Almost every day I get up real early so I can spend time with the Lord. It’s my favorite time of day and I feel the loss on the days I don’t take time. I have several devotionals and books that I read and the Word. I have a couple devotionals that I have been reading the last year and half that have made such a difference in what I think, focus on and believe. They are full of truths of who I am in Him. I have been changing the meditations of my heart for the last 24 years when I first heard the message of grace and faith and my identity in Him. The 40 years before that I worked really hard to do right, be right and please Him which mainly brought condemnation and fear since it was never good enough. It has not been as simple for me as some to change my mind and heart but I have come a long ways. The only way I know how to change my mind and heart is to focus on the truths of who I am. I must have these before my eyes every day and hear the words of His love continuously.
It’s not only the words we speak but what we hear that is so important. This last week I taught in our Thursday night class and the lesson was on hearing. It was so awesome to teach and the lesson went right along with my message today. This is the verse: “So faith comes by hearing what is told and what is heard comes by the preaching of the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself.” Romans 10:17 The most common of translation of Romans 10:27is, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” The word God is from the Greek word Christos which means Christ. Faith comes by hearing the message of Jesus. Jesus’ message was about love and who we are because of what He did for us on the cross. The Word is very clear about how important hearing is. “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them will be like a sensible wise man who builds his house upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24
“And your ears will hear a word behind you saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
“As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another 60 times and in another 30.” Matthew 13:23
Not believing you are who God says you are can lead you to hear incorrectly. As long as we are focused on our short comings and tearing ourselves down we won’t walk in faith in some areas. Learning to hear His truths about our identity brings more freedom and peace than anything else we could do. Sometimes it is also the hardest thing to believe. “If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you and more besides will be given to you.” Mark 4:23-24 We must be careful what we listen to which includes our own thoughts, words and condemnation. We need to focus on His truths. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you. The more we focus and receive His truths the more truths we will be able to focus on and receive as ours. Remember, focus on who the Lord says you are. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy trying to keep you from hearing clearly with self-accusation. Find the verses that say you are loved unconditionally and all the verses that tell us what we have “in Him”. Keep these verses before your eyes and let them become your focus and life.
Listening to our negative thoughts and to the negative words of others will bring destruction into our lives. The Word of God is Life to us. All His promises are Yes and Amen.
“So faith comes by hearing what is told and what is heard comes by the preaching of the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself.” Romans 10:17 Faith comes when we hear the preaching of the message from the lips of Christ. If we are focusing on and meditating on the law, condemnation, on lists of do’s and don’ts – faith will not come. The more we listen to what isn’t coming from the lips of Jesus the more we become obsessed with what doesn’t bring faith. In Numbers it says that the Israelites did not go into the promise land because “the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it”. They became afraid. When you think on something over and over and over – you become obsessed. When we are in this state every part of our mental and physical being is focused inward on whatever our obsession is. When we are obsessed we don’t listen to anyone – let alone God. When you are obsessed you become exactly like what you focus on. If you are focusing on the downfalls and faults of another person – you will someday end up doing and being what you have judged and condemned. That is powerful to me and I definitely have experienced it. Many of us have. We get so busy picking on someone else and their weakness and soon it becomes our downfall. I’ve seen people judge and condemn a love one for years for drinking and when hard times hit their life they are doing the same. We become what we behold. If we talk, think and listen to the wrong things long enough we don’t notice what we should be noticing. We don’t hear what He is saying. If we have sickness in our bodies and focus on the sickness it becomes all we know. Same with poverty, fears, judgments and all the other negatives that can control our thoughts. What we focus on we become.
The same works for the words of Christ. When we focus on Him and His words we become like Him. When we hear and think on His words over and over and over again they become a part of us that cannot be taken away. Hearing and hearing and hearing the preaching of the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself brings faith that will always stand.
