Over the past two weeks we have looked at how to know our identity in Christ Jesus.  To live a life in Perfect Peace, we need to unequivocally stand firm, knowing exactly who we are as Chosen, Redeemed, Blessed, Beloved, Children of God.  Having accepted the adoption, Jesus Christ purchased for us on Calvary; we need to learn to live as who we are.  I have laid out seven steps to help you transform that head knowledge into heart knowledge, looking in detail to each step.

However no fear, God will inscribe my heart and yours with His truth.  This, I believe is the most important step to remember.  God will accomplish all that He has planned in my life; because, it has never been about me. It has always been about Him. Therefore, He, the great I AM, will fill my heart with Him: His Joy, His Hope and His Glory forevermore.

REST ASSURED, GOD WILL INSCRIBE MY HEART WITH HIS TRUTH

Continue reading No Fear, God Will Inscribe My Heart with Truth →

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

1. Accept Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior
2. Prayerfully Study God’s Word
3. Declare it as So
4. Realize Every Trial is a lesson in Truth
5. Keep a Faith Journal
6. Seek Godly Counselors When Doubt Arises
7. 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

Back on May 12, 2017; I wrote  How to Know Your Position IN Christ by Grace and began to write multiple blogs over the summer outlining many of our possessions and our position found in Christ Jesus.  Later, on August 11, I pointed out our dilemma often with our own identity crisis in How to Overcome Our Greatest Identity Crisis.  Again, having detailed our Identity in Jesus Christ,  I want to remind you of the importance of unequivocally knowing your identity in Jesus.

Our position (identity) in Jesus remains eternally guaranteed by God Himself,  with the covenant written and signed by the blood of Christ Jesus and sworn to by God upon His Word (Hebrews 6:13-20).  Yet, if we do not write them on our hearts, we forget.  As the hustle and bustle of this world tugs at our hearts, it would seem amnesia occurs; because, we forget or never even count as ours the innumerable possessions we hold in Christ Jesus.

OUR IDENTITY AS OUTLINED IN EPHESIANS

Continue reading How to Know Your Identity in Jesus →

In Monday’s post, I explained the need for us to understand each others Motivational gift; because, God gave differing gifts to each. Through knowledge and understanding, with grace; we harmoniously stand strong, united, invincible.  So, let me try to demonstrate by example; how, this functions by exposing my own family and our dynamics.  There was a time; before, I listened to Charles Stanley’s tapes that I found our inter-working dynamics at times difficult to say the least; because of our wide differences.  Certainly, we could cause each other as much harm as good; so, we pent up a lot of emotions; because, we just didn’t know how the other one thinks so differently and responds so differently.  Now, I know what a blessing and gift from God our differences truly are.

Earlier I related a story about a moment in time when I was drowning emotionally, financially, and ultimately spiritually; because, I tried to do it all without talking to my children at all.  My reasoning: to avoid burdening them with my problems. Yet, I was drowning; with nowhere to turn; never realizing that God had already equipped my family with everything we ever needed to stand strong against Satan.

MERCY

My gift: Mercy.  Mercy needs a protector and a wise counselor to survive!   I knew the struggles deep within my own heart; yet, could never fully comprehend them until I heard Charles Stanley’s sermon that day on Mercy.  Yes, Mercy is the bright, shining light of hope, joy, and unwavering faith; however, Mercy is always getting tangled up in the “how to” and “when’s” of helping others in this life.  Always giving money, I did not have, to help others who did not or could not change; I needed help.  I begged God for discernment, which never came.  Little did I know; my own son was the one who could rescue me from myself; if I only learned to confess and listen.  He could devise the plan for success.

GIVING

Alberto has that gift of discernment regarding money.  He can find the best bargain, know when to spend and when not to.  Brilliantly, he manages his money so that he is positioned to give to God’s work; yet, even that he does with careful discernment that his money will have the greatest impact on the world.  Recognizing his gift, I should have been open to listening; yet, I daresay, my own fear of losing his respect, drove me away.  after all, if he knew how foolish his mom was; would he still love me?

Of course, the truth is: he always knew and respectfully didn’t say anything.  That is until, I was moving to Missouri and he said, “Mom, my guess you don’t have the down payment for a house and yours in Florida is underwater.  So, I will buy you a house; you make the monthly payments.  Love you.”  And that was that.

LEADERSHIP:

Alberto also has a second motivational gift: leadership.  In the case of our family, some would need to carry two for our survival.  He sees the big picture and can focus on completing the task.  For that same reason, he does not accept the emotions which interfere with moving forward.  Never listen to the naysayers; because, negativity stops the progress.  Also, he truly is the “forgetting that which is behind” (Philippians 3:13), press forward kind of guy.  Every family needs at least one.  He always says, “Mom, I love you.  I am here; but, if you need someone to listen to you, Call Ron or Melissa.”  He knows his limitations; yet, if we need someone to complete any project or to pull us forward, it is Alberto we turn to.

JUSTICE:

Ron’s Gift is Justice.  He quickly can see any situation with clarity, knowing right and wrong.  Also, he is very persuasive at laying out the argument as to why or why not to proceed.  Along with that means, he listens astutely to all that is said, filing and dissecting it with accuracy.  Then, when he pronounces his judgement of the situation; he presents it clearly, like a prosecutor laying out his case.  At the same time, he has a slight touch of Mercy sprinkled in; making him the “go to guy” for any tough decisions.  However, as the case for those with the gift of justice; he can be way too harsh on himself as well.

