As, noted in Friday’s post: we need to Know Unequivocally our identity in Christ Jesus. Paul outlined our Identity in Christ Jesus clearly in Ephesians chapters 1-3. Still there is knowing with the head and there is heart knowing. Only heart knowing can guarantee perfect peace in every situation of life. So, how do I transform that head knowledge into undeniable truth written upon my heart? As I presented in the previous post, there are 7 steps to this process
- Accept Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior
- Prayerfully Study God’s Word
- Declare it as So
- Realize Every Trial is a lesson in Truth
- Keep a Faith Journal
- Seek Godly Counselors When Doubt Arises
- Rest Assured, God Will Write it on Your Heart
During the last post, I wrote to you about step 1. Accept Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior. We cannot own money deposited in an account, until we first claim that account. Neither can we be the Blessed, Chosen, Redeemed, Beloved Child of God; unless we freely accept the adoption He offers us. We can never learn who God truly IS, unless we spend time getting to know Him.
Today, we will look deeper at steps 3 through 6.
DECLARE IT AS SO
Stand before your mirror and declare this truth. Shout it before the crowd; humbly, acknowledging your position in Christ Jesus, by grace alone. Yet, do not confuse this for pridefully declaring “I AM” as some modernistic preachers have done. Instead, like Louie Giglio, say; “I am not but I know I AM”.1 Therefore, I am God’s Blessed, Beloved, Chosen, Redeemed Child; because of all Jesus Christ did for me on the Cross and not my works of my own hands.
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, ‘Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee’ (Psalm 2:7).
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee (Psalm 22:22).
The more you hear yourself declaring the truth; (whether to yourself or to others in testimony) the more you will believe the truth in your own heart.
REALIZE EVERY TRIAL IS A LESSON IN TRUTH
God is Sovereign! Therefore, because He is Sovereign; every trial that enters your life came sifted through His Hands of Love. He allows trials, sorrows and pain in the life of His children that He might grow them up and they might come to know Him in the fullness of His Glory.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1: 2-4).
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold (I Peter 1:6-7).
God allows our trials for our ultimate joy to be full. I know this; because, I have lived it and have seen it so in so many precious saints of the kingdom.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
His plan is for our good. His love allows no less than our fullness of joy; but, that sometimes mean we let go of counterfeit joys to find He is our Treasure and our Joy. His promise to each of us is.
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:28-31
KEEP A FAITH JOURNAL
I cannot stress enough the importance of doing this. Keep a journal of trials you face, the scriptures relating to the trial and God’s ultimate deliverance from the trial. You will find that God did much more than deliver you, He carried you through and brought you precious gifts of faith, joy and hope you never dreamed of having.
Throughout the Old Testament, God urges His people to remember how He parted the Red sea, brought them out of captivity, provided them with manna, and how He delivered them repeatedly. He instructed them to write songs, pass them down from generation to generation lest they forget His love, His kindness and His faithfulness.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3-4).
We, must do the same and pass it on to the generations beyond us. How could I not pass on God’s faithfulness to my children, grandchildren and all the generations to follow? Journaling is one way of doing just that. Another is to write little notes in your favorite Bible, reminding you and any who will later read it of God’s faithfulness to you.
SEEK GODLY COUNSELORS WHEN DOUBT ARISES
There are moments when we need help. Remember, our motivational gifts vary and there are times we need the help and guidance of another’s gifts. Or, at other times; we just need a listening ear with an empathetic heart. I cannot tell you how often, God has sent just that into my life. Sometimes in the most unlikely places. One timely word spoken the moment I needed to hear it.
God sent counsellors to His people. Sometimes, prophets or priests; yet, we know at other times; God sent men. We know very little about David’s uncle; except, this:
Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor, a wise man (I Chronicle 27:32)
We need counsellors at times. At other times, we need guidance from those gifted with special motivational gifts. However, we need to be careful to choose counselors who know God and are diligent to truth.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS In finding Perfect Peace
We will look at the final 2 steps of this 7 steps to discovering Perfect peace in our identity in Christ; however, please do not think these steps are to be done in any particular order. Beyond step one (which is necessary before any of the steps to be worthwhile); the remainder of the steps are a blend between what God does and what we do in response.
Indeed, I must say that through this journey, I cannot say when I learned Perfect Peace. Perhaps, I woke up one morning and realized Perfect Peace had arrived. Then, I searched to discover how and when it had arrived and what I needed to do to not let it escape again.
Concluding Tweets
[tweetthis]Lord, write your truth upon my heart and let me rest in You[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”When we know in our heart the full truth of our identity in Christ Peace & Joy reign” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]The sweetness of joy is found when we rest in Jesus, completely His[/tweetthis]
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link.
OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?
If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here
OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE
If you want to know more about books I have written: You can find a link at: Book Resources.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
1Louie Giglio, i am not but i know I AM, (Sister’s, OR: Multinomah Publishers, 2005)
The inscription I added Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash