What is our True Identity?

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:17

LEARN

Your identity is not what you do, but who you are. This is a statement I have come to realize not many people live by. Society focuses on what you do as far as career and profession as the standard of identity. Think about one of the first questions asked when you meet someone new. “What do you do?” From this point on in the conversation this defines who you are to the person you are talking to and vice versa.

I have seen this happen time and time again and I’ve tried to defer the question or avoid it, but it seems to pop up in every conversation I have. Even with friends I haven’t seen in awhile. In our society, what you do defines who you are. But this, my friends, is not your identity. You should not use what you do as a label for who you are. If you are a blogger, entrepreneur, therapist, doctor, athlete; this is what you do, but it shouldn’t define who you are.

As a child and into my college years, I thought my identity was being an athlete. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing a sport or participating in some form of physical activity. I enjoyed it and it brought me life, it still does, but I allowed it to take over my life and become who I was. In high school, I was voted “Most Athletic” by my senior class.

One day everything changed. I was in a snowboarding accident. I fractured my right humerus (upper arm bone and no it was not funny). I had to be in a cast with a sling for three and a half months unable to do simple things like get dressed or shower normally. I didn’t know if I would ever play sports again. I stood on the sidelines as my college volleyball team continued the season without me. I was devastated and depressed. The person I had thought I was was stripped away from me in an instant.

Through this period of my life, I realized I had labeled myself as an athlete. This was my identity. With the support of friends and family, lots of praying, some journaling (it was hard to write because I broke my dominant arm), physical therapy visits, and the grace and love of Jesus, I was able to redefine my identity in Christ and heal from the inside out.

I am a daughter of the King. I am loved by the Creator of all things in heaven and on earth. I am a co-heir with Christ. God thinks I am beautiful. He views me as special and unique. God made me in His image. He gave me the gifts and talents I have that are specific to me to use for His glory.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:17

KNOW

Who do you say you are?

Do you believe in the ways God sees you and has created you to be?

Are you living out of fear of what others think of you and what society says your identity is, or are you stepping into your true identity and focusing more on who you are rather than what you do?

This can be hard. I get it. I struggle with this. But we need to remind ourselves who God says we are. I challenge you to look through the Bible and write down who God says you are. Ask God how he sees you and write it down. The act of writing something with a pen on paper is powerful and studies have shown there is a chemical response in our brains when we do this. Try it and see what happens.

DO

Helping people realize their authentic selves and stepping into their true identity has become a passion of mine. I want to shine light on the whole person focusing on their mind, body, and spirit, because you can’t have one without the others. Becoming aware of your whole self is how you discover your true identity. This is why I have started a podcast called “True Identity” which was released this week! We will be discussing topics regarding your health, wellness, business tips, routine, and spiritual growth to name a few. If this sounds interesting to you, check it out. Available on iTunes. If you want to hear more of my story, I share on my website nikkiromani.com.

I’m praying you will step into this journey of discovering your true identity. Remember, your identity is not what you do, but who you are. You are a child of God.   

What is the Point of our Existence as Christians?

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Colossians 3:1-4

LEARN

Who are you and what is the point of you existing? We can all think of the basics when it comes to who we are. There is our name, what we do for a living, where we live, our relationship status, how many kids we have, etc. Those are the little ways that we typically describe ourselves. As Christians, many of us know that the right answer would be to say something about being a child of God but if we are honest, our identity is far more rooted in what our status is on this earth and how it makes us feel.

Here is what the bible says about our identity and what we should be focused on. Colossians 3:1-4 says “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

All of the things we are looking for to fulfill our longings and desires can be found in Christ. The brokenness that we all experience in our lives happens when we try to find our satisfaction, security, and identity in anything other than God.

My Story

From a young age, I have desired to be beautiful, accepted, and recognized. There has never been a conscious time in my life that these desires have not been present. I didn’t find out that I had two huge idols in my life until I was in my 20’s. The number one idol that I worship is control and the other close second is approval. These two idols combined make for a powerful duo, one that has caused me to sin in countless ways, stunted my spiritual growth and hurt many people throughout the years. By God’s grace, I have found myself in a local Gospel-centered church that I have called my home for 5 years. In this time frame, I have received accountability and discipleship in these areas. This community helped me see my sin and in turn also helped support me as I aggressively went to war against these deep-rooted areas of idolatry. However, the war is not over. I still struggle daily, but God is winning my heart and I have hope in the finished work of Christ and his promises.

If you are anything like me and you struggle with putting your identity in worldly things, I want to encourage you to reflect and to ask yourself who the main character is in your life narrative. Our sole purpose on this earth is to make known Christ’s identity. He gave you your unique talents and abilities to show how glorious God is in a wicked and dark world. Those unique talents and abilities were never meant to be worshiped or compared. We were never supposed to seek our own identities outside of God and try to measure up on our own. It’s all about Him. It’s always been about Him.

Dr. Richard Lints, who serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the main campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, north of Boston says it best. “Idolatry is the honoring of things as ultimate which are not ultimate and which, therefore, reshape us after their own image.”

KNOW

1. Where does your hope lie?

2. What do you think gives you significance?

3. What do you really at heart desire to become?

DO

Your challenge this week is to journal about what area or areas you are placing your identity in apart from Christ. Write out verses that will remind you of the identity you have in Christ and place them throughout your house as a daily reminder.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” and Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 16:15-18

LEARN

Hey Ladies!

Anna here, and good golly, am I excited about something. Preparing to write this post led me into my bible and listening through so many podcasts. I am stirred up! Before I get into it, I want to ask you a couple questions. Who are you? Like broad spectrum, who are you? What are some things that make you who you are? What defines you? What gives you a semblance of identity? Or to put it another way, what or who, is your identity in? For example, are you the nerdy one, the athletic one, the artsy one, the stylish one? Is your identity wrapped up in that thing? If for some reason it was taken away from you, would you still have direction in life?

A couple years ago I bought a 1999 Land Rover Discovery II. It was big and blue, and looked like you could take it out on a safari, amongst the wild creatures, and explore to your hearts content. It was the first car I owned that could really take me up into the mountains and I didn’t have to worry about getting stuck. It was powerful and rugged. This car made me feel free, like the wilderness was mine to explore and no one could stop me. I recently had to sell this big, blue beauty, because it was just old, and it was becoming less likely that I would make it back home from any exploration. I am almost embarrassed to say selling that car nearly broke me. After all, it was just a car. However, this is when I realized how much of my identity was wrapped up in having some type of adventure mobile. Even worse how much of my identity was wrapped up in that specific car. I had to go back to the true source of our identity and ask Jesus, “who do you say that I am?” I felt like He responded first with “well, who do you say I AM?” Woah! So, my bigger question became Who. IS. Jesus. What do I actually believe about Him? Is my thought pattern correct?

This began a process of really renewing my mind, and making sure I was believing rightly about God. I started this by listening to pastors who taught the Word of God, then I really began reading the Bible (it is important to find out for yourself what the Word says). It turns out the more I have dug into reading my Bible and the more time I spend listening to teachers of the Word, the more my original question, “who do you say that I am” has been answered. This is because the more we know about who Jesus is, the more we will find out what He says about us, and why He made us the beautiful way He did.

