To Many Identities

Those God foreknew, he also predestine to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29). Many young people find their identity in a pro-athletic or team. While others idolize and emulate a rock star. Adults are more subtle, but we too will identify ourselves by our careers, our family roles, our hobbies or trends set by our favorite celebrities. It is human nature to pick an appealing image-any image-and then try to live up to it. We enthusiastically become like the people or ideals on which we set our affections. When we want to, we conform easily. Our desired image becomes a part of us.
When we become Christians, we may have found that we continually struggle to become Christlike. Why? If our affections are set on him as they once were on the trends and icons of our culture, wouldn't a godly transformation be a nature process for us? Perhaps that is just the problem. Perhaps our affections are not entirely Christ-ward. We easily let our love grow stale, losing the excitement that newness and discovery brought us at first. Other images-culture trends and newfound interest-become the object of our infatuation, while Jesus subtly and imperceptibly passes from adoration to our obligation.
When this happens we find godliness more of a struggle. It is hard to let ourselves conformed to the image of Jesus. When we hold another image in higher esteem. Other passions pull us in other directions, often making conflicting-or at least superfluous-demands on our character. Godly character cannot thrive in such a context. Our spirit will not fit into two modes simultaneously.
Is your growth toward godliness a difficult struggle? Examine your desires. How do you envision yourself? How would you like other to perceive you? What image do you aim for? If you find any image other than Jesus shaping your soul, abandon it. It will hinder your growth. Find your identity entirely in HIM.™

Troubled, Don't be.

Troubled, Don’t Be

“Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!” 2 Corinthians 4:15 (MSG)
Do you continue to have trouble? Then it’s time to give God thanks, He is your Deliverer! In the time of trouble, you have to abound in thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for power, protection and for provision. Thank Him for your food, fellowship friends and finances. Thank Him for your job. Thank the Father for the good and the bad. When you do, you’ll release His ability and power.
In So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)
There is no need to faint and nor fear, when we are in Christ, don't measure your future by what the stock market does. Don't measure your future by what the newspaper says. We need to measure our stature in this life by the word of God which lives and abides forever. I'm telling you now, don't look at all the things you are reading in the paper, or see on television. Instead look to God. You may not see God, but you know He's there. Do you know He’ll make a way for you? So start thanking Him for doing it right now.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:6 it says "Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble." In other words, God is going to trouble your trouble. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 it says, "We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn't slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God's Message to you, defiant of the opposition."
Now is not the time to be troubled or frightened. Don't be full of fear. God is pleased by our thanksgiving, and He will move in your situation. It is time now to thank God for delivering us by His mighty power!™
Keep the faith, at any time your bondage will be loosed.”Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose. Acts 16:25-26 (MSG)

Forgiving Prayer

Have you ever been disappointed in someone you considered a good friend. They did something I felt (and still feel) was totally wrong and it was hard for me to get over. I knew that I needed to forgive them and let it go, but it just kept nagging at me like the pain of a thorn.

I began to quote any and every scripture I could remember to keep from holding a grudge, probably made a few up. I did this for quite a long while, but it seemed when I stopped reading scripture, I got mad all over again.

While I tried to forget what happened, it kept playing out in my head over and over again, I shared it with a close friend and a relative, but got even angrier - it was like every time I told the story, it was like it just happened all over again. So I decided that I needed to stop talking about it because that was not helping me.

Have you experienced anything like this? Maybe it wasn't a friend, perhaps it was a sibling, a co-worker, a neighbor or even someone at church. Whoever it was, they crossed you in some form or fashion and raised your blood pressure. Or as we would say got on our last nerve, what ever that meant. You found yourself on this never ending cycle of anger because you could not let it go.

I started to realize that forgiveness is very hard in our own power... and at some point, the Holy Spirit took over and convicted me, and I took it to God in prayer ...and yet again, God’s amazing ability to bring an inner peace in the midst of any situation, started to bring peace to my situation.

Prayer is by far the greatest weapon we have. Prayer causes you to change your perspective on things.

In the mist of prayer, God reminded me of the countless times I had turned my back on Him. The many times I had disappointed Him. Yet, not once has He held back his forgiveness towards me.

He also reminded me that no one except Him is flawless, and yet I must not put people on a pedestal or expect them to never let me down. Yes, we expect certain things like respect from our friends, however at some point; we have probably all disrespected someone we cared about. How is it that we expect people to always be willing to forgive us but when the tables are turned - watch out! It’s my way or the highway.

Through prayer, I realized it was alright for me to be hurt by the situation, but why was I still dwelling there, God healed my wounds and gave me the courage to step out and not allow my situation to dictate my mood, attitude or behavior towards the person who offended me.

There is something to be said about the power of prayer ...next time I won't wait so long to use it!