Knowing the truth of what GOD says about you will set you free to be you. Many people are bound up in untruths and deceptions from the enemy –
and insults and criticisms and rejections and judgements that people
have told us that the enemy has used to construct a prison of
limitations. But Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set us
free.
God’s Word is the truth. It is the truth about spiritual things and
about who He is and about how we are to live our lives. It is the truth
about what God can do and will do and it is the truth about who He has
made us to be.
God’s Word must be elevated to the place where it is the last word in our lives.
God’s Word is the final authority in our lives.
What God says goes.
What God says is the way it is.
Not just in the DOING of our lives but in the BEING of our lives.
Not just in the DOING – the be kind and be generous, don’t give in to
lust and anger and lying and ten commandments type stuff, but in the
BEING of our lives – I am LOVED, I am FORGIVEN, I am PRECIOUS.
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When it is a matter of our preferences vs. His Way and His will we often bow down to the altar of self. ~Steven Furtick
God’s Word is the highest authority. Not our feelings. Not our preferences.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, Jesus is the rock we build our life on.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am tempted there is a way out and I can withstand it.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am lonely that God is with me.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am struggling in trial that fire and flood will not overcome me.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am weary and worried that I can cast my cares on Him and find rest.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, when I am weak I am strong.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS, I am empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit.
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So how does this work in real life?
We often face situations that make worry or doubt. Maybe job
insecurity. Maybe having to make big decisions about study courses. Maybe health worries or financial pressures. It's at those
times we have to remember that we are children of God and trust our
heavenly Father and live counter culture – we need to hold onto the
promises of God. And in those times our true colors are often revealed.
It's like when the pressure is on all the weaknesses of our personality
and self are exposed and revealed.
Some simple actions and behaviors to do – to behave your way into transformation:
Pray.
Find someone to pray with you and for you. Text a friend.
Be thankful – thank God for this situation and for what He IS doing and WILL do.
Try not to grumble and complain and worry and get into a spiral of
doubt – replace those feelings with faith and hope and if need be find a
verse or a promise to COUNTER each grumble/complain/worry – so that you
are fixing your eyes upon God and His reality. This doesn’t mean we
turn fake, or that we paste on a happy "I’m fine" face, but that we don’t
allow the feelings to detract from the reality that God is God and He is
at work. Life is hard but God is real and loves us. He is great and
good.
Our pastor put it really nicely a few weeks ago when he preached from 1 Peter 4:7
1. STOP –
this puts your mind in charge. It says to your body and your emotions – ‘quiet
down’.
2. BREATHE
– amazing how when we start to get anxious our breathing can go weird! It
settles our body and our emotions.
3. REMIND
YOURSELF OF THE PROMISE OF GOD – I’m listening to Jesus because He’s always
right.
4. OPEN
YOURSELF TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD – OK God, now what?
It takes practice and intention to replace a lifetime of mind habit with the truth.
To live by faith you’re going to
need to become very familiar with your Bible. You’re going to need to
saturate your mind with the Word of God. If your faith isn't rooted in
God’s promises, its not scriptural faith. Prioritize the presence of God
in your daily life. ~Steven Furtick
Sometimes we need to re-record the tape playing in our minds.
Sometimes we need to pull the tape out and rip all that brown shiny
stuff out and begin again. Replace the lie with the truth of what God
says about you. Because it will set you free to be you and to know His
love and make Him known. “Believing God for the impossible begins with
seeing the invisible – understanding what He wants to accomplish through
YOU.”
Its also really good to have a strong sense of who you are in God and
what He says about you because we are going to meet people in life who
challenge that or try to distract us from that.
Challenge: People who are negative and nasty, bullies in the workplace, people
who reject us and don’t like us, people we clash with or are
uncomfortable around, people who make us feel insecure and stooped!
Distract: People who try to get us to do things that go against what
God would like us to do, people who are trying to force their
expectations and vision upon you.
Understanding who you are and who you are made to be gives you a
stability and a security to not take on their opinions or be negatively
affected by them.
This is why understanding personality types is also really helpful
because it gives you tools to work out how to interact with other
people. There are also certain personality types and people that are
more sensitive to the words of other people. If you are wired that way
make sure you’re making God the loudest voice and that you also have
good people around you who can encourage you and speak into your life.
Also get strategies for brushing of the negativity so that you’re not
limited by other peoples opinions.
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What Does God Say About Me?
A lot of times, our greatest
fears are rooted in personal insecurities. The perspective of faith
enables us to see who we truly are in Christ. God is on our side. Through Jesus, we are righteous. We are cleansed. We are accepted.
~Steven Furtick
1. I am
fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation (Romans 8:1-2,
Ephesians 1:7-8, 1 John 1:9).
2. I act
in audacious faith to change the world in my generation (Joshua 10:12-14, John
14:12).
3. I
overcome my fear and anxiety; I trust in the Lord with all my heart. God is
with me (Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah 41:10)
4. I am
able to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life (Exodus 3:9-12; Psalm
57:2, Colossians 1:24-29).
5. I am
fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do (Deuteronomy 8:18,
Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:13).
6. I have
no insecurity, because I see myself the way God sees me (Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm
139:13-16, Ephesians 5:25-27).
7. I am
(or will be) a faithful spouse and a godly parent - our family is blessed
(Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Ephesians 5:25-27, Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
8. I am
completely whole - physically, mentally, and emotionally (Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew
8:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
9. I am
increasing in influence and favor for the kingdom of God (Genesis 45:4-8, 1
Samuel 2:26; Acts 2:37-47).
10. I am
enabled to walk in the sacrificial love of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 1
John 3:16, 4:9-12).
11. I have
the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make (2 Chronicles 1:7-12;
Proverbs 2:6, Ecclesiastes 2:26; James 1:5).
12. I am
protected from all harm and evil in Jesus’ name (Genesis 50:20; Psalm 3:1-3; 2
Thessalonians 3:2-3).
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The Big Question:
How does a lie hold me back?
What do I need to do to change the tape in my head?
Is there anything specific I need to change right now?
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