Who does Jesus say YOU are?

KNOW

1. YOU ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE - There is nothing wrong with being sporty, or girly, or smart, or creative, or talented in any area. Also know, it is very okay to be more than one thing. God made you with a mind, heart and soul, and you are capable of being a great many things through Him. I am totally the sporty one amongst friends, but I so love getting dressed up for a dinner now and again, and I really love challenging my mind and learning new things.

2. YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD - At the center of who God is, love abides. It spreads forth from there. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure (some translations say “convinced”- like the whole world couldn’t change your mind) neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING (emphasis added) else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. At the beginning and the end of every day, you are still loved by God. Not because of anything more than Jesus’ gift to us on the cross and the very nature of God.

3. YOU ARE MADE WHOLE THROUGH CHRIST - God is the master of renewing and repurposing our identity. Do not be afraid or ashamed to come to Him, and ask what He thinks of you. Know that when God looks at you, He sees the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for you. Jesus’ death and resurrection have made you new and now you get to walk out becoming whole, with Him by your side.

4. YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU - The Holy Spirit is a wonderful teacher. He will teach you and help you in the process of learning, just like He did for Peter in our first verse.

DO

1. It’s a bold prayer, but ask Jesus to fill you with a hunger to find out more about Him.

2. Write down three things you believe about God and ask Him to show you what the truth is about

each thing.

3. Write down three things you believe about yourself, and same, same, ask God to tell you what He thinks about you in these areas.

Here are a couple awesome resources I have loved in my journey to find my identity in Christ.

1. “Captivating” by Jon and Stasi Eldridge
2. “The Power of Right Believing” by Pastor Joseph Prince

What are the Benefits of Confessing Sin?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

1 John 1:9

LEARN

Why is it that we desire to look put together externally, even when everything is internally falling apart? Well, I believe oftentimes we do it because it is the quickest and easiest “solution” to not have our deeper problems get in the way of how people perceive us. We have gotten very good at putting a nice paint job over many layers of filth, old paint, and decaying wood to cover up our imperfections. It is not desirable to rip up and expose all of the dirty layers that are chipping and cracking, because then there is a chance that everything will have to be replaced- and that takes so much more time and effort, but any good carpenter and painter knows that you can’t fix a faulty foundation by simply applying a fresh coat of paint. In the same way, God knows we can’t fix our sin problem by covering it up and hoping we stay intact, and that is why he desires us to confess our sins to Him.

So how can we change our thinking about confession to understand why exposing our foundation is ultimately better than covering it up, even if it isn’t always our desired choice? Let’s look at a few reasons why confessing our sin and exposing our weakness is far better than hiding behind a fresh coat of paint.

Faulty thought #1 - We view confession as a punishment.
Believe: GOD IS A GOOD AND LOVING GOD

When we view confession as God desiring for us to be humiliated or embarrassed in order to learn our lesson, we will be less likely to want to confess. Luckily, the bible would say that thinking is flawed. Our God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). God desires us to confess our sins because he is a gracious and loving God who knows that we need an awareness of our sins and accountability from His church to depart from our sin and turn to Him.

Faulty thought #2 - We think God still needs to forgive us, or that he my not forgive us.
Trust: GOD HAS ALREADY FORGIVEN US

God is not waiting for us to confess our sins so he can finally forgive us. We have already been forgiven through Jesus. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). We need ongoing forgiveness not for our ultimate justification but for our ongoing sanctification. God knows that when we confess our sins it allows us to feel at peace with Him, and not distant from Him because our confession shows where our heart is at. We are justified in Christ once and for all, but confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness is ongoing until we are glorified in heaven and no longer sin. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (proverbs 28:13).

Faulty thought #3- We have to be perfect in order to be holy, and we have to do it on our own.
Understand: CONFESSING OUR SINS LEADS TOWARDS HOLINESS

Each time we confess our sins because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are reawakened to what Christ has done for us. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). It is such an undeserved gift that when we confess our sin, God makes known our security in him and the assurance of our salvation as we draw closer to Him and he removes the guilt and shame we so desperately try to hide. It is through our confession that our guilt lessens and our hope and strength magnifies in the Lord and we grow in holiness.

KNOW

What is the main thing that keeps you from wanting to confess your sin to God and others?

Do you believe that God is a loving and gracious God? Do you believe he loves you?

What do you need to confess today that you have not wanted to confess? Is there someone in your life you can share your sin with who can pray for you and help you work through your sin?

DO

Memorize, print off and color this scripture to remind you of the promise God gives you when you confess your sin to him!

Are You Giving God Lip Service?

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

LEARN

As I came across this passage in Psalm 95, I had one of those moments where the Holy Spirit convicts you like a ton of bricks. The part that broke me was while I read “let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” My conviction was absent as I read most of the text until I came across the part about kneeling. As I tried to visualize kneeling humbly before the Lord I began to weep. When in the past few weeks has my heart posture actually been focused on kneeling? I focus heavily on worshipping and giving thanks to God, but I often shy away from the parts in my life that require me to actually posture myself as a servant. Even when I am at Church, a place where I should be going to focus on God in community, I want to be seen. I want to be praised, if even for how my hair looks, but more for the ways people view me. I want to be acknowledged for my ability to shepherd other women and speak truth into their lives because I am important. In these times I desire to stand next to God instead of face down before him.

Paul Washer says it well, “most of us in our hearts want to be called a servant, but none of us want to be treated like one.”  I like the idea of humble submission, but not actually playing the part of a servant. The problem with me bowing before God in surrender is that I don’t want to. Worshipping is fine because I am still present for others to see me, but bowing takes the focus off me and onto God. It is humbling and bold and the sin in me says- sorry God thats a bit too dramatic, how about I courtesy instead?

It is ridiculous of me to think I can worship God without actually giving my life to Him, but I do it every day. Worship is not just words or thoughts, but actions. It is a continuous posture, not just a moment. God doesn’t just want our lip service, he wants us to surrender our lives to Him as an act of worship. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we are true worshippers when we can’t even bow down long enough to allow others to look to Christ. “True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” John 4:23.

KNOW

What posture do you have towards God (standing beside Him, blocking Him, or kneeling before Him)?

Are you a true worshipper or just giving God lip service?

What are you not willing to give up in order to be a servant for God (power, approval, status)?

DO

When we idolize ourselves, we desire to take the focus off of God and put in on ourselves.

1. Think about the things you do on a daily basis that focus too much attention on yourself and too little attention on God.

2. Make a list of the things you do each day that are for your own glory.

3. Pray over those things and confess them to God as you seek to put your idols to death.

Here are some great resources for further study on true worship and servanthood.

-Bible:

Read the Psalms

-Read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - focusing specifically on how Jesus acted as a humble servant for God during His time on earth.

-Books:

  When People are Big and God is Small  By Edward T. Welch

  A Taste of Heaven  By R.C. Sproul

Worship: Adoration and Action  By D.A. Carson

What Should Productivity Look Like for Christians?

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

LEARN

We live in a society where time is money and productivity reigns king. In the workplace, efficiency is usually a good gauge at how well someone is doing as an employee, but this also infiltrates into non-workspaces. We as wives, moms, students, siblings, and roommates struggle with this too.

