Why Surrendering Is Hard

If surrender is the answer, why do so many people struggle with it?

Because surrender goes against our natural instincts.

Most of us have spent our lives trying to protect ourselves, control situations, manage outcomes, and avoid pain. We learned to rely on ourselves because people disappointed us, circumstances hurt us, and life felt unpredictable. Over time, control became our survival strategy.

The problem is that what once helped us survive eventually becomes the very thing that keeps us trapped.

Addiction itself is often an attempt to manage pain, fear, loneliness, shame, anxiety, or disappointment. The substance, behavior, relationship, or obsession becomes our solution. We trust it more than we trust God.

That is why surrender feels so threatening.

When we surrender, we are not just giving up an addiction—we are giving up the false sense of security it provided.

The Difference Between Compliance and Surrender

Many people comply without surrendering.

They attend meetings.

They work the steps.

They stop using.

They say the right words.

Yet internally they are still holding on to control.

Compliance says:

"I'll do this if it works."

"I'll trust God as long as He agrees with me."

"I'll surrender this one area but not that one."

"I want freedom, but I still want control."

True surrender says:

"God, I trust You even when I don't understand."

"Your will is better than my will."

"I release the outcome to You."

"I am willing to follow wherever You lead."

The difference is not found in our actions alone but in the posture of our hearts.

What We Commonly Need to Surrender

For some people, surrender begins with drugs or alcohol.

For others, it goes much deeper.

We may need to surrender:

Pride

Fear

Anger

Resentment

Unforgiveness

Control

Approval seeking

People pleasing

Relationships

Financial worries

Future plans

Past regrets

Shame

Self-hatred

Anything we grip tighter than God can become an obstacle to freedom.

Surrender and Trust

At its core, surrender is really about trust.

The question is not, "Can God control my life?"

The question is, "Do I trust Him enough to let Him?"

Many of us trust God with heaven but struggle to trust Him with today.

We trust Him for salvation but not for our finances.

We trust Him for forgiveness but not for healing.

We trust Him for eternity but not for tomorrow.

Yet every act of surrender is really an act of trust.

When we surrender, we are declaring:

"God, I believe Your plans are better than mine."

What Happens When We Surrender?

When surrender becomes a lifestyle, several things begin to happen.

We stop carrying burdens that were never ours to carry.

We stop trying to change people we cannot change.

We stop forcing outcomes.

We stop fighting battles that belong to God.

Instead, we begin to experience:

Greater peace

Greater emotional stability

Freedom from anxiety

Freedom from obsession

Freedom from resentment

Increased humility

Deeper intimacy with God

Healthier relationships

The circumstances of life may not immediately change, but we begin to change.

And often, that is where true recovery begins.

A Daily Prayer of Surrender

Father,

Today I surrender my will, my plans, my fears, and my desires to You.

I release the things I cannot control and place them into Your hands.

Help me trust You when I do not understand.

Show me Your will and give me the strength to obey it.

Remove anything in me that stands in the way of Your purpose.

Teach me to walk in humility, dependence, and faith.

Not my will, but Yours be done.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Pride: The Hidden Obstacle in Overcoming Addiction

Pride, often seen as a virtue, can become a vice when it prevents us from acknowledging our weaknesses and seeking help. This is particularly true in the context of addiction, where pride can be a significant barrier to recovery.

The Nature of Pride

Pride is a complex emotion that can manifest in various ways. It can be a sense of self-worth and accomplishment, but it can also be a defensive mechanism that shields us from acknowledging our flaws and vulnerabilities. In the context of addiction, pride often manifests as a refusal to admit that we have a problem and need help.

Pride tells us that we don't need to take responsibility for our actions, that we don't need help, and that we can handle our addiction on our own. It can make us think that others are trying to control us, causing us to be defensive, and resistant to change.  It can also disguise itself as "knowing what it is best" and "nobody can tell me what to do" twisting our perception of ourselves and others.

Pride and Addiction

Addiction thrives on secrecy and denial. It convinces us that we are in control, even when our lives are spiraling out of control. Pride feeds into this illusion of control, making it difficult for us to admit that we are struggling and need help.

Pride can also make us resistant to seeking help. It can make us feel that we should be able to overcome our addiction on our own, without the need for therapy, or support groups. This can lead to a cycle of addiction, where we continue to use despite the negative consequences because we are too proud to seek help.

Overcoming Pride with the 12 Steps

The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery provide a spiritual pathway to overcome pride and addiction. Here's how they can help:

1.  Admitting Powerlessness: The first step is to admit that we are powerless over our addictions and that our lives have become unmanageable. This is a direct challenge to pride, which tells us that we are in control and can manage our addiction on our own. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. (Psalm 6:2)

2.  Believing in a Higher Power: The second step is to believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. This requires humility, the opposite of pride because we are admitting that only God can help restore us.
But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

3.  Turning Our Will Over to God: The third step is to make a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. This involves letting go of our pride and self-will, and trusting in God's will for our lives.
"Not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

4.  Making a Moral Inventory: The fourth step is to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This requires honesty, humility, and a willingness to acknowledge our faults and weaknesses.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. ( Psalm 139:22-24)

5.  Admitting Our Wrongs: The fifth step is to admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This is a direct challenge to pride, which often prevents us from admitting our mistakes and asking for forgiveness.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

6.  Becoming Ready for God to Remove Our Defects: The sixth step is to become entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This requires humility and a willingness to change. 
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

7.  Asking God to Remove Our Shortcomings: The seventh step is to humbly ask God to remove all our shortcomings. This involves acknowledging our need for God's grace and mercy, and our inability to overcome our addiction on our own.
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” (Joel 2:12)

The remaining steps involve making amends, continuing to take personal inventory, improving our conscious contact with God, and carrying the message to others. These steps all require humility and a willingness to let go of our pride.

Conclusion

Pride can be a significant obstacle in overcoming addiction, but it is not insurmountable. By acknowledging our pride, seeking help, and practicing humility, we can overcome our addiction and start on the path to recovery. The 12 Steps provide a spiritual pathway to overcome pride and addiction and to live a life of recovery and freedom.

Sobriety vs. Abstinence: A Spiritual Perspective

Introduction

In today's post, we'll explore the profound difference between abstinence and true recovery or sobriety, especially from a Christian perspective. Understanding this distinction is crucial for anyone grappling with addiction, as it can mean the difference between a life of struggle and a life of freedom.

Key Verse

But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed, and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). James 1:14

Heavenly Father, we humbly approach Your throne of grace, seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength as we delve into the topics of abstinence, recovery, and true sobriety. We earnestly ask for Your divine wisdom to understand these critical issues and for the strength to commit and dedicate ourselves to the path of recovery. Amen.

The Surface-Level Solution: Abstinence

Abstinence is part of the recovery process. It involves refraining from substance abuse due to negative consequences like incarceration, health issues, loss of income, or strained family relationships.

Those who abstain might still harbor thoughts of returning to their old ways. They often fantasize about going back to what they perceive as a better life. Many times abstinence causes people to be unhappy in their sobriety. Consequently, some individuals transform into what is referred to as "dry drunks," wherein their attitudes and behaviors remain unchanged. These individuals tend to exhibit anger and vent their frustrations onto others, displaying a markedly low tolerance for stressors. Unfortunately, they have yet to acquire the essential healthy coping mechanisms that accompany the process of recovery, and they have yet to address the underlying causes that led to their drinking or substance use.

The Pitfall of Relapse in Abstinence

The pitfall in abstinence during the recovery process is that willpower can only last so long. You try to convince yourself that you do not want to do it and even tell everyone else that you are done but if you at the wrong place with the wrong people you find yourself giving in. This is why having someone you can call in a time of weakness is so important. In the recovery world, we call them sponsors. Sadly, in the realm of abstinence, relapse is often seen as a total failure, leading to a return to active addiction. This can result in overwhelming feelings of guilt, shame, and even hopelessness. We need to remember that Jesus is the one that gets us over the finish line, not us. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2 Shame may cause you to believe that your struggle with addiction is your identity. It is not your identity it is only your struggle to surrender something that you still think you want deep down inside.

Whatever you do, don’t hide from God run to him.
The Lord is near to the heartbroken And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin) Psalm 34:18

The Deeper Solution: Recovery and Sobriety

In sobriety, there's an immediate return to accountability. Humility and surrender are keys in all recovery scenarios. This often involves soul searching to eliminate the cause of relapse, taking inventory, and making amends with loved ones. Abstinence is a necessary step for recovery, but true recovery involves a change in how you perceive addiction.

In recovery, you see addiction not as a lost friend whose enjoyment you miss, but as a harmful, life-threatening enemy. You take proactive steps, deepening your love for God, practicing a reverential fear of God, and being thankful for everything He has given you. You make meaningful relationships with other people active in their recovery.