The Lord has taught me a lot about declarations in the last couple years. I want to declare His truths and His words. Once I am able to embrace the truth of who I am I don’t have to strive to prove myself to anyone. I am at peace with who He created me to be and happy with how He made me. The revelation of His love for me is so much greater than I ever thought possible. It’s more than singing Jesus Loves Me as a child. His love is unending and so undeserved. I love to hear how much He loves me. As I’ve focused on His love for me and how He sees me the last couple years so many things have just fallen into place. I don’t have to worry and strive. I can be me not the person I think the people want me to be as a pastor or as Ed’s wife. This is a journey I am still on and each day I fall more in love with my Savior and love others with a deeper love. “Because this revelation lamp now shines within you, nothing will be hidden from you—it will all be revealed. Every secret of the kingdom will be unveiled and out in the open, made known by the revelation-light.” Luke 8:17
Because Jesus died and rose again we have new life. The power that raised Him from the dead is in us. He has given us the resurrection power and is revealing to each of us the mysteries and secrets of that power. His Kingdom is a mystery to those who do not believe Him but He has given us the keys to the Kingdom and nothing is hidden from us. “So faith comes by hearing what is told and what is heard comes by the preaching of the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself.” Romans 10:17 Hear His words. Hear His message. Listen to preaching that preaches the message from His lips. Listen to songs that share the message from His lips. If it isn’t the Good News message of His grace and faith alive in us because of what He did at the cross then it isn’t a message you may want to be hearing. Every part of the Bible points to Jesus and His resurrection. Saturate your mind and heart with His words of love and identity. It’s a joy unspeakable and full of glory that brings peace that passes all understanding. It’s a place you will want to remain in forever and never leave because it is in Him. No greater place I’d rather be!
I have shared some of the declarations I preach to myself every day. These are some of the truths the Lord has been showing me the last year or so. These declarations of His truths and the message that comes from His lips has changed my life forever
Some of the declarations the Lord has shown me.
*I am His chosen one
*I am His heritage
*I am His bride
*His love extinguishes every fear
*He is my Savior, Friend and King
*There is victory in His name
*He is all I need, He is enough
*Nothing is too big for Him to care for
*I have resurrection power
*As I embrace the truth of who I am in Him my whole life is transformed
*He gives me fresh revelation
*He rejoices and delights in me
*I am totally dependent on Jesus
*Jesus calls me lovely
*He says I am beautiful
* I am anointed
*He has a purpose for my life
*Favor and wisdom are mine
*His joy is my strength
*Righteousness and peace are mine
*He encourages me
*He says I am special
*He wants to wrap me in His presence
*I am His masterpiece
*Worship, prayer, devotion and resting
in His presence is a vital part of my
relationship with Him
*Nothing is more beautiful than time
with Him
*He talks with me
*His glory heals, speaks and comforts
*His glory is in me
*His glory releases wisdom and favor
*I have resurrection power
*I have His goodness and power inside
*I am to release His goodness and power
*I will not fear what He has given me
Victory over
*He infuses me with faith
*I never give up
*Nothing is impossible for Him
*He never gives up on me
*He refreshes me with sweet promises
*He wants to encourage me and gives me direction for my life
*My heart is confident and at peace
because it is set on Him
*His words always build me up and
never tear me down
*His words brings life to my heart
*Life with Jesus is filled with joy
*His love is tender and kind
*Life with Him is exhilarating
*Jesus understands me like no one else
*He is excited about me
*In Him I am confident, courageous, and filled with compassion
*He breathes resurrection life into me
*My life in Him is a story to tell
*I was born for a divine purpose
*I was fearfully and wonderfully made for that purpose
*My hand was created to release healing and love to all I touch
*His desires stir within me
*I was created to touch the world
*I am in the safety of His arms and
the enemy cannot touch or defeat me
*I am the reward of His suffering
*He delights in me
*I was created for love
*He walks with me
*He tells me I am His own
*I was created to hear Him
*He created me valuable and significant
*He tells me He loves me
*His love is as certain as the sunrise
*I place my expectations in Him
*He created everything as a gift for me
*His peace is mine
*I abide in His heart
*I was created for joy
*I was created for peace
*He is my great Shepherd
* He is my best Friend
*Life in His Kingdom is exciting and
fulfilling
*I am designed to prosper, be whole,
be happy and healthy
*I live in Him above the circumstances
Of life