“How come she is able to have a clean home, perfectly kempt hair, and take care of her three kids, while I can barely take care of myself?”

“Why does it take me 2x longer to finish my assignments than my roommate. She always has so much more free time than I do. If only I was able to finish things quicker.”

“My Sister graduated a year after me and is already financially stable and got a promotion and I still don’t know what I want to do.”

We all make these internal comments to ourselves when we feel like other people are more productive and therefore better than we are at managing life. Most of us feel like we have so much to do and so little time to do it, so people who can accomplish more are obviously people we envy right? We read books on productivity and time-management. We multi-task all day and listen to podcasts while driving home so we can fill our time with as much as we can. We believe that if we could just figure out how to manage our time better we wouldn’t be so held back. If we could only get everything checked off our list we would finally get past the rat race- and so we push.

But let’s rewind a bit.

All of these ideas have been built upon the belief that productivity reigns king, but shouldn’t we instead believe that the only one who reigns King is God? So what does God have to say about productivity? As we see in Colossians 3:17, it appears that productivity in God’s view isn’t just about getting things done, it is about getting His things done. The only work that matters is the work that brings Glory to God, and therefore we should be ordering our life around this work. However, when we think about that a bit more we don’t always like hearing that. It is far more desirable to be productive in order to gain relational, financial, and societal status than it is to serve God with our lives. Status allows us to rank ourselves, to feel superior or inferior. Status motivates us, but as children of God, our status will always remain the same- His children whom he loves. What we are commanded to desire instead is to be on the lookout for ways to love others, and glorify God in all areas of our lives. We are to work wholeheartedly for God, and we do that by consciously thinking about the motivations we have behind the all that we do.

It is in our daily tasks at home, work, or school that the bible calls us to love others well because of our love for God. We must understand that relationships are not always efficient but they are important. At times loving others well and glorifying God might mean stopping everything on our to-do list to talk to our neighbor longer and invite them to church. It might mean sacrificing our morning routine to go take a meal to someone who is sick. Or, it might mean taking breaks at work to read the word, in order to focus rightly through our tasks for the day and respond lovingly to people at work we find difficult to be around. Relationships derail us, they mess up our timelines, and they take work- but when we realize that God is King and love rules over productivity, we can then have a better gauge at what we should be doing and how we should be viewing our status as his child, whom he loves and accepts, without needing to find satisfaction or reassurance from societies standards of productivity. True productivity is found in cultivating a right relationship with God.

KNOW

AS CHRISTIANS PRODUCTIVITY LOOKS LIKE….

1. Sharing the gospel. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

2. Doing good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

3. Working wholeheartedly for God. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

4. Making loving God and loving others our motivating factor. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

5. Fighting laziness. “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)

6. Using our time wisely. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

DO

How can you better prioritize God when you think about being productive?

What might change in your internal dialogue when you stop having societies view of productivity rule you and start having scriptures view rule you?

What steps can you take today to focus more on God in your busy life? (maybe you need a mindset change, or you need to actually change some things you shouldn’t be prioritizing)

What first step can you take today?

How To Get out of a Funk When You are Sick and Tired?

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

LEARN

Recently I have been sick and tired. No, not the sick and tired of life and its difficulties, although I admit I always struggle with that, but literally and physically sick and tired. Since the start of the year I have being dealing with a wide range of on and off ailments that keep getting worse, and the confusion keeps getting greater. I share this story because I know I am not the only one struggling in some way and feeling confused, overwhelmed, and frankly tired of pain and suffering. Seasons of sickness are not comfortable, and restlessness tends to creep in when we feel trapped due to our limitations. I personally don’t do well with slowing down and resting when my body is telling me to, and perhaps you can relate?

As I have forced myself to slow down and reflect for a moment on something other than my suffering, I’ve realized all I have been wanting during this season is to figure out what is wrong so I can make it right. It is as if I see this time in my life as a hiccup, and until it can be fixed, my life won’t be as complete as it could be. I’ve been praying that God will heal me and give me information as to what is going on, but I also have been worrying and pitying myself. Why God do I have to go through this? What if a diagnosis never comes, and it is not in your plan for me to be healed? What then? It is in these moments I feel the race is far too difficult and the journey is far too long and I don’t like the path I see set before me.

Does this sound like your story? Are you also struggling to trust God and perhaps feeling sorry for yourself?

The best thing to do when we are here is to realize that God is not void and we are not God. Even when suffering and love seem contradictory to us, God is greater than our ability to comprehend the why’s of life. So for a moment, let’s pause the research, put our stress to the side, and remember Christ. His words of life are present, right now, waiting for us to read. He is in control, He is suffering with us, and He loves us. Instead of focusing so much on WHY we are suffering and how to fix it, we can be using this time instead to trust God and ask Him WHAT NOW should we be doing in the midst of our suffering?

What now are you teaching me, Lord?

What now can I do to find rest in you?

What now do you want me to do in the midst of my pain?

What now allows us to seek His guidance and not our own. It redirects our focus from one of entitlement to one of dependence on Him and it gives us joy because no matter where we are in life our purpose will always be the same- to love God and others and magnify His glory. God is ready for us to come to Him to find rest in our restlessness, stop asking why, and start asking him WHAT NOW?

KNOW

1. What are the WHY’s you have been dealing with? Write them on a piece of paper, and then pray for forgiveness and a greater ability to trust God with your WHY’s as you reread Isaiah 40:28-31.

2. Write down the WHAT NOW questions you want to work on asking God when you are going through times of doubt, pain and suffering.

DO

Suffering is draining on our body, mind and spirit. During this season especially, notice the times you may need to rest more than normal and adjust your routine as you see fit.

Turn to God.
Don’t push yourself.
Get good sleep, if you can.
Tell people no.
Eat whole and balanced meals.
Allow others to help you.
Pray.

These are all things we know, yet usually they are the things we fight the most when we are in denial about our limitations.

,

What Makes up our Inner and Outer Self?

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body. 

Romans 7:22-23

LEARN

Don't you hate it when you bite your lip and then it happens over and over again? It is the worst! Yesterday I had that dreadful experience at least three times. I continued to cause my own pain because my immediate desire to devour my food took over any caution I had for what was going on in my mouth. I always get so mad with those types of pain encounters because I essentially inflict the pain on myself. When I am not being intentional in my mind with what is going on in my body I allow my flesh to overrun my soul. 

This happens often though doesn't it? Not just with biting our lips but with our mind not informing our actions. This phenomenon of how God created us is what the bible talks about as the inner- self and the outer-self. The outer self is what makes up our physical body and the inner self is made up of our soul. Our bodies love taking over to indulge in whatever they want when we aren't being conscious about what is best for us. The danger in that though is our bodies are at war with our spirit, so our mind always needs to be on guard with what our body is up to because as Christians this can lead us to sin. It is as if our bodies are toddlers, always getting into mischief, and our minds are the parents trying to correct the behavior. I don't know about you, but knowing my depravity it is exhausting having to constantly look after my toddler self to make sure I am not up to more mischief, and frankly I check out often. I go on a coffee break and let whatever havoc takes place happen to me and I choose to deal with the mess later. I simply allow my body to take over.

But God calls us to more.

He calls us to be constantly at war with our bodies, and he gives us the help we need to overcome our flesh. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that our soul can have the strength each day to stay focused on glorifying him in our thoughts and actions because in our soul he graciously gives us himself. Each day we get to commune with God and be filled up to have the strength to not just check out in life when it gets hard. The Spirit at work in us can make our days that started with pain, end with promise. The promise that each moment God gives us on earth is a gift to be stewarded with intention and hope through Christ. 

KNOW

DO

As you go about your day at work or wherever you are, notice the times where you are wanting to check out, then ask yourself...

1. What causes my body to rule my mind? Is it laziness, exhaustion, carelessness? 

3. What can I do today to be more filled with the Spirit and go to battle with my flesh? 

How Can We Find Wholeness?

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

LEARN

Why do I lack self-discipline and have little victory over my sin struggle when it comes to laying down my life for Christ? When I experienced the healing of knowing Christ for the first time, I found a lot of my fears, shame and idols diminishing. My heart was healed and the most important part of my soul was now replaced with God’s indwelling spirit. Still, after a few years of being saved and enjoying the nature of the Christian culture I began to have a different response to this gratitude for salvation. The realities of being Christ’s, was (and is) the best thing in the world, but my self-centeredness led me to waste this blessing instead of using the blessing on others or to sincerely fight the good fight of faith to bring God the glory. I desired to be obedient to God through difficult moments in life, but only to gain relief from my troubles, not for the sake of His name being praised alone. You see, I can read about the riches of being his, identify myself as a believer, even enjoy the cultural norms of Christian community but struggle to have victory in my own life. My identity was more like those the bible talks about who have an appearance of godliness but deny its power. I may have been healed from a lot of things in my past through coming to know Christ, but idleness became my norm and I failed to keep walking towards holiness.

Being made whole is progressive. It is not a one-time healed, mountain top experience, it is a journey past the one mountain top, down through various valleys and up different peaks through an array of scenery. It is daily walking hand in hand with Christ. This journey to wholeness is what keeps going as long as we keep responding to what Christ has done in his finished work on the cross. We don’t stop when the healing comes or when our issue subsides. His glory is better than our temporary satisfaction. We are healed so we can continue becoming whole.

Wholeness mirrors our sanctification. It is what we are in Christ positionally, but also what we are presently becoming. We are going from less sinful tendencies to even less sinful tendencies while holding in our hearts the promise that powerfully fuels our endurance all together, “where sin abounds grace abounds more” Romans 5:20. The grace of God doesn’t just provide us the forgiveness we need, it transforms us to into Christ’s likeness. As we continue from the initial healing of being Christ’s, we need a continual practice of running to the source of wholeness. Even though our nature is sinful, and at the point of salvation Christ covered us with his righteousness, our souls will always need saving. Healing work is not yet finished. We experience wholeness by experiencing Christ. As we seek to obey Christ we can continually increase in being wholly his. This is not a lofty unreachable concept. The bible outlines practical and concrete ways in which we can experience Christ and know what He is doing and what He promises he will do right now in our lives. Though many brothers and sisters are healed by Christ’s powerful work in that now they see him and long for him, we need his continual healing power to become more and more like him. Join us as we reach to the depths of God’s promises for the power to keep on keeping on; becoming less of us and more of him.

KNOW

Meditate on 2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

DO

What does God say will give us strength for Godliness and life?

What promises of God give you strength for your current season right now?

*Find a friend to keep you accountable to keep going on this venture towards holiness.

Can Self-Love be Biblical?

Check out our first Vlog where we tackle the tough topic of self-love/self-care and how to biblically care for our bodies. 

"For physical training is of some value, but spiritual training is a value for all things."
1 Timothy 4:8

Why are we Overcome By Anxiety, and is it a Sin?

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4

LEARN

The bible commands us to not be anxious about anything, so why do so many people seem overcome by their anxiety? I do believe some people are predisposed to anxiety (like myself), just as some alcoholics have stronger tendencies for addictive behaviors. However, I reached a point in my adult life where I became so used to being anxious I started to believe anxiety wasn’t something to overcome, but something to accept and learn to live with. What I didn’t understand was that having an inclination towards some behavior and acknowledging a weakness was different than being defined by that weakness - and that’s what I did. In any given day I could count at least a dozen times where I would have anxiety about something. For me, it was easier to give into the pull of anxiety then go to war against it. I began to let my anxiety define me, because I accepted it as just a part of who I was. It wasn’t until I read an article from Timothy Keller talking about going to war with our anxiety that I realized my anxiety was controlling me. I looked at my anxiety as a state of being, not a fallen state that God had the power to overcome. Once I started looking at my anxiety as something to overcome, I saw that I wasn’t just an anxious person, I was a person deliberately not trusting Christ.

In our society I see this happening a lot; instead of people being overcome by their struggle with their anxiety, they choose to accept their struggle and define themselves by it. It is a false empowerment. Being an empowered anxious person is a lie, just as being an empowered transgendered person is. We are both trapped in an identity that is not just unhealthy, but is causing us harm. This empowerment is just a facade from owning the fact that we have let “it” overcome us, whatever the “it” is in our lives that we don’t feel like we can control. We do this because we want to feel that we still have power, and so we end up telling people they need to not only accept us as we are but also accept themselves because it makes us feel more normal. It is nice for an alcoholic to have a drinking buddy that accepts his harmful behavior, just like it is nice to accept other anxious people's behavior because we relate to it.

The definition of anxiety is- a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Each time I was anxious I was choosing to be defined by uncertainty and worry. The bible makes it clear there are no uncertain outcomes in our lives that God doesn’t have control over. Our life circumstances might be uncertain from our perspective, but our ultimate security in being with God now and for eternity is always secure from God's perspective. We do not need to base our ultimate security off our temporary situation, because it is fleeting. All we need to do is persevere and trust.  

The God of the bible wants us to be defined by Him, and to be overcomers through Him. God has the ability to overcome my anxiety, even if in this lifetime my anxiety still persists. When I accepted myself as an anxious person, I allowed it to rule me, but friends, we don't have to be ruled by anyone other than our good God. Anxiety has already been overcome through Christ so we can have hope in this promise. We may still struggle with anxiety but we should be intentionally combating our anxiety, not giving into it. We are called to go to war with our fears through Christ, and to go to war with the things we let ourselves be ruled by that are absent of God. We are kept in perfect peace, forever, when our mind is stayed on Christ. Let us not lose sight of true empowerment through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. When we do this we get to focus less on our fears about the world and more on fearing the Lord, the one who is “trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does” (psalm 145:13).  

KNOW

What would it take for you to have a mind that continually trusts in the Lord?

What things are you allowing yourself to be defined by apart from Christ?

DO

The picture below is something I made a few months ago to help me go to battle with my unbelief. Feel free to print it out and post it somewhere that you will see each day. (I have mine on the inside of my vanity and look at it when I brush my teeth).

