As disciples of Jesus Christ, God’s word inspires us to look at life differently to others. Every negative statement about myself can be the essential material that God requires to transform me into the likeness of His Son. It is essential to learn that I need the power of the resurrected Christ, living in me to enable me to live this Christian life, otherwise I would glory in my achievements. I cannot do it by determination of self-effort. It will only lead to failure and dismay. If I wallow in my failure, I stagnate and resemble a reprobate or castaway, (2 Corinthians 13:4-8). However, under the Holy Spirit’s guiding light I discover that failure in my own strength is an essential ingredient in learning God’s ways. On the journey to my eternal purpose and destiny I learn that my loving Heavenly Father can take every negative thing about me and turn it into His glorious positives. He marries every negative in me to His positives, for His glory. God is the great “I AM”, in the present tense! The Lord spoke to Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9 “….My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”, (Paul continues:), Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”.
When I stop fighting and start inviting the Lord to do what I cannot do in my nature, I discover the power of the endless life of Christ begins to flow out of me. This is victorious living! The life of Another, the Almighty Christ completes me. Colossians 2:10 “You are complete in him who is the head of all principality and power”. This truth transforms me and all my negatives. Christ is now my identity, not my past failures! God does not call me to a crippled walk with a limp, but a glorious marching forth in the power of the resurrection life of His Son.
I cannot move from my negative confession about myself to a positive one just by “naming and claiming” my position in Christ. I have to understand what lies at the root of the issue in my makeup. If I am hurt in any way by my failure, it is only another expression of pride in my inability to be something better. My failure is a necessary ingredient to embrace what I am in the natural and not be hurt about it, before I can move on and lose the identity of my old nature, that the power of Christ’s resurrection life may enable and equip me to exchange my weakness for His strength. It is God’s plan to make an imperfect man to show perfection in His Son, the life of Another in me, equipping me to live the Christian life. I can rejoice in my inability instead of being hurt by it, because I now see what I am without Him. I can say gladly to the Lord, “Thank you for showing me where I actually am….I am not as far on as I thought I was. I give You my lack/failure/weakness and invite You into my nothingness, that the power of Christ may enable me to walk as Your beloved son. Father, as You brought Your first Son, Jesus Christ to glory, bring me also as I lose my insufficiency in Your glorious sufficiency. Thou mighty Christ, come forth in me! I am not a pauper, I am Your son! It is You who completes me”.
Every negative confession of mine must be now tied to a positive confession in Christ, understanding and embracing my need for the royal exchange, (Jesus’ beauty for my ashes) otherwise I will live like a pauper, wallowing in the misery of assumed worthlessness, instead of moving on and living as a redeemed son of God.
Joshua 1: 1-3 After Moses’ death the Lord instructs Joshua to arise and cross the river Jordan and enter into the Promised Land. It is time for us to arise, cross our “Jordans” and enter our Promised Land. Let the weak say “I am strong”, let the poor say “I am rich”….in Christ Jesus. This is the divine exchange. He makes the beggar a priest: 1 Peter 2:9 “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood….that you should show the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”.
We have a royal calling for a divine destiny. (1 Corinthians 1:25-31) The words of the song declare:
“I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God….”
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death”, Romans 8:2. Let us march forward as sons of the Living God, demonstrating who we are in Christ. He brings His redeeming positive to all my negative statements as I choose to embrace gladly everything I am not, that the power of the risen Christ may manifest His abundant life through me, to the praise of His glorious name. Indwelt! Alive IN CHRIST! It’s not about me, it is all about HIM!…His nature and His ability – the life of God in me. He has the last word. His word is the only one that counts. “ Christ in me, the hope of glory“, all praise to His wonderful name!
