Author: Emilydvsn

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Lately I have been doing the Beth Moore Bible study The Quest, as well as reading Kyle Idleman’s book, Not a Fan. It’s so amazing to me how God speaks to me in so many different ways. Both of the chapters I read from each of these books today talked about our identity in Christ.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been told things about yourself your entire life. A lot of the times, they weren’t things that helped to shape you into a confident, self-loving person. If you read my blog yesterday, you know that I went through an abusive relationship. I was with this person for almost twelve years! There was a lot of emotional and mental abuse. I’ve been called every name in the book. And let me just tell you, after awhile, you start to believe those lies.

But God says, no. He says, “That is not who I created you to be.” And you have to make a decision. Are you going to believe the truth of God’s Word or are you going to believe the lies that you have been fed? This isn’t an easy decision to make because sometimes we are so broken down that we can’t even lift our heads to hear His Word. That’s why it is so important for us to spend time with Him everyday. You have to immerse yourself in Scripture and begin to stand on the truth of who God says you are.

Colossians 2:10 says, “And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 says, “For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Ephesians 2:19 says, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

Begin to read His Word and believe what He says about you. You are more than a conquer (Romans 8:37). You are the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). You have to choose to believe God’s truth.

He has made us new. Walk in His victory and freedom today!

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

Several years ago I went through something extremely life changing. I left my abusive husband to start a better life for my girls and me. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done because of the stronghold he had on my life. I left, but I felt completely ashamed. I felt like none of my Christian friends even understood, and I was no longer welcomed at my church because it was his family church. The only friends who I had left were the ones who didn’t encourage me to live my life for Christ. I spent the next few years rejecting everything I knew and living a life of sin.

However, at the end of 2015, I got remarried to a wonderful man who loves me and my children and suddenly we both knew we needed to turn our lives around. We began going back to church, and we turned our backs on a lot of things, including friends who weren’t the best influences in our lives. As our relationship grew, so did our relationship with Christ. What’s so amazing is that He always gives us the things we need.

We are now the youth leaders at our church where we have lots of friends and people who love us. He has also put two special ladies in my path at work that I can always go to. They pray for me and encourage me and keep me on the straight and narrow. It’s so important to have friends that encourage us in our faith. There are three reasons below why I feel this is so important.

1. To pray for us

Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” We all need people to pray for us. I know the prayers of others have kept me safe so many times. But we also need people to agree with us in prayer. We need friends who will stop what they’re doing and pray right there.

2. To encourage us

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Have you ever had those days where you just feel so discouraged? Those are the days we need godly friends. We don’t need people to gossip with or complain with. We need people who are going to tell us the truth even when it might hurt and put our feet back where they belong.

3. To follow Jesus’ lead

In Luke 10:1, Jesus sends out seventy followers to minister in His name. He doesn’t send them out separately though, he sends them out in pairs. He knows this is a cruel world that we live in, and He knows we need one another. We need others grounded in the faith.

Do you have a godly friend that helps you in your walk with Christ? We aren’t meant to walk this world alone. Find a church home and get plugged in if you don’t already have one.

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