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 

What Does Trust in God Look Like?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Ephesians 6:10-14

Learn

I often find I am my own worst enemy. The devil doesn’t have to go far to scheme against me, because I am easily persuaded by his tactics, even without the help of others. One of the ways his schemes play out is through poking at my insecurities; insecurities about my body, my intelligence, my lack of faith, my marriage. I’m sure we could all think of a long list of daily battles we have with insecurity- and I don’t know about you, but when I am insecure about something I try to overcompensate in unhealthy ways. This usually looks like me for anything I can get my hands on so I don’t have to actually say to myself “Jaime, just admit it- you are insecure.” Instead I give reasons for my struggles that focus on someone or something that caused my insecurity. Instead of clothing myself with the full armor of God I clothe myself with complaints, gossip, anger, frustration and pity. To God I must look like a little girl trying to dress herself, but has no capability to pick out appropriate clothes or even tie her own shoes.   

The devil desires to uproot our trust in God. He wants us to think we can pick out our own clothes and attempt to dress for success because he knows we will fail. He preys on our shortcomings, and he revels in our pity. He does this to distract us and confuse us so we lose sight of God’s truth while we are stuck fixating on what we can’t fix.

It is easy to forget we are fighting a battle beyond what we can see, and we need God to intervene on our behalf so we can replace our insecurity with the full armor of God. It is in properly clothing ourselves that we can move from frustration to gratitude as our Heavenly Father picks out our clothes and ties our shoes for us. We must trust that God is capable of knowing how to best tie our shoes and clothe us for success. When insecurity creeps in, we must remember to ask God for help, and thank him for being a good, good father.

Know

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7

Today as you are feeling insecure, interrupt your frustration with gratitude. Whatever present issue is causing you to worry or doubt, re-read the psalm as you work towards trusting and praising God for what he has already done for you and what he promises to continue to do.

 

Do

Draw an outline of yourself on a sheet of paper (a rough outline is fine, for the fellow non-artists like myself!)

Along the outside of your drawing, write 6 things you arm yourself with when you are left to your own capabilities. 

Then, on the inside of your drawing write down the different pieces of the armor in their corresponding places. *Found in Ephesians 6

1. The Belt of Truth

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness

3. The Shield of Faith

4. The Helmet of Salvation

5. The Shoes of the Gospel

6. The Sword of the Spirit

How do I Detox With Diatomaceous Earth?

A while back, a friend told me about her experience with taking diatomaceous earth to supplement her holistic lifestyle.  

Me: "Dia-what?!”

Her: “Diatomaceous earth- it’s like dirt that you drink and it cleans your body out like an air filter.”

That’s all I needed to hear; I love trying new things and I will eat, drink or do almost anything if I think it will optimize my health and bring me closer to the type of body that God intended for me before the Fall.

What is it?

Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is a fine powder produced from soft, silica-obtaining sedimentary rocks. They come from the fossilized remains of diatoms, microorganisms found in the world’s oceans, waterways, and soils.

What makes it unique?

• It’s rich in silica: a mineral essential for health bones, teeth, skin, hair and nails.

• It has a very strong negative charge, which attracts it to positively charged bacteria, parasites and viruses, and helps eliminate them from the body.

• It’s very hard, which gives it a beneficial abrasive quality.

Uses

Diatomaceous earth has many uses, and I encourage you to research them more if you decide to try it.

Popular uses:

1. Facial scrub or mask. Mix with water or honey to make a paste, spread onto your face (avoiding eye area), let sit for a few minutes, then remove. DE contains other minerals that can be absorbed through your skin, supplementing a mineral rich diet, which is vital for bone health.

2. Cleans teeth. DE’s abrasive nature helps remove plaque, tartar and stains from your teeth, two of which can present health concerns if not addressed. Sprinkle over your toothpaste and brush.

3. Strengthen bones. Silica works with calcium to increase bone strength and higher silica intake is associated with higher bone mineral density.

4. Strengthen teeth. Silica hardens tooth enamel and can remineralize teeth.

5. Connective tissue and skin health. silica is necessary for collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, and one that provides strength, flexibility and resilience to connective tissue.

6. Strengthen hair. Silica’s mineral content can promote more nourished and healthy hair.

7. Strengthen nails. Silica is essential for strong, healthy nails (I noticed stronger nails and hair within days!).

8. Detoxing/parasites. The negative charge of DE attract it to positively charged bacteria, parasites, and viruses. It’s cylindrical shape causes the pathogens to get trapped inside and carried out of the body.

Parasites?

Yes, parasites. They are almost everywhere and impossible to avoid. This is what convinced me to try DE in the first place, and it was well worth it. Parasites are pathogens that create a waste material that is poisonous to the body. You can contract parasites through contaminated food and water, undercooked meat, sushi, unclean fruits or vegetables, and more. You can even contract parasites through the bottoms of your feet and by touching anything that has been contaminated with parasite eggs: phones, door knobs, cutlery, and more. As you can tell, they’re impossible to avoid (but washing your hands helps!), so before you get down about possibly having a parasite, the good news is detoxing with DE may help or rid you of symptoms that have been plaguing you without explanation, such as:

• Skin irritations such as rashes, hives, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis

• Unexplained constipation, diarrhea or other symptoms of IBS

• Digestive problems

• Leaky Gut Syndrome

• Aching muscles or joints/Arthritis

• Chronic fatigue or exhaustion

• Brain fog

• Depression and anxiety

• Iron deficiency or anemia

• Vitamin deficiencies

• Chron’s Disease

• and more

The by-products parasites emit and the symptoms they present can influence how you feel, think and act. When I detoxed from unwanted parasites and toxins, I was relieved of unexplained fatigue and brain fog that frustrated me and influenced me to sinfully act out toward others. Using DE is one tool I use to stay one step ahead of my tendency to sinfully give in to my frustration and restore my body (as closely as possible) to the state in which it was intended before the Fall.

How to take it

Take DE on an empty stomach. I recommend starting slowly with 1 tsp mixed in water and working your way up to 1-2 TBS.  If the chalky consistency bothers you, you can add to another beverage like a smoothie (but remember that parasites feed on sugar, so drink sugar containing beverages sparingly).

Detox reaction

Some people experience a die-off reaction, which may present as mild flu-like symptom for a couple of days. As your body kills off parasites and yeast, they release by-products that are best removed through your sweat glands. Sweat. I highly recommend exercising or sitting in a sauna or hot tub to rid these toxins faster and prevent them from recirculating in your body. If this isn’t an option, take a break from the DE for a few days and remember to stay well hydrated. Activated Charcoal. I also recommend supplementing with Activated Charcoal from coconut shells, which can be found online or at your local health food store. It also has a negative charge and binds to unwanted toxins and removes them from your body. This is a great way to help your body in its elimination process. I do not take charcoal at the same time as prescription medication or other supplements (wait 2-3 hours after taking), as it binds to the good and the bad stuff.

Food grade vs. Non-food grade

Make sure you’re using food grade DE. Non-food grade DE has a crystalline structure that makes it unsafe for us to ingest or inhale, and is often used as a flea powder and for pest control.

What to buy

Any food grade DE supplement. I use Sila Live brand, but I have also seen more affordable brands with great reviews on Amazon.