SERVICE:

Melissa’s gift is clearly service.  Always available, she flitters about serving and helping.  Quick to always be ready to help anywhere, everywhere and anybody who needs her to.  She would drop everything to run to my side if I needed her there.  The best friend on the phone, always ready to listen and serve with kindness.  Before, I failed to recognize her needs for gratitude and demonstrations of love in return; yet, I am learning each day how to give back what she needs.  Well at least, sometimes.  Still working on that; because, those with the gift of service need to know they are appreciated fully.

TEACHING:

Perhaps, lurking in the background; I had a touch of this gift, always studying in search of truth both in God’s Word and life.  Although, I must say; a busy life allowed complacency. Yet, I have found the motivational gift of teaching is increasing in its significance in my life.  Now the busier I am, the more time I also devote to Bible Study. Now, I yearn to spend hours “rightly dividing the truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  The point there being that as we grow in Christ, we may gain another Motivational Gift of the Spirit taking on a much higher role than it did in the past.  Studying God’s word and sharing that through my writing and speaking have become my greatest pleasures in life, now as I get older.

EXHORTATION:

I cannot say that any of us in my little family have this one; however, each of us have been granted it when needed in a moment of crisis.  Remember Jesus Christ holds all the Motivational Gifts; therefore, can fill us as needed for a situation we are facing.  Much like when Alberto called me to say “Mom, this is what you need to do!”; while laying out a perfect 3 step plan as how to do it.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

So, there you have it.  Just as God equipped my family with all the gifts; He does His Church.  Also, knowledge of how these each work is key to harmony in the family and in the church.  I hope I have at least whet your appetite to learn more about the Spiritual Motivational gifts and encourage you to get Charles Stanley sermon series.  It can change the dynamics of your home, church, work and where ever you go for the good.  United we stand, always with greater strength, hope, and joy.

CONCLUDING TWITTER

[tweetthis]Seeing the value of each others special motivational gift harmony comes[/tweetthis]

[tweetthis]A single thread may break yet many threads intertwined make a strong rope[/tweetthis]

[tweetthis]United Harmoniously we stand strong against Satan’s Destructive Attacks[/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

A Broken and Contrite Heart, I published in 2010.  It answers the question, “What do I do when I keep falling into the same sin? Does God hate me because I keep failing to get this right?  So, where do I begin again and find joy in my salvation; after, falling.  If you want to know more about this book or the other 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.

All too often, we misunderstand each other because we want to see everyone through our own narrowed lens of perception. As Christ ascended on high, he gave gifts to men.  Although, Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of all the Spiritual Motivational Gifts, He gave the gifts individually within the family and the church.  Since each of us may see the world through differing lenses, we need to learn how to see the whole body of the church clearly.  This can only happen through understanding each other’s motivational gifts.  Once we see the power and beauty of each gift, we can embrace the differences with open arms; realizing we need each other’s gift.

This is true both in the Church and in the family. When we combine the various gifts harmoniously, we develop a strong defensive line against attack by outside forces of any kind, including from satanic attack. For us to work harmoniously, we must first understand and appreciate, “where we are coming from”.  That is why we find so much bickering and dispute within our families and our churches.  When I first heard Charles Stanley’s series God’s Children Gifted for Ministry, it changed my dynamics within the family, among my friends, at church, at work and even how I see others I meet along this journey. Truly, United we stand, divided we fall.

ONE BODY MANY PARTS

As a unit, no member of the body is more important than another. It requires all the various members of the body harmoniously performing their unique part in an action.  For a runner to train, he cannot say I will train my muscles; yet, forget the importance of his heart, lungs, eyes, ears, nose, skeletal system, brain and even arms.  Each performs its own unique function, so the runner can perform at his or her best performance.

Paul wrote extensively about the variance in gifts and the importance of harmoniously working together in

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7 (TLB)

⁴ Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. ⁵ There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. ⁶ There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his. ⁷ The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.

12-22 (TLB)

¹² Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the “body” of Christ. ¹³ Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. We have been baptized into Christ’s body by the one Spirit, and have all been given that same Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ Yes, the body has many parts, not just one part. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.  ¹⁶ And what would you think if you heard an ear say, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye”? Would that make it any less a part of the body?  ¹⁷ Suppose the whole body were an eye—then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?

GOD’S PLAN

¹⁸ But that isn’t the way God has made us. He has made many parts for our bodies and has put each part just where he wants it.  ¹⁹ What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!  ²⁰ So he has made many parts, but still there is only one body.

²¹ The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

²² And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.

27 (TLB)

 ²⁷ Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

In order for us within the family, within the church and within our community to live in harmony, we must learn to see the world through an other’s eyes.  This only comes with knowledge and learning.  We all need each other.  We are stronger together than we could ever be alone.  In a complex world, where evil lurks; we need unity to win. Wednesday, I will share how this worked out in my family.

CONCLUDING TWEETS

[tweetthis]if a kingdom be divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand Mark 3:24[/tweetthis]

[tweetthis]25 And if a house be divided against itself that house cannot stand Mark 3[/tweetthis]

[bctt tweet=”Knowledge is the key to Harmony-We must take the time to humbly get to know each other” username=”effiedarlene”]

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.

The inscription I added Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash