By Stefanie McGowan
Knowledge of the I AM changes us.
How cool is that? That when you and I spend time with Jesus, we can’t remain the same.
Why? Because God is who He says He is!
He transforms us. He grows us for His glory. (Ephesians 4:15)
He perfects our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
He renews our minds, and changes the way we think. (Romans 12:2)
He brings what’s dead in us to new life in Christ,
and He is the promise we stand on.
I’m so grateful for this truth:
“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) This promise means that as we press in to learn of Jesus,
our head knowledge of Him becomes heart knowledge,
and KNOWING God is where real change happens.
Because if God is who he says He is, then JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING!
It means that as we press in to know him, and taste and see that God is good,
His goodness leads to our repentance. (Romans 2:4)
It’s where we begin to see things differently, we begin to pivot, to change course, and follow Him. Knowing The I AM changes everything.
“You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,
And understand that I am God.
There is no other God-
there never has been, and there never will be.
I, yes, I am the Lord,
and there is no other Savior.” (Isaiah 43:10)
This verse, along with a list of practical ways to seek the Lord, have been on my fridge for a long time now. Granted, we don’t need lists in order to seek God with our whole hearts.
The Word, hidden in our heart, is all we need to grow big faith. Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) But written reminders of God’s truth help redirect our thoughts, and keep our eyes on Jesus. They remind us of the Helper, and the reason Jesus ascended, so the Holy Spirit would come and equip us as God grows us for His glory until He comes again.
The fact that the Jesus is coming back soon, means we want to live this life as temporary, and walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we’ve been called (Ephesian 4:1): with purpose, and on mission for the Gospel. And The Lord reminds us through the Apostle Paul: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)
Maybe this list on your fridge will be helpful too:
The fact that Jesus is coming back:
- Gives Me Purpose
-for a time until He comes again (1)
-to use my story for His glory (2)
-to pray every day, pouring the Word into my heart (3)
-to share the Good News (4)
2. Gives Me Perspective
-my life is not my own, it was bought with a price. (5)
-I am justified by Christ: I have been saved. (6)
-everything we have belongs to the Lord; made by Him and for Him. (7)
-don’t cling to what is seen, instead fix our eyes on what is eternal. (8)
-“We don’t know what to do, Lord but our eyes are on you.”(9)
-give praise and thanks in all circumstances (10)
3. Helps Me Persevere
-God allows us to endure pain to grow us for Him (11)
-Droughts grow our roots to search for the Living Water (12)
-when my faith is deeply rooted, I produce the fruit at all times (13)
-refuel at the source, only He will satisfy me (14)
– keep going, run with endurance for the prize of Heaven. (15)
-don’t tire of doing good. (16)
4. Helps Me Pray
– spend time talking with God, seek Him with my whole heart (17)
-run to Jesus versus other things, pray about everything (18)
-Your will, Lord, not mine. (19)
-glorification: I will be saved, and He is coming back. (20)
-Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (21)
-pray for the souls of others (22)
5. Motivates me to stay Pure
-Keep my heart, eyes, mind fixed on Jesus (23)
-through the power of The Holy Spirit (24)
-a refining of my character, makes me more like Jesus (25)
-I am being sanctified: my faith is being perfected, I am being saved daily. (26)
-living in God’s will (27)
6. Makes me to Praise
-God is in control (28)
-not forgetting what God has done for me (29)
-our God is alive! (30)
–He is Holy. Who always was, is, and is to come. (31)
–He is Worthy. To receive glory, and honor, and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. (32)
Our God makes all things new, as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
He is the I AM, Yahweh, Abba Father, Savior, Friend… The Giver of every good and perfect gift, and the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He is Sovereign.
And the more our hearts acknowledge who He is,
it leaves our hearts with this Call to Action: more of you, Lord, and less of me.
“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)
Grace Enough 