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Do you have a document that you’ve taken time to write that helps you remember who and whose you are? It’s what I call a “spiritual centering” paper.
May I suggest you take the rest of this week to create one?
Several years ago, someone recommended I do this, and after spending a lot of time on it, this is what emerged. It has been a great source of encouragement over the years. Sometimes I add to it; sometimes I delete from it. It hinges on what I sense I need to have brought to my mind the most.
Purpose: To live and pursue in Christ things of ultimate worth and significance.
Understanding my identity in Christ.
Death precedes life.
1 Corinthians 15.31 –“I die every day.”
Galatians 2.20 –“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Romans 6.6– “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
Colossians 3.3 –“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Thinking precedes being. (I will become who I think I am.)
Romans 12.3– “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
Philippians 4.8– “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
2Peter 3.1– “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.”
Romans 12.2– “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Christ makes me righteous, not my effort.
2 Corinthians 5.17– “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Romans 8.10– “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.”
Philippians 3.9– “…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Desiring God’s reign, His kingdom in me.
Submission precedes peace.
Luke 18.14– “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1Peter 5.6– “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Handling the burdens of life
1 Peter 5.7– “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Reminding myself of God’s love for me.
Refreshing myself with my personal mission and vision.
Renewing my hope
Skepticism, sarcasm, being critical and overly analytical are the signs of a loss of hope. Hope is the engine of faith and the enabling of endurance.
Psalm 62.5– “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
Proverbs 23.18– “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Romans 15.13– “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
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Awesome!!! That’s really neat, Jeff!
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