“For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.” I Corinthians 1:18 (AMP)
My quiet time today centered on the power of the cross for healing ungodly beliefs and lies which I have believed about God and about myself. You see, the finished work of Christ on the cross and my authority as a believer gives me power over these strongholds. I am grateful. But more than grateful; I continually bask in God’s love, radiance and wisdom to grow more like Jesus every day. I have an eternity to go.
Saved/redeemed people have a sincere desire and need for God’s truth. We want our minds to become more like the mind of Christ. We want our minds to be in-line with scripture so we have Godly beliefs.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
God does not simply want us to know about Him or to acknowledge He exists. No! He wants a daily personal relationship us. When we know Him personally; His character, His principles, His Son, His truth and His heart we will be able to recognize lies. Lies other people tell us, lies Satan tells us or lies in which he seeks our participation, lies we believe about ourselves, false judgments we make against others, and even lies (ungodly) beliefs we hold against God.
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.” John 15:4-7 (The Message)
I don’t want to be burned up as deadwood. I want to be found fruitful. I want to be alive and full of His truth so I can be free from the lies and fiery arrows that are thrown at me. I don’t have to pull the arrows out. I don’t even have to deflect them!
You see when I have problems or relational difficulty I have an unhealthy (ungodly) belief that I must be the problem. I assume if something is wrong, it must be my fault. Satan has spent years ingraining this in my life through experience.
A few months ago when I was meditating on these truths I sensed God breathe into my heart, soul, mind and strength, “You are not the problem.” Not always and when I error I would rather error on the side of acting in faith than not acting/doing at all. “You are a helper. Your heart is set toward Jesus. All you have to do is look at My Son, speak the Truth and the arrows will not touch you. Jesus is always there to protect you. I love you. You are not your past. You are who Christ says you are—the daughter of the Most High God.”
The Lord even gave me three word pictures.
- He showed me Jesus in my heart, but with all the arrows coming at me I couldn’t feel Jesus, or at the moment, remember Jesus was there in my heart. I allowed the pain to take over. God reminded me that Jesus is always here to protect me. (This does not mean I will always understand the way He chooses to protect me.)
- God took me through a timeline from childhood and past to remind me that although these events, people and choices are a part of my past, they are not who I am in Christ—“It is not who you are.”
- He reminded me through scripture that He is on His throne. I was on the steps just below Him dressed like a Princess; dressed in His love. I realized I had been living like a peasant most of my life when all along I’ve been a Princess daughter of the Most High King.
I encourage you to spend time with the Lord each day. Read His word, go through a Bible study, and spend time in prayer. Pray scriptures back to God. God’s word is the main way He speaks to you so as He speaks to you—speak back to Him by responding to what He said to you. Ask Him questions and wait on the answers; this is a discipline that comes with practice and time. Acknowledge false beliefs or judgments you have made over yourself or other people. Give God your hurts. Ask Him to reveal His truth to you.
In these moments I have found God to be tender and merciful. I have found Jesus to be the great physician who heals instantly, completely and permanently. Doesn’t that sound just like Him? Yes! I have also found the Holy Spirit to be the Great Comforter.
“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’” Luke 5:31 (NIV)
“Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,” Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)
“ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
BELIEF SYSTEM(By: Anonymous)
If you accept a belief,
You reap a thought.If you sow a thought,
You reap an attitude.If you sow an attitude,
You reap an action.If you sow an action,
You reap a habit.If you sow a habit,
You reap a character.If you sow a character,
You reap a destiny.
Sow God’s word; truth through prayer and Bible study.
Reap a personal relationship with God who loves you, and a mind more like Christ’s mind.
Get cross fit. Overcome the lies.