Post for January 1, 2012: Once more…with feeling!
I don’t know if any of you can identify with this, but I have not been a big fan of New Year’s Eve. Even before I stopped partying, the advent of a New Year had lost its appeal. That’s because I had almost no hope that anything exciting or wonderful was going to happen. It was going to be another 365 days of “SOS…same old stuff”. I made resolutions that I never kept or gave up on within a month or two: lose some weight, exercise more, learn new skills, read my Bible more, pray more, be a better husband/father/grandfather/employee. You name it; I’ve more than likely resolved to be better at it…and failed.
But things are changing. Earlier this year my wife discovered the teachings of Dr. James B. Richards of Impact Ministries (http://www.impactministries.com). We learned that true change can only come about when the heart and mind are in accord with one another. Too often the rational mind sees the logic in doing something and attempts to achieve it through sheer force of will alone. Some success can be had, but it is usually temporary because the heart holds our emotional identity, (how we deeply and truly see ourselves), and no matter how hard our mind tries to change us, we will eventually return to the level, or limits, of our emotional identity.
True change must begin in the heart. Even though I had accepted Christ and knew that, according to God’s Word in 2 Cor. 5:17, I was a “new creation” and that the “old things have passed away”; my heart still retained some of the lies and hurts life and the world had inflicted upon it. I needed to see myself in a new and better light. I needed the Word of God. As you can see in the following statements and Biblical references taken from “The Bondage Breaker” by Neil T. Anderson, (copyright 1990, 1993 by Harvest House publishers); God has much to say about us when we are “In Christ”. I urge you to read them and begin to see yourself as God’s Word describes you. I can tell you that it is making a difference in me and although I am far from complete, hope for change, hope in the promises of God, and even hope in the New Year is being restored in my life.
I am Accepted:
John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 I am Christ’s friend.
1Cor. 6:17 I am united with the Lord and I am one Spirit with Him.
1Cor. 6:19,20 I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
Eph. 1:1 I am a Saint.
Eph. 1:5 I have been adopted as God’s child.
Eph. 2:18 I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit
I am Secure:
2Cor. 1:21,22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Phil. 1:6 I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be
perfected.
Phil. 3:20 I am a citizen of Heaven.
2Tim. 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Heb. 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
1John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am Significant:
Matt. 5:13,14 I am the salt and light of the earth.
John 5:1,5 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His live.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ.
1Cor. 3:16 I am God’s temple.
2Cor. 5:17 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2Cor. 6:1 I am God’s co-worker (1Cor. 3:9).
Eph. 2:6 I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
Eph. 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.
Eph. 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Phi. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
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