Thursday, January 1, 2009

Declaring the Truth...


Who does God say you are? This is a question I posed to the Interns a few weeks back as we spent time in prayer.


We spent the first part of our prayer time listening to "I AM 365 names of God" . As we prayed and declared the truth about who God is according to scripture, we wrote down some of the names of God on a big sheet of paper, as certain names were made personal to us. For example: God is our Redeemer, the Good Shepherd, Healer, Deliverer, the Light, the Truth, Creator, the Prince of Peace, the Bread of Life...


Then we asked God to tell us who He says we are. Interestingly enough this was a much harder task. I think many of us struggle with who we think we are according to what God says. We often believe what others say about us, what we think about ourselves, and even the lies that the enemy may try to deceive us with. As we went around the room and said out loud who God says we are, many hearts were touched by the very act of just agreeing with God, about who He says we are.  As people shared one by one, I am a child of God, a son, a daughter, I am His beloved, His bride, I am an overcomer, I am a mighty man of valor, I am ... many tears slipped out of peoples eyes as agreement with the truth was stated. It was difficult for people to see themselves as God sees them in the light of His Son's work on the cross.  We even took it a step further and some shared the giftings they saw in each other from God. You are a worshiper , you are a servant, you are a warrior for the Kingdom...

I don't think this is just a matter of positive confession for positiveness sake. I think it goes far deeper than that.  Proverbs 23:7 says: For as he(a man) thinks in his heart, so is he.

 So we have a choice to make.  We can agree with the Truth, with what the Word of God says about who we are "in Christ" or we can agree with the devil. You see when we grab a hold of negative thoughts about ourselves that are not from God, we end up agreeing with the enemy (the devil) instead of agreeing with God.


II Corinthians10:4&5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 

I believe a lot of our strongholds take place in our minds. Where we think and believe things about ourselves and others that are not the truth.  I would like to suggest here, even perhaps what we think and say about our country, our leaders, other nations ???


As I mentioned to one intern that day. That I thought it was much better to confess who we are in Christ Jesus than to agree with the devil and prophesy his words over ourselves.  I am stupid, I am a failure, I can't do anything right, I'm a mess up, I will never.... Instead let's agree with who God says we are and confess that out loud. So we can hear it and begin to agree with God instead of agreeing with the lies we have been led to believe.

You yourself can go to His word to find out the truth about who you are "in Christ."

Here are just a few facts about the Truth I quickly found: We are servants of the most high God, sons and daughters, priests and kings, trees of righteousness, the sheep of His pasture, witnesses, a friend of God, the redeemed, the Bride of the Lamb, a citizen of heaven , God's workmanship, His temple, the body of Christ, a chosen generation, a new creation...

I would like to present a challenge to myself this year and all of you who would like to take this on.  To ask God to personally reveal to us who He says we are ? If you listen carefully, I believe you will hear His answer. It maybe come through a scripture you read, His still small voice when you are in prayer, perhaps a sermon, or may even from the words of a friend.  If it is God's voice I believe you will know it. The Bible tells us His sheep hear His voice.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. When I wrote this post a few weeks ago, I felt hesitant to post it at the time.  I think God was wanting me to ponder this all a bit further, especially for the New Year.

I have to tell  you at the time I wrote this I was personally challenge by this word...as I always am when I share something =) Here is my example: Jenna had a car wreak, a bus didn't see her at the stop sign and about ran her over as it took the curve very sharply.


Here was my challenge...I could say Jenna got in a car wreak...oh dear what a horrid thing, fret my head off and be mad at the bus driver (who poor thing sobbed her head off in my arms) or Praise God my daughter's life was spared. He is in control, He works all things together for good, God is merciful, I can put my hope in Him.

Jenna is fine and we are now looking for a new car for her.  Praise the Lord Almighty!

In John 6:63 the word tells us...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Let's endeavor to speak words of life about ourselves and about others in 2009






9 comments:

Vee said...

What a powerful word for a new day and a new year. I read things here that I've never considered before...

"I believe a lot of our strongholds take place in our minds. Where we think and believe things about ourselves and others that are not the truth. I would like to suggest here, even perhaps what we think and say about our country, our leaders, other nations ???"

The last part of that is completely new to me and it appears that I will have the opportunity to apply it very soon!

Thank you for sharing this today.

Oh, so glad that Jenna is alive and well. What a witness you were to the bus driver.

Okay, I've gotta run because I'm just getting way too wordy...

Judy said...

Good food for thought on this New Year's Day! And I'm up for your challenge...who does He say that I am?

Strider said...

I think the reason the "Chili" cook off is on blog rolls is because I accidentally posted it and took it immediately off the post. I guess it showed up on the blog roll! It is coming soon however!

One of the first blogs I ever wrote was "Who does God say you are." As you said, "So we have a choice to make. We can agree with the Truth....." It's really that simple....agree with God. That is freedom. Thanks for sharing New Years with Lucky and I last night. It was a good time.

Lavinia said...

What beautiful and powerful message you have posted here. In reading it, I was struck several times, as though these words were aimed solely at me. I think we need to continually remind ourselves, as you say, who God says we are, but also others too. What a challenge that is!

Anyway, I wanted to also say thanks for your kind comments on my blog, and I would like to wish you and your family including precious puddin toes, a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year. I am glad to read that your daughter survived the car wreck. An angel was on her shoulder, possibly the same angel who was on your sister's (Knitting Mania) shoulder when she had that car accident on the highway a few months back. I hope your family continues to be blessed, and I look forward to new photos of your garden come springtime 2009!

Knitting Mania said...

Powerful message sis...I'll take the challenge on also. I really like what you said about "What we say and think about our country, leaders and other nations". That sure seems to be our topic of converstaion these past few weeks.

Thanks for feeding all of us today!

Hugs---

Emancipation of the Freed said...

Great Post!

May we know the truth of how He sees us and may that truth completely set us free!

Thanks for for the prayer support!
Z

Barbara said...

amen and Amen. Wonderful post and testimony. We are precious vessels created to manifest God on this earth.
Yes God is in control and He does know what He is doing and we often slip up because we believe that our feelings and emotions are the truth. We aremeant tohave those reactions, we are after all human but the secret is that we move from those to faith just as you did.Wonderful.
Blessings to you and yours.

Angela said...

Last night I met with the ladies that are doing a Bible study with me, where we are fasting from negative thinking (foreboding thoughts). We prayed and discussed deuteronomy 30:15,19...good to read vs. 16-18 also...

They say the battle will be won or lost, first in the mind...

Blessings and thank you my precious sister for pointing the way, for leading us, sharpening us. Choose this day, life or death!! I choose life!!

Angela

Angela said...

Last night I met with the ladies that are doing a Bible study with me, where we are fasting from negative thinking (foreboding thoughts). We prayed and discussed deuteronomy 30:15,19...good to read vs. 16-18 also...

They say the battle will be won or lost, first in the mind...

Blessings and thank you my precious sister for pointing the way, for leading us, sharpening us. Choose this day, life or death!! I choose life!!

Angela

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