The Joy of True Sobriety

In true sobriety, you do what's necessary to have true contentment and joy. You change what you find joy in. Instead of yearning for what harms you, you hate those former vices, properly assessing them as having devastating consequences and destroying your cherished relationships.

The Importance of Motive and Community

It's essential to deeply consider your heart's desire for true recovery and a renewed life. What is the "why" behind your life? Are you only seeking sobriety because you have run out of options or because you feel forced into it? You need to want to leave behind everything and everyone to follow Christ. A recovery program is effective only if you are committed to it. Like they say, it only works if you are working it.

A Final Warning

If you struggle with addiction, please take it very seriously. Understand that it is a killer, not only of lives but also of families. It too often causes subsequent generations to follow in your footsteps. Oftentimes you hear about recovering addicts burying their children who followed their parents' example. You don't want this to be your story. Take courage and please remember that everyone's recovery process is unique, so find something that works for you. Don't hesitate, as waiting might mean it's too late.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, we earnestly seek Your guidance in applying the lessons we've learned today about abstinence, recovery, and true sobriety. We ask for Your divine help in application and for the strength to resist the temptations of evil spirits that lure us back to destruction. We bind their operation over our minds, will, and emotions in Jesus' name! We command their influence to let go of us and for the Holy Spirit to empower us for victorious living. May we live lives blessed by these truths and be free from the lies that bind us. In Jesus' name Amen.

Written by Jaziz Gutierrez

All Rights Reserved 08/28/23

Addiction: The Illusion of Liberty

One of the biggest lies of the enemy is believing that liberty means living for ourselves and doing what we want to do. From the beginning of time, Satan has tempted mankind to take the same route as he did and so we can become our own masters. Like he told Adam and Eve, 'you shall be like gods.' Just like he did when he said, 'For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.' (Isaiah 14:13) Satan did indeed become his own master to sit on his own throne in hell. Separated from love, light, peace, and a life without God. Like they say, misery loves company. Believe me when I tell you that the devil wants your company.

The Kingdom of Darkness is always promising liberty to those who still want to be in control of their lives. The truth is the solicitors from hell know that the moment we take their offer we come under the bondage and slavery of whatever we yielded to. They seduce and deceive us to be, 'Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.' The word heady means to fall headlong by being reckless. The word highminded means to be blinded with pride. Pride is the devil's ticket into our lives. If he can convince us that we know better than God then he convinces us to become gods over our own lives. What he doesn't tell us is that we become his slaves the moment we do. There are only two masters in this world: Yahweh or Satan. There is no middle category. We are either servants of God or servants of the devil. Jesus said, 'No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and ?.' (Luke 16:13) You fill in the blank.

Today you have a choice. Are you going to serve self, and your fleshly desires so you become Satan's slave or will you serve Jesus and become his servant, fully surrendered to do His will? Who are you going to yield your life to?

In the context of addiction and codependency, this choice becomes even more critical. Addiction and codependency are forms of bondage, where we become slaves to our desires or to the desires of others. They rob us of our true identity and prevent us from living our God-given destiny. As the scripture says, 'While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.' (2 Peter 2:19)

Breaking free from the cycle of addiction and codependency is a multi-step process. It begins with acknowledging the existence of a problem. This is followed by understanding the role fear plays in our lives, often acting as a driving force behind our unhealthy behaviors.

Next, we must place our trust in God, believing in His power to heal and transform us. This involves surrendering control, a concept often referred to as 'letting go and letting God.' It's about releasing our tight grip on our lives and allowing God to guide us.

Being authentic about our struggles is another crucial step. It's about being honest with ourselves and others about our experiences, feelings, and the challenges we face. It's about removing the masks we wear and revealing our true selves.

The journey also involves soul searching and taking a fearless inventory of our lives. This means examining our past decisions, understanding why we made them, and acknowledging their impact on our lives.

This journey isn't easy. It requires courage to face our fears and shortcomings, faith to believe in a power greater than ourselves, and a lot of self-love to nurture our wounded spirits. But despite its challenges, this journey is worth taking. It's a path to freedom, healing, and a more authentic life.

So, who are you yielding your life to today?"

Why I Don't Drink Soda

I've always had an ongoing struggle with allergies and at times my parents could not figure out why I was so sickly. I would complain nightly of excruciating leg aches and would often have insomnia as a child. As I got older I began to listen to my body and was able to figure out what food was doing what to my body. Which was much better than the old-fashioned allergy test where the doctor took an instrument of some type which made lines that broke open the skin on my back. He then took different foods and applied them to the open areas of my skin to see if I would break out or something. Sounds barbaric, doesn't it?

