Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 4C-  6 steps to Victorious Joy

Thus far in this chapter I have told you that one of the major, power-filled positions that is yours and mine “In Christ” is that in Christ we are already declared Saints. Yet, we both know that our lives often do not reflect that truth. Indeed, I am certain that the harder I try to fight to prove my “righteousness” the more defeated I will become. So, how do I change that God given position into a visible reality? What are the steps to living a joyous Victorious Christian life which will bring God the Glory?

Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “You become what you think about all day long.” Buddha is also quoted as saying “The mind is everything, you become what you think.” That is the major principle of all positive thinking philosophy. It is very powerful and very true as long as it is based in reality; example, I cannot become 7 foot tall by just thinking myself so. Still there is great power in what we focus our thoughts upon. The Bible taught that very truth long before Emerson, Buddha, or the modern positive thinking philosophers did. (Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 6:21, Philippians 4:8, Matthew 12:35).

Paul knew the importance of every believer being grounded in the truth of the gospel. He knew that Christ had won the victory for each believer and that without them knowing this in the central core of their being, no Christian’s testimony could survive or stand. No Christian can fully live grounded in their faith unless they understand the truth that in Christ they have been declared saints and are saints—fully clothed in righteousness before the throne of God the Father because of the atoning, finished work of Christ on the Cross.

This is not a “hallelujah” then I shall live like the devil until I get to heaven; quite the opposite, this is (if you really know Christ as your Savior) God is going to complete the work of sanctification in you whatever it takes. Although if your heart does not desire with all its being to be righteous, then I might wonder whether you ever came to a saving knowledge of Christ. Note the key word there as desire, not fulfillment. Which is what brings us back to as a Christian what do I do to transform my state in Christ to a reality. Once more before I begin to tell you the steps that you can take let me remind you of these 4 truths.

Continue reading 6 Steps to Victorious Joy →

As the New Year began and I reflect back over my life, let me always be filled with awe and wonder at all the marvelous blessings I have been given.  In the midst of sorrow—I found joy.  In the darkest moments of illness—I found life.  In the deepest moments of loneliness—I found God’s love within me. Never take for granted a single moment of blessing or an opportunity to show kindness or mercy from a heart that has been awakened to life.  Don’t expect too much or your expectations will steal from the blessing. Never take for granted tomorrow—it may not be there.  Live your life with an outpouring of the joy, love, and peace.  Remember God gave you this moment—so make it special.

 

Awaken, Awaken O heart of mine

Today has arrived—so rare and so fine

Joyously rise—Your Spirit to shine

The love, hope and peace-God’s gift so Divine

Rise from the ashes that once was your bed

Now filled with such blessings to sprinkle and shed

Upon those so wearied by sorrow and dread

To meadows of hope where they need to be lead

Yesterday’s sorrow has proven your friend

Now you have love overflowing to lend

To each who would need a hand to ascend

Or grasp while awaiting their heart to mend

Life you were given to strive for much more

Than selfish attainment-silver galore

It’s giving of kindness you were made for

And helping another to find the right door

When memories allure your life now to trace

The good and the bad in the midst of that place

You’ll then see a glimpse of glory and grace

From God’s precious hand and his loving face

So,

Awaken, Awaken O heart of mine

Today has arrived—so rare and so fine

Joyously rise—Your Spirit to shine

The love, hope and peace-God’s gift so Divine

 

© 2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My frankness and honesty to tell you of my own failures as a Christian are not to try to say in any way that I regard sin in my life lightly. Quite the opposite is true.  I hate sin in my life.  In fact there have been times, that the thought of possibly dishonoring God  plagued me with such remorse and despair that I became paralyzed in my attempts to be a witness for Christ. After all, how could I ever point anyone toward Christ with my stumbling walk, my stuttering speech and the broken wings that would never allow this “saint” to fly? Indeed over the years, I often had to stop and wonder why God could have ever chosen a fragile heart such as mine.  It took me years of trials, bible study, listening to great theologians, and constant prayer to finally learn the secrets of how to stand firm, joyous, and victorious along this journey.  It is for that reason, I urge you to try to grasp the truths of the gospel and the scripture.  Understanding correct theology will unlock the door and will  transform your life forever from despair to joy, failure to victory, loneliness to love, fear to fearlessness, and self-loathing to a healthy self-esteem. By healthy self-esteem, I am not referring to misplaced pride either.  A careful study in the lives of David, Peter, Solomon, Eve and the majority of the Bible’s Patriarchs would reveal that right before they succumbed to their most memorable sin they had developed a misplaced pride which made them believe their plan was better than God’s plan. Neither is a healthy Christian self-esteem  laden with a self-loathing, regret and the woe is me, I am just a sinner saved by grace mindset. It is recognizing that in  Christ I am a Saint—because of His atoning work on the cross. It is knowing that Christ won the victory, declared me to be a saint and endowed me with the power of the Holy Spirit to live the life I was destined to live.  Step by step I am being transformed into the image of Christ.  It is His work in me.  Understanding this truth is paramount in you or I living this Christian life victoriously, joyously and in a manner that Glorifies God.