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this information is not intended to cure any illnesses. If you have any major health concerns, consult with your doctor before beginning any protocol.

How do we Depend on Christ For Security?

Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Learn

       Having security in the same phrase as dependency feels counterintuitive since most self-assurance in this world is paired with independence, financial well-being, beauty and popularity. I hear this same message from social media making it easy for me to become distracted from what true security really is. Most of the time I find myself fixated on being content with what I don’t have instead of thinking of who Christ is as the basis of my self-confidence or security. As all the things I don’t have in regards to security in this world, play loudly in the back of my mind, I know that the only thing that stops this tune from playing on repeat is the interruption of a louder voice.

      While reading Genesis, I began to hear that louder voice. In this historical moment when God made Adam and Eve, the first counseling experience in human history occurred. God told Adam and Eve who they were and what they were to do and not do, “Be fruitful and multiply” and “do not eat of the tree of good and evil or you will surely die.” God instructed or counseled them and later another voice enters the scene, another counsel. This voice also provided instruction, but it was contrary to that of God’s. In fact, this counsel would make Adam and Eve deny God’s words as being true, making him a liar. It told them that apart from God they could have wisdom. Wisdom is not just knowledge but good judgment and though they were promised by the serpent to know good and evil when they ate the fruit, they would not be wise apart from God. Adam and Even believed Satan but ultimately God’s word trumped Satan’s, they would surely die. Through choosing to listen to wrong counsel, Adam and Eve and all of humanity henceforth would die. If any human could have had a better foundation for filtering through lies it would have been Adam and Eve who walked with God, knew him, and lived in perfection with him in the garden. However, when they listened to the lie of the serpent they were acting out of independence from God versus dependence on God.

      Satan, as the ruler of this world is linked to every falsehood the world expresses and I have to remember that if there is no God in the world then they will be their own God. Independence and self-sufficiency is praised as being the antidote for my insecurity yet when I fail myself where will I turn to then? To who? I am among imperfect people. I need something outside of myself to guide me. I need a perfect being to lean on- God. When I feel insecure I know that if I listen to the voices telling me to find security in anything other than God, I will be left fragile and susceptible to worldly deception as Adam and Eve were. I know that those voices are invitations to live apart from God, not only from his wisdom, but from everything he is; good, faithful, loving, and gracious. If Satan’s voice is the echo of this world, in listening to it I am essentially believing God’s word is not true. God’s word reveals God as my security. The Lord says, do not fear for “I am your God” (Isaiah 41:10). When I feel hopeless I can say “the Lord sustains me” (Psalm 3:5) and when I feel consumed with the opinions of others I can remember God is my refuge (Proverbs 29:25). God has revealed that true security comes from depending on Christ, not in my own understanding or that of the worlds. It also comes from knowing the faithful God in whom I depend on.  

Know

What are characteristics of God that that you can depend on for security?

1. In Control – Isaiah 46:9-10

 “ Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...”

2. Gracious- Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.”

(Add scriptures to these attributes of God) 

3. Loving-

4. Steadfast-

5. Gives Hope-

6. Strengthens me-

7. Faithful-

Do  

Calming Tea recipe 

Recommended as a sleep aid

Recipe:

3 Tablespoons fresh Lavender flowers or 1 1/2 Tablespoons dried Lavender flower

2 cups boiling water

Honey and lemon if desired

Directions:

Put the flowers in a teapot

Add boiling water

Steep for 4 to 5 minutes.

Pour into cups straining if necessary to remove the flower buds.

Serve Lavender flower tea with honey and sliced lemon.

www.thesleepjudge.com

Where Does Ultimate Peace Come From?

 

Philippians 4:11-13

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Learn

             It happens every now again, that anxious moment where I don’t know its happening until it's happened. The one where I am around someone or a group of friends and I say something or do something that haunts me days after. I act in a way that brings feelings of shame, in a way that I did not intend, or simply in an awkward way. I try to connect to others but maybe I am trying too hard.

            Anxious moments can happen as a result of feeling alone or experiencing rejection. I’ve learned that these moments don't happen spontaneously, there is always a reason, if not physical, it is most likely a moment of believing something that exasperates my insecurity. Most of the time I am believing a lie. When I take time to search my heart, God reveals what I am believing and what I am not. Taking my thoughts to the light of scripture I see myself for who I am. How satisfied in God I really am will be evident by the kind of response I have while feeling insecure. Do I attempt to fit the mold I think others will approve of or do I go to the word and be reminded of what actually matters? Our responses are the fruit we bear, the Lord says we will be known by our fruit (Luke 6). Our fruit also makes us known to ourselves.

               In order to uproot insecurity that robs my days of freedom, I must be aware of its home; my heart. Social anxiety is the fruit of a fear that lives within my heart. Most likely, fear of losing something; a friendship, reputation, positive self-image or approval etc. When my heart lacks knowing the kind of peace I have with God and what that means for me, I will hold on tight to my desires and “breakdown” when they are not met. In the end social anxiety has to do with my lack of contentment in the Lord first and foremost. These moments of anxiety in a group or with one other person, are resolved by not making sure I don’t do that something again but by experiencing contentment while being imperfect. Contentment in the Lord is the secure knowing that he is enough and is all satisfying, so everything he has and has not provided in my life is enough too. It’s hard to believe that there is a hope that I can hold on to that even the most disappointing moments in my social life don’t have to shake my peace and joy. Yet, I continue to preach to myself that in Christ this is possible.

Peace with God because of Jesus is the greatest thing we could ever understand in regard to our self-image. It teaches us of his love, his pursuit and his delight in us. When we know God’s approval for us, our desires for worldly approval grows dim. We can know God’s love beyond a Sunday sermon and a verse we read here and there but rather through a knowing that grows in depth by experiencing this love for ourselves.

Know /no/ - have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with.

      Developing a relationship takes time and effort. The peace and love we are hoping will protect us from self-destructive insecurity is a peace and love from a person, Christ. To experience God’s love as most satisfying we first need to spend time knowing him.

Do

Begin moving towards contentment here….

How often have you experienced the following statements from God?

Circle the following descriptions that you have not experienced in the last 6 months

Feeling loved by God        

Joy in being forgiven            

Peace without having desires met

Feeling secure in Christ                                    

Feeling hopeful in Christ    

Let’s P R A Y. Speak to God over wanting to find peace instead of having anxiety. Of wanting to know deeply the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Study his word and spend time with him for a while. Begin to develop or rekindle intimacy with your Creator.

Recommended Reading

Ephesians 4, Philippians 2, Psalm 139, Psalm 23

Gospel- Centered Mindfulness : Breathe In Truth

Printing Recommended

How Do I Not Fear Death?

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

LEARN

      I have always worried about death. I know I am not supposed to be anxious about death because I will be in heaven, but the question that concerns me is if I will make it to heaven at all! I have gone through times in my life where I look forward to resting in the word and growing in my relationship with Christ, but there have been many times where I have zero desire to pursue Christ. In the times where I feel a lack of desire for God I also begin to question whether I am one of God’s children and I begin to distance myself from Him out of shame. When I feel distant from God I can become a mindless person. I avoid my sin and place my efforts into anything that will distract me from such an overwhelming reality. I know this specific insecurity is not just unique to me, but something we all struggle with at some point of our faith.  This insecurity happens because we are sinners and we live in a fallen world where we easily disorder things that cause us to believe lies about the bible.