Not only have I struggled with food allergies all my life but also I've always been sensitive to shampoos. I had a variety of shampoos and conditioners that were sprawled out underneath my bathroom sink as hair rejects. If I broke out after using the shampoo or conditioner it would end up in the reject pile to be used by another member of the family or not at all. It was an expensive venture to figure out what was bothering my scalp until I figured out that I could test the shampoo on my wrist as I walked around in the store. If my skin started to itch then I would not buy it.

In recent years I figured out that I was allergic to wheat. I had so many intestinal issues and at times arthritic conditions in my joints. I felt sick and lethargic most of the time. I also figured out that I was lactose intolerant when I got pregnant with my third son as I could not keep any food down. I had food coming out both ends. Sorry to be so descriptive. However, you are probably reading this because I brought up the subject of soda which is a sugary bliss for many of you but has contributed to many diseases I'm sure. Diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure to name a few. None of which we are willing to admit to, as soda has become an addiction to so many people.

Now to answer the curious question as to why I don't drink soda. It gives me bladder infections. Like the very next day, I will be in excruciating pain. I have by trial and error figured out this painful fact. I have also figured out that it's not worth it to me. Not if it means another hospital visit which I can't afford. As if my diet weren't restrictive enough like I mentioned before, I also can't eat wheat. Many people just can't believe that I can live without eating wheat products because almost everything has this ingredient in it. No more flour tortillas, crackers, cakes, pasta and the like. Some people have told me that they couldn't possibly live without it but if you have suffered the agony of gluten intolerance and the painful consequences of cheating on your diet then you will say to yourself; it's not worth it to me. Why isn't it worth it? I'm not a glutton for punishment I guess and I don't want to die an early death. I also don't want to end up sick in the hospital.

You know what else is not worth it? Sin. The painful consequence of our choices sometimes has lasting effects just like our poor health choices. If we make poor health choices after a while it will catch up to us and we can reap diseases. If we make poor life choices or decisions we can also reap poverty or homelessness. If we continue to live in sin not only will it separate us from God; the choices we make will destroy our lives. Regardless of what you sow please understand that the law of the universe will cause you to reap. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction, whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8 According to this scripture you just read, are you living to please the Spirit or living to please the flesh? Some of us live to please our flesh with the next cookie, cigarette, beer, video game, TV Novela, weed, and whatever our flesh is demanding it should have. Denying ourselves isn't just a philosophy it is a lifestyle. It means we say no to the demands of our flesh and live to please the Spirit. When we do, we will manifest the fruit of the spirit. When we live to meet the demands of the flesh we will also manifest the works of the flesh.

We need to get to a point in our lives where we have to say to ourselves; it's not worth it to me. This soda is not worth it to me. This cupcake is not worth it to me. This abusive relationship is not worth it to me. This beer is not worth it to me. Getting high is not worth it to me. Cheating on my spouse is not worth it to me. Watching porn is not worth it to me and the list can go on. Why is it not worth it to you? Because you have come to the painful conclusion that you are not willing to pay the price of wrong choices anymore. You are through repeating the same old cycle just to arrive at point A again. You can no longer take the pain of your mistakes anymore. When you finally come to this conclusion, you will stop.

Like millions of people before you that have decided that they were sowing the wrong seed and decided to change that; bravo. I'm sure your harvest looks different. For the couple who recently shared with me that they looked at each other one day after being addicted to meth for 10 years and said, "We are stupid for doing this" and then they stopped. I'm proud of you. For those who have decided that they don't need to be dysfunctional anymore and live feeling rejected because God loves them. Hooray. To all my ex-addict friends, alcoholics, sexually bound, angry, and perverted; you inspire me. Share your story on how you got free! We need to learn from you. We overcome by the power of your testimony.

For those of you who feel stuck and angry; I have a secret for you. Whining, complaining and regretting your past won't change your harvest! Change your seed or change your harvest field. That is the only answer to cause a change in our lives. Sow God's Word, live out His principles and make better choices. We make it more complicated than it is. Follow Christ's example if you have poor role models in your life. For heaven's sake let us stop making excuses. Excuses are only a cover up to make people believe we are victims of our sin instead of admitting we still want to indulge in our sin. We need to get honest. I clearly remember the day I cried out to God and pleaded with him to take a certain sin from me. After going on about it for a few days I heard, "You sin because you want to." I was shocked that God would speak to me this way but it woke me up out of my supposed pious deception. God can't crucify our flesh nor can he say no for us. We must crucify the desire, the craving, and the urge by saying no to ourselves.

