DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY - 3 THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW. Part 1.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way. - Viktor Frankl.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Gal 2:20.

The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, "What are you doing?" The first replied, "I'm cutting stone for 10 shillings a day." The next answered, "I'm putting in 10 hours a day on this job." But the third said, "I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London's greatest cathedrals." - Source Unknown.

As a born again, Spirit-filled, Child of God, we need to have the attitude of third worker. Life is filled with many joyful moments, many sad moments, many exciting surprises, and many depressing disappointments, but the thing that will stand strong, is our faith! For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. - 1 John 5:4.

We cannot allow our life to be controlled by our feelings, emotions, or our opinions. All of these things need to be crucified on the cross with Christ, so that His life can be seen in us. We need to live according to God’s knowledge. There are 3 things we NEED TO KNOW, and we will cover the first one today...

WE NEED TO KNOW WHO WE ARE

We Are A New Person
We are a whole lot different than we used to be! We are a new creation, with a new Spirit. Hallelujah! Praise His mighty name! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Cor 5:17.

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.

"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."

Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's, the old life is over. He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build. - Ian L. Wilson.

We Have Been Raised From Spiritual Death
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. - Rom 8:11. Whoever receives the grace and the Spirit of Christ, and continues to live under its power, will have a life of submission to the Divine will. They shall have a resurrection to eternal life; and the resurrection of Christ shall be the pattern after which they shall be raised.

Once there was a brier growing in a ditch and there came along a gardener with his spade. As he dug around it and lifted it up the brier said to itself, "What is he doing? Doesn't he know I am a worthless brier?" But the gardener took it into his garden and planted it amid his flowers, while the brier said, "What a mistake he has made planting me among these beautiful roses."

Then the gardener came once more and made a slit in the brier with his sharp knife. He grafted it with a rose and when summer came lovely roses were blooming on that old brier. Then the gardener said, "Your beauty is not due to what came out but to what I put in." - Source Unknown.

We Are Strengthened And Renewed By The Holy Spirit
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Isa 40:31. The word ‘wait’ means to get ‘plaited’ = get entangled with God. It isn’t passive, it means to get involved in the service of God, and as we do our strength is renewed, and we will have the power to do great thing for His glory!

We are not to get involved with the things of this world, but we are to live for Him, and be changed by having the attitude of Him, in the way we live. Then we will know the acceptable and perfect will of God... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Rom 12:2.

A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. "You have lost an arm in the great cause," he said. "No," said the soldier with a smile. "I didn't lose it--I gave it." In that same way, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it purposefully. - Source Unknown.

THE WAY TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE IS TO KNOW WHOSE YOU ARE!

Loving Father, I thank you that Jesus died for me and made me a new person, with a renewed mind, and with a new purpose. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remember who I am in Christ and who I belong too. In Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen.

GBYAY