Take these three statements for example.

1. I am a sinner saved by grace through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8) 

2. Because of Jesus, God loves me and has forgiven all of my sins, and the sins I have yet to commit. (Romans 5:8)

3. I get to participate in Christ’s redeeming work and can be assured of my salvation. (Hebrews 3:14)

       It is so easy to forget truths about the bible when we fixate on one thing to the point that we lose sight of another and we begin to create false gospels. Using the examples above we can come up with many lies about how we earn salvation. When we believe our participation is what gives us our salvation and not Christ’s work in us, we will create a works based faith. When we believe God loves us, but don’t believe we are sinners in need of grace, we neglect the importance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and our depravity. When we place our sin first and neglect God’s saving grace we will believe we will never be enough for God to love us. All of these statements are distorted realities about God. Realities God doesn’t want for us.  

       My fear of death and not going to heaven stems from thinking I have to earn my salvation, and at other times stems from taking for granted God’s love for me. Yes, we should test ourselves, we should be examining if we are in the faith because if we don’t our reality could be hell and that should cause us to worry, but we should examine ourselves in light of Christ redeeming us. If we don’t look at these simultaneously our disorder will continue to cause insecurity. When we allow our insecurities to dictate our beliefs instead of seeking the truth in the word we will continue down a path that will cause us to mindlessly fill our days with thoughts and tasks that ultimately do not matter.

       God desires for us to participate in his work and devote ourselves to him but not because we feel guilty or obligated. God desires us to devote ourselves to him and continue to persevere out of a spirit of gratefulness that even as sinners we are deeply loved and forgiven by a God whose steadfast love will never run out “but the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him” Psalm 103:17. Let us fear the greatness of the Lord and the one who conquered death instead of fearing death itself. Fearing death just leads to death, but fearing God leads to eternal life.    

KNOW

       Meditate on the words of this song and reflect on what you struggle to believe about the words. If you want to listen to it simultaneously you can check out this youtube video of the song as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=936BapRFHaQ

He Will Hold Me Fast
 

When I fear my faith will fail

Christ will hold me fast

When the tempter would prevail

He will hold me fast

I could never keep my hold

Through life's fearful path

For my love is often cold

He must hold me fast

[Chorus]

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Savior loves me so

He will hold me fast

[Verse 2]

Those He saves are His delight

Christ will hold me fast

Precious in His holy sight

He will hold me fast

He'll not let my soul be lost

His promises shall last

Bought by Him at such a cost

He will hold me fast

[Chorus]

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Savior loves me so

He will hold me fast

[Verse 3]

For my life He bled and died

Christ will hold me fast

Justice has been satisfied

He will hold me fast

Raised with Him to endless life

He will hold me fast

Till our faith is turned to sight

When He comes at last

[Chorus]

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Savior loves me so

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Savior loves me so

He will hold me fast

DO

       Go on a walk and look around at the common graces God has given you through your five senses. Acknowledge his love for you.

1. Breathe in the smells and thank God for the things you smell

2. Look around you and thank God for the things you see

3. Touch the plants, animals, flowers and thank God for the things you touch

4. Listen as you walk and thank God for the noises you hear

When you come home….

    5. Drink some water, taste the crispness and thank God for the things you taste

What Can We do About our Self-Image?

Philippians 3:8-9

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

    My self-image has always been tricky to understand, but easy to disregard in terms of confronting my sin because of how drastically my own views of myself can shift. Through the years I have found myself sitting on one of those see-saws, alone, running back and forth trying to find balance and obviously failing because see-saws were never made to function with just one person on them. On one end I struggle with being insecure and on the other end I struggle with idolizing myself. This sin in regards to self-image hits to the root of my issues with anxiety as well. I can spend time getting ready, thinking how marvelous I look one morning, and in the same hour have overwhelming insecurities about myself once I step outside and see other women out there who beat me in that department by way of my own standards. I allow my competitive heart to get the best of me and in those moments I either feel defeated or begin to make it my mission to figure out how to win.

    My vanity over the years has led me to obsessively workout, go on severely unhealthy calorie restrictive diets, shop too much, and probably look at myself way to much in the mirror to try and reach some form of success by way of my appearance. Most importantly though, my vanity has caused me to overly fixate on myself instead of God. The easy solution seems to be to stop thinking about myself and not care so much. However, when I go along with that thought process, I then pretend to not care and decide to eat what I want and exercise when I feel like it. What ends up happening though is that when I begin to see changes in my appearance I then run to the other side of the see-saw and fall into the self-depreciating talk of being ugly, fat, etc. Even in my insecurities I begin to also obsess over myself and fixate my thoughts on things other than God. Either way I end up putting too much attention on myself and far to little attention on God.

     It’s not just appearance that I struggle with in regards to self-image. I can pretty much pick out any area of my life and share my unhealthy relationship with where I seek my worth. I do this because I desire man’s approval, I desire my own perfection, and I desire what the world deems to be success. More often than not it is in these things that I define my self-image because my sin is a constant battle, and one I need to continually be aware of and confess. I fall short daily when I place my self-worth in things apart from God’s view of me as his image bearer. I do this because I crave the desires of my flesh. I even know the truths of what God’s word says about my worth being in Him and I choose to disobey because I am a sinner, in need of God’s grace. The most frustrating part is that there is not a list of things I can do in order to figure out how to master placing all my worth in Christ. I would rather continue trying to figure it out on my own than admit I need someone to sit on the other side of the see-saw for it to work. Looking in, it seems so simple, but my pride gets in the way and I often don’t want to confess the stupidity in what I have been trying to achieve on my own.

      When I am honest with God and myself I know that God doesn’t desire for me to work on mastering a perfect lifestyle by way of my own ability, God’s truth guides me by ultimately revealing to me that he will rescue me from myself, even as I strive and fail. It is through my failed attempts that I can count everything as a loss for the sake of knowing Christ because without Christ I am nothing, and through Christ I am redeemed and given a worth far greater than anything I could strive for on my own.

When we can humbly allow God to rescue us from the trap of vanity, insecurity, and idolatry we will begin to see how to rightfully order our focus on him in all areas of our lives.

….Instead of seeking to gain the approval of man we can rest in God’s love for us (Ephesians 2:4-7)

….Instead of striving for a perfect body we can use our bodies to Glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:20)

….Instead of competing for our own glory we can fight to win souls for Christ (Matthew 28:19-20)

….Instead of focusing on our self-image we can focus more on learning about God (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

….What more can you add to this list??? ______________________________
 

How do We Deal With our View of Self?

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Learn

    Light is illuminating, it makes things hidden in darkness visible. When Scripture is regarded as the “lamp to my feet” (Psalm 119:105) it is because of its divine power to make known to Christians what is of God and what is not, to help us discern what is keeping us in the dark. In our weakest moments or most consistent struggles, we can take comfort that by coming to the light of Scripture we can see all things rightly, and therefore know how to respond in a way that glorifies God. The way we see will determine the victory in our struggles.

