Hello! My name is Wangui. Today, I shall be sharing my process story on the subject of living in Christ. It has been a journey that God has been taking me through. Therefore, I shall be sharing some truths and lessons I have learnt.
This journey all begins when we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. It is the beginning of receiving new meaning to our lives as we choose to live for Jesus daily. In this journey, there is also a believer’s part to play. Every time I recall the words ‘Changed in Christ’, I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
It is in Christ that we find the breakthrough and weapon to shun sin. We find the grace to sustain us. We find forgiveness. I have always been the kind of person to blame/criticize myself about mistakes. It has been a journey of inviting God to renew my life because I can’t change myself. It is in this journey that I am learning to daily surrender to God and walk in the Light. When I began to walk this journey, I began being able to find my breakthrough in certain areas of my life, I began to understand how to live in Christ. It hasn’t been an overnight process, it is still an ongoing process. It has required me to daily walk with Christ in order for the renewal in my life to occur.
Some key lessons/practices I have learnt in my life in Christ (things that I need to daily remind myself in this journey in order to live like who God called me to be) are:
1.Repentance
Our daily walk in repentance will bring us to our restoration in Christ. Repentance is saying, “I desire my life to be turned around, I desire a new mindset and a changed heart.”
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations] – 1 John 1:6-7 AMP
2.Acknowledge I am a sinner/confess my sins
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us – I John 1:8-10 NKJV
3.Choosing to live by the Spirit daily
Feeding my Spirit and not feeding my flesh. Having confidence in the Spirit and not the flesh. This involves reading the Bible daily, praying, seeking God, allowing God in the deep parts of my life. Having Christ as the centre and not sin’s desires. The fruit of the Holy Spirit enables us to love the right way, have true joy, inner peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Scriptures: Galatians 5:16-26,Philippians 3:1-11.
4.Shedding off of sin’s passions/desires
It isn’t a sweet process and we are not exempted from the consequences of our sin but it is worth it and I thank God for the process He has been taking me through. He will begin to transform you to be more like Christ. Things I have learnt and still learning:
- Renewal of mind by being transformed in order to have God-centred mindset. _Romans 12:1-2, 2 Cor.10:3-6._
- Heart Change. What have I stored in my heart? Having God’s Word hidden in my heart. Guarding Heart. _Psalm 119, Prov.4:23._
- Avoiding avenues that would lead to sin.
- Prayer, fasting and God’s Word.
5.Acknowledge the power of God, His nature and character +who I am in Christ
Reminding myself I am enough in Christ. My identity is in Christ and not relationships or work.
6.Sin’s loss of power over me
I have to remain in Christ, continue feeding the Spirit daily in order for sin to continue losing its power in my life. Chains began to fall. One begins to be set free in Christ. Temptation may come but I need to keep standing in Christ. In Him, I find the weapons to fight sin.
7.Keeping busy with the things of the Lord
Serving the Lord with the gifts He has given me.
It is through this journey that God gave the ministry ‘Changed in Christ’. Find my page on IG @_changed_in_christ_ and blog at https://changedinchrist.wordpress.com/ This far the Lord!