Emotions  

SEEING YOURSELF AS GOD DOES

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Many Christians are confused because of the difference they see between the truth of who they are in Christ and what they experience in their daily lives. We have been programmed by our experiences and environment to believe certain things to be true about ourselves whether they are true or not. As Christians, God has stated certain things to be true about us that are true whether we experience them in our lives or not. We are in the habit of depending on our intellect, emotions, senses and/or our life events to determine what is true. As Christians, we are to accept God’s Word as our only source of truth and the source of our true identity.

The truths of who we are in Christ became a reality at salvation through what the Bible calls “rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). Our old self was crucified with Christ and we are now dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:6, 11). Our spirit is made new and the Holy Spirit lives in us, making us righteous, new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21). We became children of God with a brand new self. This change is a totally free gift and is 100% God’s work. To experience our new self (become outwardly who we already are inwardly) requires “renewing the mind” (Romans 12:2). Renewing our mind about who we are as Christians means replacing our old thoughts and beliefs about ourselves with what God says about us. Renewing the mind is a process that depends first, on the power of God’s Spirit and, secondly, our choice to accept by faith who God has made us to be. God has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us (Ephesians 5:18) and His Word to direct us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Our part is to choose (an act of our will) to believe what God’s Word says about us and to act upon this truth in our lives. As we make God’s Word the basis for determining what is true about us and renew our minds, there will be a time lag between our acceptance of who we really are in Christ and our experience of these new truths in our daily lives.

As Christians, we entered into a new relationship with God. This relationship guarantees that we are new creations with a new identity (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our new identity is who God has made us to be as His children. Believing our new identity results in a new experience and lifestyle. For many Christians, our experience looks more like the old way of life rather than our new identity in Christ. The old life has ended, but we still have to deal with the memory of it. Our new identity, through our new relationship with Christ, provides a way out of this problem by rejecting the wrong beliefs we have about ourselves and accepting the truth of what God says. This process of renewing of the mind is called “putting off” and “putting on” in Ephesians 4:22-24.

On the other side of this page you will find three columns. The first column states the person you may think yourself to be. This old identity comes from your past life, based on what your intellect, emotions, senses, behavior, experiences and circumstances have told you. The second column reflects what God has declared to be true about you in His Word. The third column offers verses for you to read and even memorize to give you a basis for your faith.

It is important that you believe God’s Word as truth. The time-lag between your beliefs and your experience will lessen as you begin accepting and standing on God’s Word rather than on your intellect, emotions, senses, behavior or experience. God’s Word is true despite your experience or what others say or do. The truest thing about you is always what God says!

1. Check the statements in column one, which are the same as how you most often view yourself. Write these down.
2. Read the truths in column two. Write down any thoughts or feelings you have that do not agree with these truths.
3. How are the old beliefs from column one affecting your life? Your behavior? Your relationships?
4. Read the verses in column three. Select a verse to memorize for each statement checked in column one.
5. Develop the practice of “putting off” the old identity thoughts and beliefs and replacing them with the truth of your new identity. Your negative thoughts and feelings will remind you when you need to renew your mind with God’s Truth. Depend on the power of the Holy Spirit as you act on the truth of who God has made you to be.

 

What I Feel or
Think about Myself
 		What Is True About
Me In Christ
 		Truth According To Scripture
I am worthless/ no good. Christ has made me acceptable/worthy. Rom 15:7; Ps 139
I am alone. Christ lives in me. I am never alone. Heb 13:5b; Rom 8:38-39
I feel like a failure. Christ has guaranteed my success and makes me adequate. 2 Cor. 3:5-6; Phil. 4:13
I have no confidence. My confidence and boldness is in Christ. Prov. 3:26, 14:26; Heb 10:19; Eph 3:12
I feel responsible for my life. God is responsible/faithful to me. Phil 1:6, 2:13; 2 Thess 3:3; Ps 138:8
I am confused. I think I am going crazy. The Holy Spirit gives me the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16; 2   Tim 1:7; Eph 1:17
I am depressed/hopeless. In Christ I have all the joy and hope I need.  Rom 15:13; Ps 31:24; Heb 6:19
I am not good enough. Christ has made me perfect/righteous. Heb 10:14; Col 2:10; Eph 2:10
There is nothing special about me. God chose me and set me apart. Ps 139; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Thes 2:13
I don’t have enough. With Christ in me I lack nothing. Phil 4:19; 1 Cor 3:21-23
I am a fearful person. God has made me fearless. Ps 34:4; 2 Tim 1:7; 1 Pet 5:7; 1 Jn 4:18
I lack faith. God has given me all the faith I need. Rom 10:17, 12:3; Heb 12:2
I am a weak person. Christ is my strength. Dan 11:32; Isa 58:11; Phil 4:13
I am defeated. Christ makes me victorious. Rom 8:37; 2 Cor 2:14; 1 Jn 5:4
I am not very smart. God gives me His wisdom. Prov 2:6-7; 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 1:17
I am a slave to sin. Christ has set me free. I am a slave of righteousness. Ps 32:7; 2 Cor 3:17; Jn 8:36; Rom. 6:11, 18
I am unhappy. God comforts me. Jn 16:7; 2 Cor 1:3-4
I have no one to take care of me. God protects and cares for me. Ps 32:7; 91; 2 Pet 5:7
I am unloved/unlovable. God deeply loves me. Jn 15:9; Rom 8:38-39; Eph 2:4, 5:1-2
I am not wanted. I don’t belong to anyone. God has adopted me and made me His child. Rom 8:16-17; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5; 1 Jn 3:1-2
I feel guilty. God has forgiven me and declared me not guilty. Ps 103:12; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14, 20, 2:13; Heb 10:10
I am a sinner. God has made me a saint, righteous and holy. Rom 3:24; 1 Cor 1:30, 6:11; 2 Cor 5:21
I have no strength. The Holy Spirit infuses me with Christ’s life and power. Acts 1:8; Eph 1:19, 3:16; Rom 8:9-11
I can’t reach God. God has made me a believer-priest with direct access to Him. Eph 2:6; 1 Pet 2:5, 9; Heb 10:19-20
I feel condemned. God never condemns me when I fail. Jn 3:18; Rom 8:1; Col 1:22
There is no plan or direction for my life. God has a plan and directs my life. Ps 37:23, 138:8; Eph 2:10; Jer 29:11
I feel like nothing will ever change. God has given me a brand new life and is making me like Christ. 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22-24; Rom 8:29-30
I am afraid of Satan. Christ has given me authority over Satan. Col 1:13; 1 Jn 4:4; Rev 12:11
Sin overpowers me. I’m dead to sin and alive to God. Rom 6:6, 11, 17-18

 

© 2000, Scope Ministries International, Inc.
Jim Craddock, Founder and President Emeritus

 

 

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