Category: Identity

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Giving God Something to Work With 

In a recent blog by Steve Backlund (Igniting Hope Ministries) he focuses on an important aspect of God’s methods for achieving His purposes that resonates with me, that is, that God is always partnering with people to accomplish His will. I’ve included excerpts of the blog for you to consider in todays pastoral letter. 

  • Steve goes on to say ……  While in some instances God specifically directs a person’s course of action, many times a believer’s own ideas and initiative actually spark a move of God. Consider these two stories:
    Jonathan and his armor-bearer in 1 Samuel 14:6
    “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few’”.

Jonathan said, “It may be that the Lord will work for us.” He had no direct word from God at the beginning, but his actions led to a powerful conquest. Continue reading “Giving God Something to Work With “

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High price paid for our identity

Today I was reminded again that we, the followers of Jesus, are neither optimists or pessimists but rather Jesus Christ is risen. Our condition our identity our well-being is not defined by how we feel about ourselves or by self-awareness but rather by our relationship with Jesus, who by grace through faith saved us. Nothing we could possibly do could earn that grace it comes as a gift – and so we get to live a gifted life as we acknowledge and live out our faith in His faithfulness. So often we let our opinions of ourselves define us – we let others opinions of us define us. However our nature as sons and daughters of the Lord of Hosts needs to be held in high regard. Jesus paid an incredible price to lock in our identity. When the Father sees us he doesn’t see us as we are but rather he sees his Son, his righteousness, his holiness and his faithfulness.  Continue reading “High price paid for our identity”