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Now that I’ve finished grading the last of my students’ research papers, I can finally sit down to think about and write a substantive blog post. I’m focusing on self-value because once mastery is gained over that it solves many other issues. Our degree of self-value determines how well we communicate, how we allow/don’t allow others to treat us, our confidence to pursue opportunity, and SO much more.
The success of our Christian walk is about consistency.
Now, once you’ve accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you receive the gift to the Holy Spirit, and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Meaning, you’re goin’ to Heaven, baby.
BUT.
Just because you received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean that Jesus plays a magician role and does all the heavy lifting for you. Our walk in Him is about daily consistency because our goal, and what He wants for us, what he constantly told his Disciples, is to develop Fruits of the Spirit.
That means we are responsible to begin cultivating our lives to develop, grow, and flourish in the Fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Those fruits will begin to develop and anchor more deeply when you really grasp who you are in Jesus Christ. He needs to become a part of your daily, nutritional intake. Believe me, if you are consistent in pursuing Him each day, you will begin to FEEL that how He feels about you overrides ANYTHING ANYONE here on Earth says. I say feel because it starts out as knowledge first. And just because you don’t feel something doesn’t negate the Truth of the Word of God.
Jesus constantly tells us that he tells the truth. So, we know that what he tells us we can rely on it. That’s head knowledge. So, let’s look at some things that he tells us…about us!
A lot of what Jesus tells us is in the context of royal discourse. Why? Because we are children of the King! We are royalty, designed and created by the Most High God of the Universe. My beautiful transformation began in Isaiah. So, I’m going to begin there. Isaiah 61:10 “For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness…” Then in Isaiah 62:3 “You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’S hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
No matter what anyone else says about you, or how they behave toward you, or how you talk to yourself, the words above are what GOD says about you. Now, who has the authority to override that? No one soul on the face of this earth. So, it’s vital that we not only know that, but we get to the place where we FEEL it. How do you get to THAT place? By spending time with Him each day and letting Him build you up each day.
When you spend time with Him each day, really working on integrating His thoughts into your thoughts, studying the word, praying for revelation, praying that the deep things of God are revealed to you through the Holy Spirit living INSIDE of you then you will begin to see the comedy in how you let others determine your value. Because humans without salvation through Jesus Christ, without the Holy Spirit living in them have about as much substance to them as a silverfish – nothing but dust, really.
Isaiah 62:4-5 “…for the LORD will take delight in you…as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.” Do you understand and see how glorious that is? When you walk with Him each day, seeking to build your relationship with Him, all these things and so much more become real. The absurdity of the shallow things of this world, the shallow pursuits of people not focused on Christ will become so resounding to you.
But if you don’t make a daily endeavor to pursue Him, don’t expect tectonic shifts to happen. It’s about commitment, consistency, determination. You can do that…. or stay where you are -miserable. Seems like an easy choice, doesn’t it?
Believe me, the day will happen when it kicks in, when you truly GET IT! This happened to me in stages. But I’ll never forget one day, after I’d left my earthly father’s house. He is a loving father, but he can be unkind. And, well, it wouldn’t be a visit home without him popping off at the mouth about something.
And I remember driving away in the car thinking how awful he could be when suddenly I FELT in the deepest part of my spirit that my TRUE FATHER is the LIVING GOD, and He NEVER says ANYTHING to hurt me, to try to make me feel small, etc. Never, ever, ever. At that moment, He came in and just LOVED me, just ministered to my little bruised heart. And in that moment, I GOT IT! I finally, truly understood that YES! He CAN FEEL like a REAL Father, the kind that all women should have! It was BEEE-AUTIFUL!!
So, don’t wait. Don’t put it off. Don’t him-haw around. It’s there. It’s just up to you to pursue it and tap into the divine, nourishing, living water of Him quenches our “thirst”, our BREAD of LIFE who restores, renews, rebuilds!
Noel