Affirmations: Who I Am in the Great I AM

Sometimes we forget who we are in Christ and in God Almighty, the Great I AM. The enemy of our souls hopes we believe all the wrong affirmations.

Those negative statements we often say and repeat to ourselves that damage our true identity. So we need to remind our hearts of powerful “I am” affirmations to regain our true identity. 

(1.) Affirmations: I am loved. 

If you’re anything like me, you grew up questioning if people really loved you. 

And—gulp—wondering if God loves you. 

Maybe these questions formed in various stages of our life. Or, the enemy still uses our uncertainty of love to haunt us in the present.

But the love of God is firm and certain. To believe and know the truth about His love, write out and pray these scriptures: 

• Love lays down His life for me. (John 15:13)
• Perfect love drives out my fear. (1 John 4:18)
• The Lord quiets me with His love, singing over me. (Zephaniah 3:17)
• God crowns me with steadfast love. (Psalm 103:4)
• God’s love stands firm forever. (Psalm 89:2)

Affirm: I am loved. 

The Most Extravagant Valentine’s Day in History

What if there’s a Valentine’s Day unlike any we’ve ever known? 

Perhaps your memory bank holds a special Valentine’s Day. One that’s near and dear to your heart.

Maybe a special someone entered your life, you received a marriage proposal from the love of your life, or your spouse went over the top to celebrate your love. 

Even a sweet childhood memory may still captivate us.

Or, your memories surrounding this love-holiday uncover feelings of emptiness or a lack of love. Memories from childhood to the present you’d rather forget. 

Because many of us have experienced both highs and lows regarding Valentine’s Day.

But the most lavish, epic, and monumental Valentine’s Day to ever take place in history, celebrates the best kind of love—extravagant love.

Extravagant Love Defined

First, let’s look at what love is and what love is not.

And the Bible contains some of the most powerful and beautiful words ever penned on love. 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV)

What Love is Not

If the World Needs Anything Now: It’s Jesus

If the world needs anything right now, it’s Jesus. 

The prince of this world deceives Christians and non-believers of our real needs.

But what and who the world needs right now is Jesus.

Even believers must rein ourselves in from everything the world offers.

So how much more do those who don’t know Christ fail to realize real needs.

Still, with all that’s currently going on in the world: evil, suffering, division, hatred, and troubled hearts, it’s no wonder we turn to things appearing to meet our deepest needs.

Let’s look at some of the enemy’s deceptions.

The World Needs More Money

The Bible is clear, not money itself, but the love of money is the problem.

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (NIV)

Yet, a few verses before notes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NIV)

The chapter encourages believers to flee the love of money and pursue righteousness. (verse 11)

We Want Power, Control, Notoriety

Passionately Seeking the God of the Bible

When we passionately seek God, it radically transforms us.

And the enemy knows it. So he uses the world’s distractions to keep us from God.

It boils down to a constant spiritual struggle. 

Like how living in this world clashes with not being of this world. Or, the ongoing battle between our flesh and spirit. Also, the conflict between our old self and our new self in Christ.

These struggles put us at risk of distractions that pull us away from seeking God. Instead, we look to our own desires and what the world has to offer. 

But it’s nothing new. 

Throughout the history of the world, the history of God’s people, and the history of the Bible, the choice always stood in place. Either seeking after God or seeking something else. 

And “something else” includes everything from people and things to idols and self-worship to fame and fortune. 

Look at Romans 3:10-11, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.” (ESV)

Still, Acts 17 reminds us how God made the world and everything in it. Futhermore, He made all mankind to live on the earth. Why? 

“That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” (Verses 27-28, ESV)

So how does the Bible describe seeking God?

Seeking God for who He is.

10 Compelling Attributes Also Known as Jesus

Jesus, also known as….

Do you remember the first time you heard the name, Jesus? 

I was a child. But when I turned sixteen, Jesus became my salvation, my Savior. 

Since Jesus brings us compelling qualities of life when we know Him as Savior and Lord, these central attributes also bear His name.

Let’s look at 10 aspects also known as, Jesus.

(1.) Love has a name, Jesus.

True Love defined means, Jesus. Our lack of love from people never makes the Love of Christ less true. 

Instead, we are loved the way He says we are loved: Love lays down His life for me (John 15:13); perfect Love drives out my fear (1 John 4:18-19), and He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with Love (Psalm 103:4).

(2.) Mercy, also known as, Jesus.

God sent Mercy from the throne room of heaven to take our place. Beaten, bruised, and pierced with nails, Mercy’s blood spilled on a cross. And Mercy bestowed forgiveness on us to cover our sins.

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5

(3.) Peace has a name, Jesus.

A Call for Believers to Pray in 6 Ways

This is a call to pray!

We need reminding how God’s supernatural power and ability far outweighs human efforts.

And we only tap into His ability through prayer. 

Since the calendar pages turned to 2021, the world needs prayer more than ever.

And America so desperately needs prayer. 

This call to pray includes: the pandemic, political and racial unrest in the United States and other countries, repentance, and to draw our hearts back to God as a people and a nation. 

Finally, it’s a call to pray for unbelievers to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

So we pray in these 6 ways:

P – Praise a living and powerful God: A Call to Pray

Heavenly Father, I praise You. You alone are God and worthy of all glory. Splendor and majesty surround Your throne. I magnify Your holy and matchless name. I worship Your beauty. Because there is no god like my God.

