Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Spiritual Identity

Welcome to the kingdom citizens blog!

A strong identity that is rooted in Christ gives us confidence to stand firm in our biblical values, even in the face of adverse challenges.

At times it can be difficult to translate what the Bible says to how we should apply what it means in the ways God intended. This list of five daily exercises should help eliminate some of the disconnect associated with properly implementing biblical principles that strengthen our confidence in who the Lord has individually created each one of us to be. Because God is Spirit and He uses the Holy Spirit to seal and help us, strengthening our spirit-man has a positive impact on the rest of our existence...

God is Love and wants us to share in His love because right-relationship is a priority in His Kingdom.

1. Deepen Your Relationship With God

Daily Prayer creates an open and available pathway for unhindered communication between God and mankind. Even in our natural relationships, we see the vitality and intimacy that is shared between two people who speak often and openly. Speaking with God is engaging in the most important conversation anyone could have. In this way, we can release the tension of holding in what we can say to no other person. We can trust God, not only to hear our praise and petitions, but to share His heart with us as well.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to, "16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." To rejoice, pray, and give thanks are three things we do in prayer, always, continually, and in all circumstances. This is how we approach God in prayer, regardless of how we're feeling. This is the key to how we invite the Lord into every conversation we engage Him in. In this way, we are released to speak honestly and humbly. Seeking His guidance with an obedient spirit and contrite heart.

Bible Study conditions our minds with knowledge of God so that the Holy Spirit can condition our hearts to obtain with the wisdom of God. The greatest revelation we could conceive is the Love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Furthermore, when we learn Who God is, we believe who He says we are. It's not enough to just read the scriptures. We must investigate them thoroughly, asking the Lord in prayer to reveal to us the true meaning behind each word. Start with passages like Ephesians 1, Romans 8, and Colossians 3.

There will be events and concepts we don't understand but if we don't read, we won't know what to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us plainly. Think of the Bible like having access to the greatest cosmic artifact of all time, the journal of God, containing all the mysteries of the universe. Now who wouldn't be interested in reading this ancient and enlightening manuscript from heaven? It's a blessing that Yahweh even saw fit to expose His existence to us at all. The Bible provides answers while also inciting further curiosity we use to question the Lord with in prayer. See how it all comes full circle.

Worship and Thanksgiving are beautiful ways to honor our Creator. To be a living instrument of praise, gratefulness, and glory towards the Lord is such a fulfilling occupation. We have received so many blessings that we don't deserve. There are also many consequences He has waived as a result of His mercy. We should be thrilled that we have such a good heavenly Father to worship and thank. He loves us deeply, and without reservation. No matter what we have done or can do, He has chosen to never love us any less.

As Psalm 100:4 states, "4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.", we should be ecstatic with worship and praise over all the Lord has done in our lives. Butter God up without asking Him for anything in return sometimes. Tell Him how lovely and beautiful He is. Lavish Him with all your love. Write Him poetry and sing Him songs. Dance for Him in garden of His Presence. Commit your heart to the Lord because we are His Bride and Beloved.

2. Renew Your Mind With GOd's Truth

Memorize Scripture so that you always have a reminder of God's truth. When negative thoughts or actions come against you, the Holy Spirit will remind you of God's promises so you can use them to replace false accusations with the Gospel. When we are transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ and not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2), we can properly test and approve God's perfect will. This protects us from being misled by the destructive will of our enemy, the Devil.

Reject Lies that are determined to weaken our faith by doubting the Word of God. The reality of a situation and what we perceive it to be can be two completely different things. Godly discernment is necessary in order to recognize a lie, reject it, and replace it with the truth. To be effective ministers of the Gospel, we must learn how to identify false beliefs and dispel them. Biblical truth is what defines you and I, not the faulty narratives you or anyone else believes to be true. If you every find yourself wrestling with not feeling valued or worthy, remind yourself that you are God's workmanship, a masterpiece made in His image (Ephesians 2:10).

Limit Negative Influences by being mindful of the media, company, conversations, or environments you entertain. Establish firm boundaries with friends, family, co-workers, and even personally private engagements that could in some way contradict your identity in Christ. What you watch, listen to, and partake in will eventually have an effect on you. Whether for the positive or negative, closely monitor what attempts to gain access to your attention span. This doesn't mean to be paranoid. This just means that you are accountable for you and what influences you invite into your spirit. What you take in, is what you will eventually let out.

3. Walk in Obedience And Faith

Live in Faith, Not Feelings because what you feel may not complement what you know. Faith is the direct result of an evidential experience; something that occurred directly to you that left you without a doubt that a particular thing is true. Remember that your identity, as well as the end game, is based on God's Word, not your emotions or circumstances. In the end, we win! As victors in Christ, suffering can only last a short while. Pain is on a timer. Discomfort will be resolved. We are designed with immortality in Mind. Humanity is the idea of God, the manifestation of His good will, the desires of His heart fulfilled. Remember to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Obey God's Commands because growth and triumph are secured when we live out God's will. If we truly love the Lord, we will keep His commands (John 14:15). How could we possibly expect someone to believe we love them without actions that validate the claim? We may not intentionally act out against the ones we love but what kind of true love is dismissive of their benefit. The betrayal of someones trust, kindness, support, and love comes with disregarding their needs and will. How much more reverence should we have for the Lover of our souls? Proof of our love for God is evident in our obedience, not just for God to know but the world to witness.

