Who You Are
By Ann Doupont
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (See Proverbs 23:7.)
How important it is how we think about ourselves! Although we’re not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, we are to think soberly (Romans 12:3). We are to see ourselves as God sees us, the new creatures in Christ that He has recreated us to be. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.)
As our thoughts towards ourselves change, so do our words and our actions. Before we were born again by the Spirit of God, we were headed in one direction. When His Spirit entered into our hearts as we confessed Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of our lives, everything changed.
If we have not experienced change since we prayed, there is something wrong. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and we are yielded to Him, He will make us holy. We will not do the things we once did or go to the places where we once went.
When we know that we’re children of the Most High King, we will come to understand that certain things are beneath our dignity. We are called to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation of kings and priests. (See 1 Peter 2:9.)
Some say, “I’m just a sinner, saved by grace.” No. You cannot be both a sinner and saved. You are either a sinner, or you’ve been saved by His grace. Once you’re saved, you are led out of sin. Being a sinner is no longer your nature. Sin is what you’ve been saved out of. It’s not that you will no longer ever again sin while on this earth, but sin no longer defines who you are, or controls you.
Out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths will speak. (See Matthew 12:34.) What you think about yourself will be spoken out of your mouth. The power of death and life are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
If you think you’re a sinner, and say that you are one, you probably are. If you believe that you’ve been saved, by grace, and say that you are saved, that’s probably also true.
Ann Doupont
Please visit www.anndoupont.org to see my other writings.
By Ann Doupont
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (See Proverbs 23:7.)
How important it is how we think about ourselves! Although we’re not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, we are to think soberly (Romans 12:3). We are to see ourselves as God sees us, the new creatures in Christ that He has recreated us to be. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.)
As our thoughts towards ourselves change, so do our words and our actions. Before we were born again by the Spirit of God, we were headed in one direction. When His Spirit entered into our hearts as we confessed Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of our lives, everything changed.
If we have not experienced change since we prayed, there is something wrong. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and we are yielded to Him, He will make us holy. We will not do the things we once did or go to the places where we once went.
When we know that we’re children of the Most High King, we will come to understand that certain things are beneath our dignity. We are called to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation of kings and priests. (See 1 Peter 2:9.)
Some say, “I’m just a sinner, saved by grace.” No. You cannot be both a sinner and saved. You are either a sinner, or you’ve been saved by His grace. Once you’re saved, you are led out of sin. Being a sinner is no longer your nature. Sin is what you’ve been saved out of. It’s not that you will no longer ever again sin while on this earth, but sin no longer defines who you are, or controls you.
Out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths will speak. (See Matthew 12:34.) What you think about yourself will be spoken out of your mouth. The power of death and life are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
If you think you’re a sinner, and say that you are one, you probably are. If you believe that you’ve been saved, by grace, and say that you are saved, that’s probably also true.
Ann Doupont
Please visit www.anndoupont.org to see my other writings.
copyright © 2008 Ann Doupont. All rights reserved.