All of creation declares praise to the Almighty God of heaven and earth! Holy is Your name! Since You are alive and well, it is well with my soul! 

R – Repent of sin in actions, words, and thoughts

Lord, forgive me of my sins. Sometimes I say, think, or do things unpleasing to You. I ask You to give me a desire to repent often and quickly. And help me repent of any missteps against You and others. 

How to Live and Move With God in 2021

Are you ready to live and move with God?

2020 was a rough year as we endured hardships and loss. But as God’s people, we trust Him with the new year. And this means we live and move with Him.

So whatever comes our way in 2021, I pray we remember:

In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28b (ESV, emphasis added)

(1.)  Live in God.

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul visits Athens. Teaching in the synagogue, he describes the city as full of idol worship. He “found an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’” (Verse 23, ESV)

Next, Paul proclaims the known God in verses 24-25.

• God made the world, heavens, and everything in it.
• He does not dwell in temples made by man.
• The Lord is not served by human hands as needing what we have to offer Him.
• God gives life, breath, and everything.

Live means to reside in, have one’s home in, set up residence, be settled in; be housed in, lodge in; inhabit, occupy.

Reflections on Living: 

1. Are we letting those in the community where we live see our faith in a known God? How our life resides in the living God who gives us everything?
2. Do we show others how we inhabit a spiritual life in the promise of heaven? Do we live in such a way others see the known God in us, see us as His temple and God’s altar?

(2.)  Move with God.

21 Areas of Focus for Christians in 2021

Finally, we’re here, embarking on a brand new year. But where and how do God’s people steer our focus after making it through 2020 by His grace?

Because “brand-new” conjures up all kinds of hopes and dreams. 

And Merriam Webster defines it: conspicuously new and unused, also: recently introduced. Synonyms: fresh, mint, pristine, span-new.

While we might have wished for 2020 to end early, most of us welcomed it with a cheery, “Hello, New Year” twelve months ago. 

Instead of the ability to go back and undo our warm welcome to 2020, we only possess the gift to look ahead—focus forward.

Yet, any new year never promises care-free days.

So here are 21 areas of focus for believers.

Focus on Brand-new

(1.) Beginnings. “The point in time or space at which something starts.”(Google) The world, life, time and space all started with God. Give Him the new year and your new beginnings.

(2.) Forge new paths. Whether careers, direction, vision, mission, or ministry, remember who makes new paths. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

(3.) Dreams. Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together. 

(4.) Do-overs. Sometimes we get to do something over, other times it’s impossible. But every new year, month, week, and day presents opportunities to change our actions, reactions, perspective, words, and outlook.

(5.) Second chances. Everyone hopes for a second chance after forgetting something, messing up, or hurting someone. Not only expecting them from others, but also giving them to others. Because we serve a God of second chances and countless chances. 

(6.) Wholeness. We were made for wholeness, but we learned brokenness. Jesus makes us whole. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)

Opening Our Heart to the King of Glory

Welcome to our final week of revealing the King of glory.

So far, we discovered in Psalm 24 how…

(1.) creation

(2.) holiness

(3.) and seeking God’s face, all point to Christ and His glory. 

Now, we learn how (4.) salvation and opening our heart to Christ also reveals His glory.

The last four verses beautifully and powerfully describe Him. 

“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah”

Psalm 24:7-10 (ESV)

Salvation Reveals the King of Glory

Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes the repetitions of phrases in these verses like those in a song.

“The doors and gates are to be thrown open, thrown wide open, to give him admission, for behold he stands at the door and knocks, ready to come in.”

Henry further notes the Lord desires to be “welcomed by us.” 

The King of glory knocks at the door of our heart. If we open the door, He comes in (Revelation 3:20). Jesus came that first Christmas night in Bethlehem for all who are willing to welcome His glory into their heart and life.

God’s Glory With Us

Perhaps Mary’s thoughts went something like this.

He took His first breath.

Wrapped in swaddling cloths, though adorned with royal titles. Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Holy King. Immanuel. The Ancient of Days.

The Lamb of God created the star placed in the heavens to announce His arrival. The light of the world.

Seeking the Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Seeking the King of glory.

Welcome back to our series on revealing the King of glory.

Revealing Him this Christmas and all year. 

So far, the first four verses of Psalm 24 uncovered how both creation (verses 1-2) and holiness (verses 3-4) reveal the glorious kingship of Jesus Christ.

Only those with clean hands and a pure heart stand in the Lord’s holy place as He makes us holy.

Now, let’s look at the next two verses. 

“He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah” Psalm 24:5-6 (ESV emphasis added)

Not only do we receive blessing and righteousness in our salvation, but we also continue to seek the face of our Lord.

Seeking the King 

When we relentlessly seek King Jesus, it radically transforms us. And the enemy knows it. So he uses the world’s distractions to keep us from seeking after Jesus.

Because we struggle with how living in this world clashes with not being of this world. Or, we experience the ongoing battle between our flesh and spirit. 

Throughout the history of the world, the history of God’s people, and the history of the Bible, the choice always stood in place. Either seek after God or seek something else.