Serve Others in love and humility. Use your gifts to bless others, reinforcing your purpose in Christ. Living a life led by the Spirit means using our freedoms and liberties to serve others, not our fleshly desires and selfish motives (Galatians 5:13). It is important to recognize in others what you can do to be a solution to their problems, according to the grace given you by God. We can't help everyone but those who have been assigned to us for assistance should receive the benefit of our hospitality. Remember when you were down and out, praying God would send you an angel. Be that agent of change you wish you had. Remember Proverbs 11:25, "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." (NIV).

Community in Christ is necessary for spiritual growth and stability.

4. Surround Yourself with Godly Community

Find a Strong Church so that you may fellowship with other believers. A solid community of like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ will help you retain encouragement while learning accountability (Hebrews 10:25). There have been plenty of times when I was able to rely on my church community in times of hardship. I was also one who was on the giving end of that encouragement.

It is important that we don't forsake that assembly out of shame, guilt, shyness, or even due to a bad encounter. People are flawed but God is not. Find a church community that teaches solid biblical principles and has loving members; one where you are led by the Holy Spirit to support with your gifts as well. This church doesn't have to be brick and mortar. It can be a consistent Bible study group or even a legit street ministry. It just has to be a stable community, strong in biblical morale and integrity.

Build Godly Friendships so that you can cultivate a lifestyle that glorifies God with your relationships. Surround yourself with people who strengthen your faith, not diminish your integrity. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." (NIV). Many of us can become dull, desensitized, by a lack of godly relationships that keep us on our toes. Godly friendships provide insight and stability, they challenge us when we are struggling, and rebuke us in love when we aren't doing the right thing. We need people we can trust to hold us accountable, love on us, support us, and pick us up when we're down. Godly friendships also teach us how to properly be a godly friend to others.

Seek a Mentor, someone you can trust to learn from who is spiritually mature. 2 Timothy 2:2 elaborates on this concept, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." (NIV). A mentor is someone with experience, maturity, and wisdom. Only entrust yourself to someone who is reliable and qualified to teach. This must be someone you are willing to submit yourself to; someone who is proficient is understanding the Word of God, who is humble and patient. A mentor does not seek to mold a mentee into their image, but the image of God. Be careful of those whose desire is to control and manipulate your gifts for their sake. Don't take this selection process lightly. Everyone mentor I've every had, still has several mentors they are accountable to because they have kept their iron sharp.

5. Persevere Through Trials with Confidence

Expect Challenges then you'll learn to be prepared to overcome them. Challenges, by nature, resist us but can refine us if we let them. James 1:2-4 not only tells us to expect challenges, trials, and temptations, but how to approach them:

"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

We should approach each challenge with pure joy, so that when our faith is tested, perseverance is produced. Despite a things difficulty, we must persist (in faith), pressing on in order to obtain success. God's grace is sufficient for us, so we must remember to allow Him to be strong in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Be confident that the King of the Universe, the Creator of all existence is empowering you to conquer your fears and overcome the world.

Trust God's Plan, even when things don't make sense. Remember that God is shaping you according to His good will and purpose for your life (Romans 8:28). The Lord means you no harm but desires for any suffering you face to draw you nearer to Him. Trust God to be your fortress, the oasis in the wilderness where you can find restful-spaciousness. God knows all and cannot fail. He is all-powerful and loves each one of us deeply. When we put our trust in the Lord, we will not be shamed or overpowered (Isaiah 54:4; Philippians 4:13).

Keep Moving Forward as you learn and grow. Setbacks happen but failure does not define you. If you are called to be victorious in Jesus Christ, Who has already won, why allow your past to dictate your future? Even if you backslide, God does not want you to stay there. Pick yourself back up and continue pressing forward. Philippians 3:13-14 encourages us in this way:

"13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Forget what is behind you and focus on Jesus Christ. Your goal is not in the past. The prize awaiting you is at the finish line which is heavenward. Remain heavenly minded and not earth-bound. This world will surely pass away along with everything in it. We can either go the way of the separated and forgotten, or take on the promise of God's eternal presence because we are remembered and accounted for in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:15; 21:27).

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Make sure to stay tuned in for this next blog post so you don't miss out on your word of encouragement...This sums up this series on Discovering Our Identity in Christ. Stay tuned for the next blog to be released in June. Thank you and God bless!

Scripture of Emphasis:

Revelation 3:5 (CSB)

" 5 “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.”

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Thank You and God Bless!

Thank you for reading this blog. Your support and contribution is treasured here. Please continue to share this content so that God may work through us to be a benefit to others. I invite you to leave a comment and stay tuned in for the next blog. I pray that this blesses you and honor’s God. Let’s continue growing together as Kingdom Citizens in Christ. Show love, be kind, and trust in God. Thank you and God bless.

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