The Spiritual Shift: Day #8 Self

                                                          Day #8 Self

        Week Two: Realigning Our Relationships with People

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14

It is already Week Two. We spent Week One realigning our Spiritual relationships. Now, standing on the solid foundation of who our God actually is, we can begin examining some of our other relationships. First up, ourselves!

Let's step up to the mirror.

What do we see?--More importantly, what do we think about what we see?

While our reflection is how we can be viewed from the outside, the way in which we need to examine our relationship with ourselves is not through peering at ourselves in a full-length mirror. We need to examine ourselves through the lens of God's Holy Word. As Proverbs 27:19 states, "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."

Our routine:

Assessment: What is the current condition of my relationship with myself?

• What is the purpose of this relationship?

• What is the state of this relationship? What is going well? What isn’t?

• What changes need to be made to this relationship?

Adjustment: What is our current relationship with ourselves? This view shapes so much of not only how we see ourselves, but also how we see others and how we see the world. Today may be challenging, but we can do it! Let's really think about who we are. Let's be kind, but let's also be honest. This will be the key to moving forward.

Isaiah 64:8

"Yet you, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand."

Romans 3:20, 23-24

"Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here."

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

2 Corinthians 10:5

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Almighty God is our Creator; He is the Potter--we are clay. We are sinners and have fallen short of God's glory. When we confess this reality and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are new creations. The transformation process is work, and it does take time. We need to go to battle with some of those old thought patterns; we go to battle with our former self. We need to take captive old, destructive thoughts and replace them. We need to focus on our new truth; we need to focus on positive, admirable and lovely thoughts. This will help continue the transformation process moment by moment. It isn't easy, but it is worth it.

After all, when we see this new reflection may we bring glory to God, our Creator.

Matthew 5:16

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

John 3:30

"He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less." (John the Baptist)

Again, during our first week we realigned our relationship with God and with God's Word; today, we took a good, long look at ourselves. I recommend reading all of Ephesians to help strengthen this new view of ourselves. This includes descriptions of us as chosen and holy and blameless and God's handiwork, and finally, as members of God's household.

While the view we have of ourselves continues to be shifted, let us keep this verse in mind:

Philippians 1:6

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Every moment looks different knowing that I have a heavenly inheritance awaiting me. That we are members of God's household.

Prayer: 

Almighty God, We stand on the promises You have given us in Your Word. Thank You that You are the Potter! We thank You for forgiving us; we are sinners in need of Jesus as our Savior. Thank You for transforming us into who You want us to become. Help us to develop a stronger light as we speak Your Holy Word to ourselves. Holy Spirit, help us to glorify You, In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." ~Romans 12:18