So no, this post is not in line with my Bible-in-a-year Schedule, but I've come to a few conclusions: (1) I'm not going to finish this in a year, and (2) I should also write about things that are weighing on my heart. The issues of my heart I guess?
Well, this isn't a bad post. It's a good one!
So besides going through the Bible this year, I have also started this really great book entitled Every Woman's Battle. It has some very weighty issues regarding sexual and emotional purity and there is even a men's version. I suggest it to EVERYONE, for I am very sure you will be blessed and learn some things about yourself you haden't the slightest idea even existed.
While going through this book, I came to a section where the author, Shannon Ethridge, challenges readers to say aloud a chart of scriptures about our identity in Christ. As I began typing it out to put on my mirror, I felt some crazy peace. It was like a warm, mushy, gooey, feeling. A feeling that I have only experienced when I allow myself to indulge in Christ's love for me.
Notice I said, "ALLOW MYSELF". Yeah, God always loves us, but sometimes we forget. Or act like we've forgotten. And when we do that, it's hard to feel it at times. I'm guilty of that at times. However, He's always there waiting on us to come back to our first love. How faithful is He? Amazing.
If you are reading, I challenge you as well. Take this list, print it out, put it on your bathroom mirror. And SAY the scriptures aloud. And watch the Word work over the next 30-days. I'm excited! I looked up all the scriptures and typed them out, so all you have to do is print and go!
I included a little "mood music": Israel & New Breed "I Know Who I am"
Note: Some of the scriptures are written in King James Version and others in Amplified. Amplified is one of my favorite versions, so i'm partial. :)
I AM ACCEPTED IN CHRIST!
· I am God’s Child: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12)
· I am Christ’s friend: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15)
· I have been justified: Therefore since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
· I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit: But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
· I have been bought with a price; I belong to god: You were bought with a price. So then, honor God and bring glory to him in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
· I am a member of Christ’s body: Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct each with his own place and function. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
· I am a saint: Paul, an apostle of Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus. And to the faithful in Christ Jesus… (Ephesians 1:1)
· I have been adopted as God’s child: For the foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased him and was His kind intent] (Ephesians 1:5)
· I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit: For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction by one [holy] spirit to the Father [so that we may approach Him] (Ephesians 2:18)
· I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even [for] the forgiveness [of] our sins (Colossians 1:14)
· I am complete in Christ: And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life[in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. (Colossians 2:10)
I AM SECURE IN CHRIST!
· I am free forever from condemnation: There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
· I am assured that all things work together for good: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
· I am free from any condemning charges against me: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercessionfor us. (Romans 8:33-34)
· I cannot be separated from the love of God: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, or life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 38-39)
· I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God: But it is God who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduring us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit];[He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting his seal upon us and giving us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as the security, deposit, and guarantee [of the fulfillment of His Promise]. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
· I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected: And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that he Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. (Philippians 1:6)
· I am a citizen of heaven: But we are citizens of the sate which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior. (Philippians 3:20)
· I am hidden with Christ in God: For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real]life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
· I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
· I can find grace and mercy to help me in time of need: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in the time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
· I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me: We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold on him or touch [him]. (1 John 5:18)
I AM SIGNIFICANT IN CHRIST!
· I am the salt and light of the Earth: You are the salt of the Earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can it’s saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5;13-14)
· I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life: I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you cannot do nothing. (John 15:1,5)
· I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)
· I am a personal witness of Christ: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth (Acts 1:8)
· I am God’s temple: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
· I am a minister of reconciliation: Therefore if any person is in Christ he is a new creation; the old [moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! But all things are from God, who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].It was God in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were though us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor and be reconciled by you. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
· I am God’s coworker: We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
· I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)
· I am God’s workmanship: For we are God’s own handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10)
· I may approach God with freedom and confidence: In whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness of free access (an undeserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). (Ephesians 3:12)
· I can do all things through Christ who give me strength: I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:13)
