Your true identity is on the inside of you...

Jesus sees past your past...He sees your future; a new you. You're in bondage to things you've done-what you've done isn't who you are...you're confusing behavior and identity. The things you do are behavior- your outside...who you are is identity-your inside. Jesus lives on the inside of you-His love validates your identity. You're loved, unique, a child of God- His masterpiece, to do good things He planned for you long ago. When you accepted Jesus, you instantly become a new creature and saved...but your behavior wasn't saved. Behavior is in perpetual motion of becoming more Christlike each day-it's your spiritual growth process. Condemnation will constantly remind you of what you're not to disrupt your growth process. Focusing on what you're not...won't help you become what Jesus says you are. If you're not focusing on Jesus, you can't make changes; you'll be frustrated and feel like a failure...which disables your ability-exactly the trap condemnation wants you in. Then condemnation tells you what a miserable failure you are...sound familiar? We've all been there...but we don't want to keep going back there. Avoid the trap of being disabled-don't entertain condemnation's lies, immediately speak what Jesus says you are. The truth...none of us can make desired behavior changes without His love. Think of it this way...you can't operate without Jesus-He's your fuel. You wouldn't consider driving your car on empty, if you did, you'd run out of fuel and risk being stranded. If you've ever done this (most of us have or at least been close), you have no choice but to stop-because no fuel leads to no movement...forward. Neither can we run the risk of going into the day without Jesus, our fuel-Who supplies all our needs, including behavior changes... exceedingly, abundantly more than we dare imagine. Believe and receive the truth-Jesus sees your future-a new you...will you? (Col 2:10-15, Eph 2:10, Phil 4:13, Eph 3:20) 2/27/13CIFL-LMM