    As women, one of the major things that seems to rule our emotions, thoughts and actions is  our view of self. Most of us who struggle with self image would describe it as an experience of having feelings of rejection, loneliness, self-hate and shame. We all crave to be content with our self but the path we take to find that fulfillment will determine if we are walking in the light of Scripture or in light of the world.

     The bible teaches that confidence is found in Christ, not in our self (Rom. 5:1), that true contentment is learned and comes from depending on Christ (2 Cor. 2:10) and that a fulfilling life is present in one who hides in Christ's finished work, not in gaining self affirmation from the world (Col. 3, Rom. 5:2). Ultimately, self-forgetfulness for Christs sake produces hope and peace that is supernatural (Rom. 5:1-5).This kind of self-forgetfulness is not one that causes us to lose touch with self-care, but one that strengthens us because of who we are in Christ and gives us motivation to care for our whole selves the way that Christ cares for us.     

     The good news of Christ is our catalyst for this kind of humility. In light of the Gospel, a person struggling with a positive self-image may experience only a glimpse of the position of lowliness we have in the face of a holy God. We are the sinners that deserve not only to feel rejection in the degree that we have but far more. Yet in Christ, we have been made into a new creation (2 Corinth. 5:17) accepted and loved while we are still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Being Children of God, the Lord declares over us in 1 Peter 2:9 that we are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s] own possession”, we are told that the image of the self is this, royalty because of Christ. The reality of who we are, is that we are Children of a king who adopts us into royalty. We are dearly loved (Eph. 5:1), a treasure that belongs to God forever (Psalm 48:14) and one that he delights in (Psalm 147:11). This is the hope from which to base our feelings of rejection from, this is the lense to see through as we are interpreting our self image.

    0ur cure begins with knowing how much we need a savior and committing from there to look to the cross. In trusting in Christ’s finished work we recognize that though we deserve rejection forever, he lavishes, riches of acceptance forevermore (Rom. 5:2). This is the image that we can hold in our heart, nurture with the Word and remind ourselves in the midst of self-hate. When our self-image fails to meet the expectations of the world, ourselves, or our community we can reaffirm our hearts that our hope lies in who we are in Christ. Our identity in Christ as his children will not change even when we fail, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself” (1 Tim. 2:13). God is faithful to extend grace as we seek to glorify Him. Praise God for the rest we can find in His promises, and a hope that is steady and sure!

Know

Grounding & Meditation print out recommended

Meditate on Scripture---->  Read each part of scripture from 1 Peter 2:9 as your breathe in and out, following the arrows with your finger for one minute increments (see fig. A).

1. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation

2. A people for his own possession,

3. That you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Figure A

 

do

Arugula and Mushroom with Gluten-Free Quiche

Ingredients:

Gluten-free almond meal crust

• 2 cups almond meal or almond flour (I had better results with almond meal)

• 3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced

• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• ⅓ cup olive oil

• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon water

Arugula, Cremini mushroom and goat cheese filling

• 3 cups baby arugula, roughly chopped

• 1 ½ cups cleaned and sliced Cremini mushrooms

• Drizzle olive oil

• 6 large eggs

• ⅓ cup milk

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 5 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet or 9″ pie pan with olive oil or cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, stir together the almond meal, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour in the olive oil and water and stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.

2. Press the dough into your prepared skillet/pan until it is evenly dispersed across the bottom and at least 1 ¼ inch up the sides. Bake until the crust is lightly golden and firm to the touch, about 15 to 20 minutes.

3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm enough olive oil to lightly coat the pan. Cook the mushrooms with a dash of salt, stirring often, until tender. Toss in the arugula and let it wilt, while stirring, about 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a plate to cool.

4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and red pepper. Stir in the goat cheese and the slightly cooled mushroom and arugula mixture.

5. Once the crust is done baking, pour in the egg mixture and bake for 30 minutes, or until the center is firm to the touch and cooked through. Let the quiche cool for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing with a sharp knife. Serve immediately.

Recipe from------>.  https://cookieandkate.com/2013/arugula-and-cremini-quiche-with-gluten-free-almond-meal-crust/

Need Less and Love More

          For most of my life I acknowledged I had a desperate need for love. This intense longing for love led me to believe that it was a desire that had to be met in every relationship. I was convinced that my relationships would fulfill my craving for love. To have this desire met was only natural, maybe even righteous. I was tempted at times when a relationship did not fulfill this need to limit investing my time, effort, intention and emotions. When I was not given love the way I desired, I built a wall that determined how much of myself I was willing to give.

          I was continually affirmed in my belief, not only from my own broken logic, but in receiving worldly and christian counsel through a therapeutic gospel that emphasized my “felt needs” as God’s will for me. I remember learning from a Christian Counselor that I have a “love cup” that must be filled and when it is not filled, it will be easy to experience feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety and anger. I left feeling empowered to love myself, and be relationally closest to those that gave me the feeling I craved. Sooner or later when man failed me, when I failed me, I felt crushed and empty. I soon experienced the weight of the stronghold this love cup really was. It was as if I were a slave to man, my feelings and utterly controlled by what I would or would not receive from others. I was allowing my happiness to rest on the inconsistent love from the world around me rather than the unfailing love of God alone.

          But, there is a different Gospel, one that illuminates needs and wants for what they truly are. As I retrace the lines that I read on sacred pages, I can’t deny that a “love cup” is the farthest thing I read about in God’s will for us, His beloved. Through the lens of the Gospel, in light of Scripture, most apparent is a call of pouring out. Pouring out our love, significance, time, effort, and affection for others. What God’s word expresses is a call for his Children to love Him and love people by not only setting themselves aside but entering into self-forgetfulness.

Philippians 2:1-8 says this….

“….complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself..”

          The Gospel explains that those who follow Jesus don’t look to people to fill their emotional need but rather love them for the glory of God (2 Cor. 5:14 ). We do not love others as if to gain a feeling of love that will fulfill our desires but rather we are filled by God’s love and so are free to love as Christ loved us (1 John 2:5-6).

          In fact, as His love pours into our hearts we realize we are not love cups that need filling, but rather as Edward Welch says in When People are Big and God is Small, “Our goal is to love people more than need them. We are overflowing pitchers, not leaky cups”. God's love gives us a satisfaction that is divine. Our good Father, is the Creator of all that is pleasurable. As beloved children, we experience satisfaction in God by knowing His love, “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Eph. 3:14-19).

“Exchange your codependency on others for a dependency on God. ”

Mindfulness Activity: Renew your mind that you may be transformed (Romans 12:12 )

Know ------> Do

Pray:    

       Write a prayer of confession and desire. Express what behavior you want to “put off” in light of God’s word and pray for what you want to “put on” in light of the truth you know  (Ephesians 4:22-24). Read this prayer as often as you need to, as you seek to Glorify the Lord with your body & soul.

Meditate:   

-2 Corinthians 5:14 - For Christ’s, love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

-Ephesians 4:22-24- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt though deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in the true righteousness and holiness.

-Romans 5:5 - and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

-1 John 2:5-6- But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him out to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The following sources were used: ESV Bible, When People are Big And God is Small by Edward T. Welch