Original photograph courtesy of Alexander Smith–

As long as I am focused on my failures, my sins, and my weaknesses; I will not be able to focus on the only power that resides within me which can live this life victoriously—the Holy Spirit. In other words, as long as I am focused on me and my guilt; I will keep falling into the same pitfalls. It is only by recognizing who I am in Christ that I am able to live in a manner that honors God. The power to live victoriously comes from understanding that in Christ, I am a saint—ordained as such by God before the foundations of this world. It is not my power, but His.

Let us dive into some scriptures that I hope helps you to understand.

Continue reading Power of Positive Thinking—Chapter 4B—Declared Sainthood in Christ Held Firm by God’s Love →

As I already have told you I was saved at age 5. By the age of 12, I was the substitute Sunday school teacher and by the age of 18 I was the church secretary. Somehow, I believed that God’s love of me depended on my ability to perform well and to gain the pleasure of all around me. I gave up my certain position as valedictorian by dropping my accelerated courses to please my father who thought a girl should be a secretary. Then, I married at 16 to please my mother who thought that being a wife was the only thing that could honor God and who daily had questioned me regarding whether my virtue was intact—which it was. I could tell you about how miserable I became, that I worked two jobs while finishing high school and how my voice stuttered so badly at times, it was hard to distinguish my words. I could tell you how my husband took the college money I saved and bought a motorcycle for him or how his uncle tried to rape me; but then that would only be excuses for what happened next. At the hospital there was a new respiratory therapist who noticed me. He was from California, Hispanic, and very intelligent. After months of saying no, I said yes and the affair began. I got pregnant and the weight of my sin fell upon me right before the town did. I wanted to do what was right—I asked for a divorce to marry the father of my child. Then within 24 hours the whole town knew of what I had done. The church called me and without even asking whether it was true told me I was not to return because I was a bad example. The director of nursing at the hospital called me in and said they would not allow such a scandal and I either got an illegal abortion or resign. I resigned. Alone, rejected, condemned, and despairing at age 18. I was certain, God must be angry too and that sorrowed me more than everyone else’s rejection. In the end, I did complete the divorce, marry and moved to Florida where my daughter was born. Then by the age of 22, I was divorced for the second time.

artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba   © 2014—click on image for more information on obtaining.

How could God ever really love a failure like me? Perhaps, the church was right—maybe, I was never saved to begin with or had lost my salvation by my “rebellious” sin. Still, could it be that they were wrong? Deep in the very core of my being, I still felt His presence—a sustaining love that was hard to explain. Still, I loved Him, adored Him and wanted more than anything to know Him more. There was like a soft, whispering voice in the darkest night that said, “Child, I love you.”

It would take the remainder of my life until now to try to understand the mystery of God’s love or comprehend the truth that the scripture teaches both in the Psalms and in the works of Paul. In Christ, I am a Saint—declared as such before the foundations of the world were formed, chosen by God by His mighty works and not my own. That is one of the possessions that are mine in Christ.

Continue reading Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 4A- Broken Winged Saint →

As I pointed out earlier in this series, despite my having accepted Christ as my Savior at such a young age; I spent most of my life not understanding the truth concerning the treasures which God had immediately deposited into my account at the moment of my salvation. I spent most of my life waffling between what I thought to be personal victories to being weighed down by the guilt of my own failures to being “righteous” as I had been taught. I could not trust my heart to make the right decisions for Christ. Then when all the trials came—abuse, pain, illness; they would naturally seem to be punishment for my failures. I would just have to try harder, search further, pray more; and maybe—just maybe then I could get it right. Still, down deep within the center of my heart; I knew better. I remembered that feeling of security and love that I felt in Christ; way back at the beginning. Besides the more I studied scripture, the more I began to understand that none of my position in Christ had anything to do with my getting it right of my own volition. The more I learned of His unconditional love, grace and mercy—the more I loved Him and the more I loved Him the more time I spent in just thanking Him for every moment of my life. I began to see that even the trials, the sorrows and my own failures had been allowed by a Sovereign God who knew every intricate detail of my being

 

He knew my every fear, my desires, my dreams and my brokenness; yet, He chose and loved me right there. He loved me so much that He wouldn’t even allow me to be stuck in this forever roller coaster of highs and lows. Instead, He guided every step in such a manner as to lead me to a place where I could begin to understand the truth of all that I am in Christ.

He has given me peace, joy, hope and love overflowing. He has taught me how to trust my heart whenever making decisions in life; then, having done so—never to feel that horrid sense of being a “failure” or overwhelmed with guilt and worry that I may have made the wrong decision. Let me share with you these 5 keys to trusting your heart  so that you see how freeing it is to live a life in Christ.

Continue reading 5 Keys to Trusting Your Heart in Every Decision of Life →