It's very easy to beat yourself up. When you sin or fail in some way, Satan puts self-critical thoughts in our minds which sound like our own thoughts. Then, we run with them and before you know it, we create a narrative about how dumb we are, how ugly we are, what a big failure we are, what a sinner we are or what a terrible Christian we are. We default to letting our struggles define us.
Yet, I challenge you to pray: "Daddy God, I pray that You would cause my thinking to line up with Your thinking wherever they are different." That is what a renewed mind is. It's the Holy Spirit replacing our stinking thinking with God's astonishing thinking about who He is, who we are and how to live life. I want to focus today on God's thoughts towards us.
Our Daddy says in Isaiah 55:8, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. It's very easy for us to take this as a scathing criticism from Him. Yet, it actually reveals God's longing for us that His thoughts and His ways become ours.
When He looks at you, He's not thinking about your failures or successes for that matter. He's thinking about what He did for you and to you in Christ. He sees one of His children who is like Him. He loves you because He sees you as a new creation who is righteous, a saint (holy), complete, forgiven, loving, patient, kind and so much more!
I personally had to remember who I was when two people criticized me last week for inviting you in the last few blogs to our Foundation for Transformation Conference (Romans 5-8). One said I had gotten away from life giving blogs. What surprised me is that this person had been transformed by Jesus through GLI. I thought they would want to use those emails to invite people they love who are not free. The other stated that they lived too far away from our office so they no longer wanted the emails. I scratched my head wondering if they had somehow missed that no matter where anyone lives, they can join us via our powerful online system.
Sometimes, criticism is valid and we can learn from it. Other times, it's not. Either way, I reminded myself that it doesn't change my identity. I am who Jesus says I am, period.
This is why a Christian can't be an alcoholic. That doesn't mean there aren't Christians addicted to alcohol, opioids, meth or cocaine. They need to admit they are addicted and need help so they can get help. Jesus and the experience of His deep love for them can free them from their addiction as they learn who they are in Christ. There's so much more I would like to share with you, like why a Christian can't be a liar, a thief, a pornographic person. Space doesn't permit here, but you will see below that there is a way I can, soon.
I leave you with two take-aways. 1. Line up your thoughts about who you truly are with God's thoughts about you. 2. Accept my invitation to come hear more at our Foundation for Transformation Conference IN OUR OFFICE or ONLINE so God can personally speak to you about what He's done that makes you as righteous as Jesus Christ. I will personally be teaching the first night, Monday, June 6. This is a FREE CLASS. SIGN UP HERE (If you've attended before, invite someone you care about, remembering how God spoke to you there.)
Warmly in Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!
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