Transitions

                                             

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a past. Everyone has a struggle. Everyone has a faulty thought life or we would all be Jesus. It is impossible to be perfect. 

Romans: 3:10: “As it is written: None is righteous, no, not one.”

I am no different. I am going to be 60 next year. I lived about 70-80% of my life thinking that I was a Christian solely because I believed in Him. Much of that time, I gave Him no thought at all. How I lived, thought and talked was definitely not producing the fruit of a Christian. 

My transition to Christ really started in about 2004. Many would say that it doesn’t start until you are baptized or it doesn’t start until you truly change your life. I don’t agree. I feel that it begins when you surrender to Him and begin to crave His word. When you are convicted of sinful things in your life and are praying for His help to change your way of life to His desire for your life.

You see, He was pursuing me since I was about five years old staring up at the stars and talking to Him. He didn't stop. Even in my sin, years later, He would guide me, convict me, warn me, save me and bless me. I could give a hundred examples of times when I wasn’t in line with His word but He stepped in as my defender and protector and it transformed my life once again.

I didn’t sin for the selfish reason of knowing that I was forgiven so that I could sin. I wasn’t arrogant and selfish about it. I was in the process of change. I was struggling against my flesh. I was literally in a spiritual battle and a physical war for my soul.

Once I accepted Him as my savior, I was filled with the Spirit and compelled to change my ways… but it wasn’t an overnight process. For me, it wasn’t an instantaneous, immediate transformation. It was a war. It took time. I lost some skirmishes but stayed to win the war. I didn’t give up hope or faith the first time I fell. I read the bible enough to know of His promises and I believed that He called me long ago. That gave me the strength to get back up and fight.

Phil 4:13: “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.”

Unlike some of the miracles that you hear about, it doesn’t always happen in an instant and you are free. Just work at a Teen Challenge to see that this isn’t the case for many. I had some pretty heavy demons running my life for a long time.

In only one respect, that I can recall, He struck the sin from my life immediately and permanently. I had cried with shame and regret to the point where He had mercy on me. Immediately, I was freed from bondage and it felt as if it had never happened. So it can and does happen.

I had some horrible thought processes, some bad habits, some faulty self-destructive behaviors and a horrible self image. During my transition, I was pleading, even angry with Him to save me from myself. I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and it made me angry. How am I supposed to get from the person that I was to the person that He says I am?? To me, it just wasn’t possible. And I was right. But all things are possible with Christ who strengthened me.

1 Cor 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

I prayed and read and pleaded with God to give me the ability to be faithful and true. The first time that I actually said no to my flesh, through His power, not mine, I felt such a surge of gratitude!! I cried. I knew that once I said no, the next time would be easier and the next time, and the next hurdle. He was with me and gave me the strength that I needed to fight.

Now, as I look back, those fleshly desires and things that distracted me are so far away that it seems almost as if it wasn’t me at all. My words to you are this: trust Him. Have faith in His love for you and His strength being with you, to get you through. Some things may be instantaneously. Some may take more work. And our thought life must always be policed because we are human and we could easily fall prey to darkness through our thoughts.

Remember this… it is not just your fleshly desires that we fight against. It is for our souls. To whom shall we belong? It is literally light over dark, good over evil, life over death.

Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The Morning After

Dedicated to all of the victims of abuse, addiction and brokenness:

You wake up dazed, confused and in a very dark place. All that you recall is that you were in a storm that has lasted for what felt like years... could have been years. You are black and blue and broken inside as well. You have been battered and beaten so badly by the debris of this world that you have not only lost your way but you have forgotten who you were.

Every mirror in the place is shattered and fractured beyond comprehension, leaving you doubtful as to who you were, who you are and who you could be. You have but a fragmented view of who you are but it is horribly flawed. Your current view is based on the tiny broken pieces that are muddied and dirty and warped from the storm.

Your heart is filled with a hopelessness that all of us feel after years of torment, loneliness, feeling abandoned, betrayed and unloved. You ask yourself, how do I put myself back together? Where do I start? What do I believe? Where do I go? How do I move on?

First of all, you pray. You ask for His eyes to see and ears to hear, and the discernment and wisdom to choose. You ask for healing and strength to get through each day with a renewed spirit. You ask that He bring people alongside you that will remind you of who you were meant to be, the goodness God gave you and the qualities that you have that will help you through this. You cast aside anyone who the evil one has clearly put in your path to take you out, hold you down and speaks death into your life.

