word

Couple thoughts-

Something that's been running around my brain a bunch in the past couple months is the phrase in Ephesians 3 where Paul is praying for the church and asks that from God's glorious riches Jesus would dwell in their hearts. That's what God wants-us to be living off of the living presence of the living God. In 1 Thes 5 Paul pleads with the people to not put out the Spirit's fire. God's Spirit is a fire that wants to consume all. If we aren't reciving Him, making room, spending time listening and asking, then we are at the very least dampening his Spirit, if not extinguishing him. It's like there is this incredible unrealized potential in each of us, and we simply need to receive more of God's Spirit in our lives to begin to realize that. When a college sports star has some much potential for success and greatness in their sport, then they get injured or are lazy and make wrong decisions, people call it a travesty that they didn't fulfill their potential. There is a tremendous amount of unrealized potential in our lives. And it is a travesty if we are not seeking to fan the Spirit's flame, to live in what God has called us to be.

Something else God is doing: helping me realize my identity in Christ, and to live from that identity. To believe and receive and live. So, if I struggle with something (forgiveness, love, purity, joy, whatever), then I go to the Word and see what God has promised/declared, and pray that back to Him. If I struggle with purity in thought, then I turn to the Word where God says his will is for us to be sanctified, having pure thoughts, being set apart. Since I know that Jesus has destroyed the power/dominion of sin in the world, I know that I am not a slave to any sin. So I have confidence that, through him and his Spirit living in my life, I can be free to live for him. There is so much freedom and power in that way of living and praying!! If God's word says I am forgiven, I am free from sin, I am to be set apart, I am to encourage others, I am to love, I am to be consumed by Him, I am to have peace, then I WILL if I believe and ask God for it. It only happens through his living presence in our hearts/lives, but it will happen. Lots of power in this. Ask, ask ask.

I'm working on figuring out my identity in Christ. More to come as I learn.