The Broken Image

I bear the image of God.  Yet I am a broken image-bearer as I look at the life of Christ. He is God come in human flesh and showing us the image He had in mind.

I see distorted - self centered.  "My perspective must be right.  I must survive at any cost."
I agreed with Satan's lie, "I must know good and evil to be right and valued by God."
I feel compelled to pursue knowledge first before relationship inorder to gain respect from God and have a place of value.
Pride and the pain of brokenness blind me, drive me, and guilt me.

Here is salvation for the broken image.  I choose to repent, and believe every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God in the relationship.   I choose to receive His grace and peace.

REPENT . . . .BELIEVE. . .RECEIVE

I repent every time I am made aware of self-serving attitudes and motives.
I repent for trusting the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. I choose to trust His perspective.
I repent being too busy to give Him my undivided attention and highest affection.
I repent from the pride and pain of disgust and irritation of my own brokenness and that of others that constantly effect my comfort and my plans.

I choose to see the broken image through the covering of grace  until it is completely restored to the image of Christ.  If my value and worth . . .if my place in God's heart depends on how right I am on any given issue, especially scripture truth, then pride will rule all of my human relationships.  They will be greatly stressed and limited, beginning with my mate, my children, then my community.  I will demand they all be formed in my image, the way I see things and do things.  I will have failed to teach them to gaze on the glories of the Father who alone satisfies.  I will rob them of the desperation and deliberate pursuit of hearing God for themselves and developing intimacy of companionship.  He alone can restore the broken image.

One other application to consider.  In evangelism we must make a distinction between knowing and experiencing Christ VS. presenting our particular doctrines, religious system,  moral code of law, even the ways of a worshipping people.  All of these things issue out of our broken image or seeing through a "glass darkly", as stated in I Cor. 13.   We know in part, not the whole.  We function with the gifts of the Spirit through a mixture. . .vessels of clay.  It is my firm belief that God is well able to instruct His own children and make them disciples unto righteousness if their heart is knit to His.  I can share  where I am in my journey, my doctrinal interpretation, what I believe the Spirit of God has revealed to me.  I can extent grace and forgiveness to them the same way God extends grace and forgiveness to me on a daily basis. I can join the Spirit of intercession who prays for each of His children according to "as it is in heaven".

The Amazing Power of Agreement With God

One who knows the written Word of God ought to be able to confidently declare what is on the heart of God.  And let's be clear on this:  Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy.  Our Sovereign God came in the form of man, Christ Jesus, to give abuntant life, restore what was stolen, and heal and forgive.  He has comissioned us to share what Christ has accomplished for us, cast out devils, and heal the sick.  The following will stretch over several blog posts and if you are tracking with me on the "decree and declare" series, this should be empowering.

We are so trained to speak our negative feelings and perceptions, to repeat bad news and to think and declare the worst case senerio, that we need to re-train our communication with each other as well as our praying.  Scripture informs me that we will get what we think and feel and speak over a period of time.  Fear sustained produces the very thing of which we are afraid. 

I decree and I declare. . . .
that this generation of youth will rise up and demonstrate the Kingdom as not other generation.
that my children will rise up in a mighty demonstration of the resurrection life of Christ in them.
that through them, Your light will dispel darkness in hearts and in situation s where destruction has held sway.

I decree and I declare the finished work of Christ over all situations that threaten to stop the Kingdom of God.  The gates of hell can not prevail in their passion to steal, kill and destroy what God has ordained to live, to prosper and to bring glory to His name.

Greater is He who redeems, than he who deceives.
It is God's goodness that leads to repentance.
It is God's work to restore and transform, to call the dead to live.
It is God's love and mercy that draws me out of my false self and into Himself.

I decree in agreement with King Jesus,  as it is in heaven, so let it be done on earth. . . .
. . in my situation, that Jesus be glorified and seen as awesome.
. . in my part of the world,  that Jesus reap the harvest of His obedience in the souls of men.

I trust You Holy Spirit, to correct my understanding and application to situations in agreement with Your heart and purposes. 

I want to see a full manifestation of the sons of God in this generation.
 

My Times Are In Your Hands - No Shame

In You, of Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge:  let me never be put to shame or have my hope in You be destroyed.

Based on my reading of Psalm 31,  I decree and declare that You Lord are a safer refuge than any other.  .   . that my feet have been set in a spacious place. . . that my times are in Your hands. . .
 that You are more than enough for all that concerns me.

You are more than enough for all that concerns me.
. . .my emotional stability and flexibility - peaceful, joy,  not anxious or fearful or doubting.
. . .my mental strength and function.
. . .the heart issues that need to own Your perspective, not mine.
. . .our family dynamics. . .relationships that are changing in this season of life.
. . .proper attitudes toward Kingdom dimensions and increased  hearing the Voice.

I have taken refuge in You Father.  I will not be put to shame.
I choose to be glad and rejoice in Your love and care.  Because You know the concerns of my soul and yet You do not shame me.  I continue to trust You to help me work through things that would trap me or sidetrack me.

How great is Your goodness!  You liberally give to me, in the sight of men, Your favor and sheltering presence.  You hide me from the intrigues of men and strife of tongues.

Be strong and let your heart take courage.  You can expect the Lord to be more than enough for you.   He will always act according to His character.