Like any catastrophe, you will pick up a lot of trash before you find something worth salvaging. All the good that you had, all the beauty that you were, is buried beneath the debris of the storm. Before you can get to who you are, you must dig through who you are not. You have the God given power to determine what is worth hanging on to. You must choose what is good and helpful versus what is damaging and must be discarded.

You must also learn to cast aside all doubt and darkness and replace it with God’s word about who He says that you are. When thoughts reflect on the negative, the past, the darkness… immediately rebuke the thoughts and repeat passages that tell you who you really are in Christ.

Because your sense of self is so damaged and you are not thinking clearly, your habit of thinking is based on darkness and despair. You must reprogram your thinking. For every thought, ask yourself this question: Is this something that will add quality to my life or weigh me down? Imagine that you are choosing each item as a gift to your child or a loved one. Would you offer this as a gift to someone you love or would you destroy it and replace it with something beautiful and fitting of a loved one? You matter as much as anyone to God.

This is what you must do after a storm. One shattered piece at a time, one lie at a time, roll it over in your mind and determine its origin. Did it come from someone reliable or someone who had an ulterior motive or someone who was broken themselves? Don’t hold onto the broken pieces of someone else, you have a mess of your own to get through.

Does it build up or tear down? Well, that is easy, if you are trying to rebuild your life and identity after a storm, why would you keep something that tears down what you build?

One more thing, and this is crucial... Don't let anyone criticize you, or anyone else for that matter, for staying so long, for struggling with your past decisions, for making all of the mistakes before you finally turned from your darkness. They must love and support you in the moment and build you up... they shouldn't focus on the darkness. If there are people who are incapable of being encouraging and uplifting, do not subject yourself to them during this process. They will keep pulling you back into the darkness that you are trying to break free from.

Remember something very important to your survival. The devil is here to rob, kill and destroy.

John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The evil one’s plan is to break you down one moment at a time using your most vulnerable secrets and desires. You are in a spiritual battle for your life. God’s has already given you the keys to His kingdom, He is already victorious, but your faith has wavered, by all that you have witnessed and been subjected to in life. Know the truth, see the battle around you, recognize your enemies and arm yourself with the truth.

Matthew 6: 12-18: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

This list is meant to show you who God says that you are. Post five around the house, on your bathroom mirror, on your fridge, on your doors, etc so that each time you see them, you read them to yourself. This fills your mind with truth and drowns out the lies of the evil one. Change your behavior and decisions to fit the truth of who God says you are.

Who God says I am

(https://kenboa.org/spiritual-formation/who-does-god-say-i-am/)

I am a child of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

I am a branch of the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1, 5)

I am a friend of Jesus. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

I have been justified and redeemed. “. . . being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)

My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin. “. . . knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6)

I will not be condemned by God. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

I have been set free from the law of sin and death. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2)

As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ. “. . . and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17)

I have been accepted by Christ. “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

I have been called to be a saint. “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” (1 Corinthians 1:2; cf. Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2)

In Christ Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? . . . Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19)

I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)

God leads me in the triumph and knowledge of Christ. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

The hardening of my mind has been removed in Christ. “But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:14)

I am a new creature in Christ. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I have become the righteousness of God in Christ. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I have been made one with all who are in Christ Jesus. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir. “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:7)

I have been set free in Christ. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God. “. . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” (Ephesians 1:4)

I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

I have been predestined by God to obtain an inheritance. “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:10b–11)

I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)

Because of God’s mercy and love, I have been made alive with Christ. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

I am seated in the heavenly places with Christ. “. . . and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)

I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

I have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ. “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)

I am a member of Christ’s body and a partaker of His promise. “. . . the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6; see also 5:30)

I have boldness and confident access to God through faith in Christ. “. . . in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” (Ephesians 3:12)

My new self is righteous and holy. “. . . put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24)

I was formerly darkness, but now I am light in the Lord. “. . . you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

I am a citizen of heaven. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

The peace of God guards my heart and mind. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

God supplies all my needs. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

I have been made complete in Christ. “. . . in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:10)

I have been raised up with Christ. “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)

My life is hidden with Christ in God. “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

Christ is my life, and I will be revealed with Him in glory. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)

I have been chosen of God, and I am holy and beloved. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

God loves me and has chosen me. “. . . knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4)