╰☆☆ 𝐻𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑜, 2019 ☆☆╮

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2019 Blog Post Christie Lukes.png
 

Well, here we are…2019!

 

It’s always so refreshing to start off a New Year by going over goals, dreams and passions. I like to look back and see all the amazing good (and yes, even the unfortunate bad) that has happened – and see how it will shape how I can grow in the new year to come.

– Focused on Having a Godly Perspective –

Something that’s even more vital that the external ambitions around us that deserves great attention is the internal. Something the Lord has been teaching me recently is priorities from His perspective. Do I truly put Him first in all I do? Am I allowing my “to-do” list to get in the way of relationship with the King? If we’re truly honest with ourselves, speaking from my own experience, I’m embarrassed to say that doesn’t always happen.

Thank God for His grace. Thank God that when I choose Him, He embraces my imperfections and sees me as I ought to be.

– True Peace –

A good way for me to know if my priorities are in line with a Godly perspective is this: I experience His peace. Human peace will change based on circumstance. Godly peace is fixed because of what Jesus did that allows me to walk in true freedom. If I become anxiety-driven over circumstances, I am forgetting who I am in Christ. How do I know who I am in Christ? Spending time in His Word. If I am experiencing Godly peace, I am quick to use His Word to confidently tackle the trials.

It’s quite simple, really. We’re the ones who complicate it.

– Looking Forward –

So, as I look at my goals for the year ahead, I commit to checking my heart’s motives: Allowing God to clean anything that isn’t beneficial to my relationship with Christ, and allowing grace to continuously cover me if I need correction.

Remember that God loves you very much and wants only the best for you. I encourage you to let Him to be your “priority planner” for this beautiful new year ahead. ❤

“…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

No More Shame.

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You might not even realize it is something you're putting up with. You might not even know it's taking up a room in your heart.

When you don't live up to your own expectations or definition you've created for yourself, you are probably dealing with shame.

Have you ever caught yourself saying negative things like, "I'm not smart enough to..." Or, "Wow, how stupid of me to..." And even the occasional, "I don't understand why I'm so ..." You fill in the blank however you please, but the bottom line is that you are creating a definition of yourself that was never meant to be your identity, and it's creating a mindset that is unhealthy to your health, wellness and overall life.

You could have even done something that you think is so shameful, upright dishonest, or downright wrong that guilt trips up in your mind, and again, leaving the door open for shame to not just stop in your heart, say hello and then step out; but spend the night over and over and over again.

Over time, this shame becomes a part of you. Hinders you. Keeps you captive and, to a point, you may not even think about it anymore. It just becomes who you are, and who you think you were meant to be.

The truth? That is never how we were meant to live.

Jesus Christ offers us a simple way to rid of this residue, create the TRUE identity of yourself, and will turn your shame into honor. The requirements? Surrender.

"Jesus, I have believed one too many lies about myself. I'm done with thinking thoughts of neglect, unimportance, stupidity and no worth: I'm sorry for believing lies of shame for too long. I give you my mind, my thoughts, my heart. Clean house, God. Show me who I am in Christ."

From Hebrews 12:2, the Holy Spirit gave me this revelation:

SHAME is only removed when one realized their true identity in the One who despised it, conquered it, and replaced its power through the bearing of a cross. He replaced our shame with His HONOR.

That simple.

This isn't a religious act. It's a relationship act.

Only through a relationship with Jesus Christ can this kind of freedom happen. No one else has ever or will ever love you enough to die for you the way He did. Put your total trust in Him. Dive into the Word and find out what God thinks of you. If you are 'in Christ,' it means that you have the character of God living on the inside of you through the Holy Spirit.

Now it's time to know your authority in Christ, and bring your dead bones of true honor back to life. Talk with Him, walk with Him, and discover His thoughts over your life. Once your definition is defined by who God says you are through His Word, the lies you once believed about yourself will have no more authority. 

Take Action

Here is an example from the Word to replace your old way of thinking:

Replace the lie of: "I am worthless."

With the truth of: "I am God's Masterpiece."

Proof: Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Remember, this new way of thinking is not something that'll take care of itself. Only through the finished work of Jesus Christ will this transformation take place, and you must renew your mind daily with the Word of God and His thoughts towards you. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you. He loves YOU and He is faithful!

-Christie

Here is some further reading that you may enjoy from writer Joyce Meyer's book, "Beauty for Ashes":

"One day as I was reading the Bible, I noticed this statement in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance” (AMP). The Holy Spirit stopped me and asked, “What do you believe, Joyce, about your relationship with God? Do you believe He loves you?” As I honestly began to search my heart and to study His Word on the subject, I concluded He did love me—but conditionally.

But the Bible teaches that God loves us perfectly or unconditionally. His perfect love is not based on our perfection or anything except Himself (see 1 John 4:8). He always loves us, but often we don’t receive His love because of guilt about our wrong behavior. We are supposed to be conscious and aware of God’s love and put faith in it. But I was unconscious and unaware of God’s love; therefore, I was not putting faith in His love for me. What a breakthrough! That was the beginning of my emotional healing. It has been a process, but today I can honestly say I am healed and content. I know in my heart that God loves me—and I also love myself.

Saturate your mind with the truth of God’s Word. It’s filled with reminders of His unconditional love for you. He says you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). He says that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:35). Don’t let the enemy steal your identity. You are God’s masterpiece. Believe it!"