trust the agreement and mow first, you create tension which pulls the pay into your wallet. God works in sort of the same way. The bible makes promises of good things that can flow into you and it describes expectations for you to align yourself to recieve them. If you position yourself properly with God,  claim one more of the promises He makes to believers, believe that it is already happening for you based on proper understanding, and it will flow into you. You must act (think, speak, act) in faith to make space for His grace to flow in.

ex: Father God, You call me to see things from your perspective. You call me to see my enemies as children of God stuggling in this fallen world. I thank you for working this in me so that I can let your love flow through me and shine like a beacon for your kingdom..     

How:

So how do we give God permission to make changes in you, and how do you make space for Grace to move and do its work?

  • Submit yourself to Jesus, Make Him Lord of your life
    1. He has full authority over heaven and on the earth
    2. He came here and paid the price to restore what was lost
    3. He is the way, the truth, and the life
      • He is the ONLY way to the Father
      • The truth WILL set your free
      • Knowing Him IS eternal life
  • Submit your old inner nature to God, condemn it, crucify it.
    1. My sinful nature came from Adam and is rooted in evil
    2. I am no longer interested in self-conscious or self-serving agendas in my life
    3. I hereby crucify my old self with Jesus on the cross
    4. I am putting off the old man, and putting on Jesus
  • Raise yourself in the resurrection with Jesus
    1. I am raised into life with Jesus
    2. I am born again – My spirit is renewed – I am a child of God
    3. Jesus is the first born of many – I am one of the many
    4. The Image of God is restored in me – I am a new man
  • Receive the Holy Spirit
    1. Holy Spirit please come and live in me.
    2. I present my body as a temple worthy of your presence.
    3. Fill me overflowing with your living water.
  • Give Him permission to work in you
    1. I draw near to You – please draw near to me.
    2. I seak you – Please help me get to know You.
    3. Guide me into all truth and righteousness.
    4. Open my eyes to see things from your perspective.
    5. Open my ears so I hear and understand your words.
    6. Transform my mind so I think your thoughts.
    7. Change my heart so I know and do your will.
  • Give Him glory
    1. I am saved by Grace througb Faith; It is not me but you that does this work.
    2. You are the vine, I am the branch; I can do nothing without you
    3. I ask all things in Jesus name, to bring glory to the Father through the son.

I am a work in progress, This is a work in progress, Hope it helps.

 

Second Death ?

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

How do you avoid a second death? 

 

Thought for the day: Dying once is hard enough to deal with, What is the scond death and how do you avoid it?

The bible mentions a second death several times, It is associated with a sinful person spending eternity in Hell, burning with brimstone in the Lake of fire. Brimstone is sulfer and makes nasty sulfuric acid fumes as it burns; It would be best to avoid getting anywhere near such a fire.   

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelations 21:8)

To understand a second death, lets be clear on the first death; To do that we need to understand our basic nature. We are spiritual souls born into a physical body. The physical body is formed of earthly flesh in the mothers womb and experiences physical death. The soul is formed of spiritual substance in the mothers womb and is released to retern to God after physical death of the body. 

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13)

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)

“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

The soul is eternal and will exist forever.  Once it is released after the death of our physical body, the first death, it will transition to either eternal “life” in heaven or eternal “death” in hell.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

The concept of spiritual Life and Death is introduced as a tree metaphor thorughout the bible. Eating of the “tree of life” comes from becoming righteous and following Gods commandments. When we Love Him first, and Love others as ourselves, we become fruitful and prosperous in this life and will experience eternal life connected with God in paradise.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life…” (Proverbs 11:30)
“…To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” (Revelation 22:14-15)

Eating of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” is the opposite; Operating on your own self-centered agenda, separate from God and his protections. If you operate in this way, you will gain knowledge of good and evil from first hand experience. Your self-centered sinful ways will lead you on a downward spiral of poor decisions and destructive consequences. Hopefully, at some point, you will reflect and realize this path might not be working out for the best. You have your entire life to discover the Lord as your savior and change your ways. If you choose to leave this earthly life in self-centered sinful mode, you will have missed your chance. Your soul will spend eternity separated from God and His life giving Love and Truth; You will be open to torment from the Devil without the civil laws of society on earth, “burning” in the lake of fire.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” . . . Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. . . . And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Let’s understand how this works; God offers us protection from evil. Sin causes separation from God and His protections

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:20)

“These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

Sin has consequences, Continued sin leads to death of the soul, or spiritual death

“For the wages of sin is death,…” (Romans 6:23)
“Behold, all souls are mine;…the soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

So how do we avoid spiritual death?

We have two levels in our mind – an inner spiritually oriented mind – and an outer carnal / flesh oriented / emotion driven mind

“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:21-23)

The two levels of your mind are in conflict with very different priorities. Our outer / emotional self wants to pursue fleshly desires – ignoring God’s commandments – sin. The inner self (our mind) recognizes God’s love, the law/commandments, and wants to avoid sin and pursue goodness.

“For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.” (Galatians 5:17)

One level of your mind will always be dominant.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5)

Our carnal oriented outer mind is actually at war with God

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7)

If we let the outer mind continue on its selfish fleshly agenda it will take us to spiritual death.

“Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1:15)

We are born with the outer mind dominant which gives us our sinful nature.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)
“Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:3)
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. (Romans 7:18)

We must turn from evil as sin against God to drive a wedge against the carnal mind.

“…for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32)

When we truly repent of our sins, Jesus gift of forgiveness allows us to move forward without the burden of guilt that buried us under the law, and allow us to prosper in eternal life.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”(Acts 3:19)
(Are they worse sinners?) ” I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3/5)
“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions” (Colossians 2:13)

We must develop the inner mind with sufficient knowledge and discipline to counter and totally overcome the dominance of the outer mind, and escape the corruption of self-centered agendas in the flesh.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust..” (2 Peter 1:4)
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

The outer mind is so dominant that the only way for the inner mind to actually win this war is to completely submit yourself to Jesus as your lord and savior.

“ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 8:24-25)
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8)
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

We become born again with a fresh start and spiritual support system, Say good by to the old man, hello to the new.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:6-11)

And to use the holy spirit to help you put aside all fleshly agendas that compete.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3)

To become committed to living a life worthy of the price he paid.

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Conclusion:

The risk of second death is a really big deal – It is eternity – and it is Hell. As long as we are reunited with God through true repentance for sins and belief in Jesus’ resurrection – the second death has no power over us.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:11)
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

 

  1. Turn from Evil as Sin against God. Repent of your sins
  2. Accept Jesus as your lord and savior
  3. Actively pursue transformation of your mind to see things from God’s perspective
  4. Listen to the Holy spirit for guidance
  5. Strive to live a life worthy of the price HE paid.

 

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have questions or comments.

 

 

 

 

Put On Jesus

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Are you putting on Jesus? (or just pretending to be a Chrisitan?)

 

Do you get up every morning and “put on Jesus”?

“… put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)
 
Some people pursue Christianity just so they will know the secret password to get into heaven someday. Some people say the sinner’s prayer and then continue on with their sinful life assuming they are all set. Some folks adopt selected Christian rules and rituals where they are convenient and fit into their current life. All those folks are missing the primary expectation of true Christians, to become “Christ-like”; To live your life differently now as an investment for glorious returns to come in heaven. Folks not pursuing transformation in this life will be more than a little disappointed in where and how they end up spending eternity.
 
When we are serious about it and “Put On Jesus” every day, People should be able to see Jesus operating in us and through us:
1) Subordinate your self-centered interest and focus your energy on God and His Kingdom
2) See others as valuable children of God and help them pursue their divine purpose
3) Be a bright light in an otherwise dark world through our consistent behavior and attitude
4) Don’t let sin against you become sin inside you
 
As this starts to happen you will begin to see God’s will being done on earth as it already is in Heaven.

Supporting scripture points:

We are all born as sinners into a fallen world.
“… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
We all face the death penalty for our sins.
“… the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross.
“… he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
He purchased our debt, the least we can do is give Him our life, the life he paid for.
“…you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
He is merciful and will gladly forgive that debt if we truly repent of our sins and follow Him.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
In return for following Him, He promises a better life now in this world and even greater glories in heaven.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you (the choice of) life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
You are promised eternal life (Salvation) if you confess your sins and genuinely accept Jesus as your Lord.
“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
You are saved by God’s grace based through you position in faith (belief and commitment to action), not by any specific things you have done or results of your efforts.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Faith is built by acting on your beliefs; do you just talk about believing, or do you actually walk the talk. If you are not actually living according to Christian beliefs (loving God with all your heart, subordinating your self-centered interests, loving others more than yourself, actively repenting and turning from sin, seeking ways to use your gifts to serve others) your faith is dead.
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26)
How you live your life really matters. You will be held accountable for every word you speak, and every thing you do.  So make good choices.
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”(Matthew 12:36)
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)
We as believers are called to use the Holy Spirit inside us to live a life transformed.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind….” (Romans 12:2)
We are part of the body of Christ; We are His arms and legs on earth.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
We are commissioned to continue His work here on earth.
“… As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21)
 
We are asked to “put on” Jesus Christ – embrace Him, be like Him, imitate Him
“… put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked”. (1 John 2:6)

My prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me and never giving up on me. Jesus, I thank you for the work you did for me through the cross; you are the author and finisher of my faith. I am committed to follow you and pick up where you left off. Jesus, I thank you for my water baptism, I went down with you and all my sins, and came up in you washed clean and born again. Lord I thank you for establishing a direct connection with me via your Holy Spirit; He teaches me, guides me, and convicts me as I work to follow you. I thank you for helping me as I transform my mind and begin to see things the way you see them. I thank you for helping me transform my heart by rooting out all the self-centered agendas I got from this fallen world. I am committed to truly loving you with all my heart, and loving others as myself. I ask for your continued help as I strive to imitate you, to cloth myself with you as I get up every day, and become your Love in action for others. Guide me to live my life as a shining light in the darkness, and to act in ways that serve as a beacon for your kingdom, to bring glory to you and to the Father. I ask this in Jesus Holy name. AMEN.
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