For those of you who think you can't stop, I have good news for you. There is absolutely nothing stronger than the human will. No one can control your will. God does not control people and unless you are possessed of the devil even he can't make you do anything. Either way, Jesus came to set you free. Like an ex-addict told me recently, "You must be willing to do anything to be free." A person who is not willing to go to rehab, not willing to do classes, not willing to go to meetings, not willing to talk about it and not willing to admit they have a problem IS NOT READY TO CHANGE! A repentant heart is willing to confess to their sins, take responsibility, make restitution, and willing to let go of anything that would lead them back on the same road they were on. If this means getting rid of the old friends, not going to your usual spots, not listening to your old music, throwing away all worldly or secular things in your life then so be it. This is what repentance looks like. Until and only when a person comes to a point of saying to themselves, "It's not worth it to me" then will they stop.

Let me ask you, "Are you there yet?" If you are please pray this prayer:

Lord, remove the pride, anger, rebellion, and stubbornness of my heart. I can clearly see that there is something that has gotten in the way of my relationship with you/my relationship with others/or is stumbling me. I cannot do this on my own. I cannot change by my own self-effort. I cannot change by my own will-power or by doing better next time. That's all dead works. It is by your finished work on the cross that I am free to live for you. Break off lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Your word says, that you are the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. You, not only came to forgive my sin but remove my sin. Remove my sinful tendencies. I surrender them to you. Remove all generational iniquity. Renew my mind and grant me a truly repentant heart. I'm done waddling in the mud like a pig and going back to the vomit like a dog. There is nothing this world has that can bring me the peace, love, and joy that I so desperately need. Loose me from every chain, bondage and stronghold. Bind the strong man. Come Holy Spirit to expose the darkest parts of my being and clean out the closets of my heart. Transform me and make me in the image of your son. I no longer want a form of godliness and still, deny your power by living a life that is contrary to your Word. Remove a lawless spirit from me, the spirit of whoredom, fear, lust, perversion, drunkenness, sorcery, witchcraft, Jezebel, anger, rebellion, pride, self-righteousness, religion, and antichrist. I was made to be loved and be love. Take me back to my original design in Jesus name! I repent! Amen!

Obedience Through Suffering

Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:7-8

In our modern church culture, the idea of suffering is so foreign to us. The internet is full of ways to live in victory, overcoming in spiritual warfare, and motivational teaching that encourages us. Not so much on suffering. We don't want to even think about it. We have a big problem with suffering. We feel that somehow God is against us or doesn't like us when we go through things. We feel persecuted, downcast, and depressed when things don't go our way. We have a false sense of control as if we have a say in the matters of life. When things don't go the way we think it should, it shakes us to the very core of our being. We often accuse God of being unloving and uncaring. Jesus did not promise us a carefree life. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 This word tribulation means trouble, anguish, suffering, sadness, heartache, and woe. Jesus said we are going to go through stuff. We are somehow shocked when it happens though. We even get mad about it. 

I recently heard a brother challenge me to ask God how to partner with him in the situation I'm in. What is God teaching me? How am I going to obey Him in what I'm going through? Hebrews says "though he was a son..." Why do we call into question our sonship when we suffer when it's part of normal life? Jesus told us we can be cheerful in every situation. Joy is not a byproduct of circumstance. It is a fruit of or manifestation of the Holy Spirit living in us. He didn't go anywhere. Peace is a byproduct of God's ever abounding love manifesting within our lives when we put our trust in Him! Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered?! I scratch my head when I read this too. You mean suffering can be a byproduct of obedience?! You mean that if I obey God that it may produce heartache? You mean I won't always be blessed? Whoa! It says that he cried out in vehement cries. Jesus was suffering the agony of laying his life down. He knew that rejection, ridicule, pain, the punishment of our sins, betrayal of the church, and abandonment of friends awaited him. In His obedience and suffering, He overcame. We can overcome too. This is only true if we are willing to suffer through the decision to take up our cross and follow him; no matter who is with us. We may have to die on our cross alone, feeling forsaken by all and even feeling like God has turned His face from us. We can't depend on others to pull us through. We must depend on God! Sadly, many will even accuse us of being in some kind of sin if we are going through it. Which isn't necessarily true. These accusations arise because for the most part, the church doesn't believe in suffering. 

As a whole, our society is bent on not suffering. If we ever lived in a society that lives in a place of escapism it is now. The drug culture exists solely on escaping pain. We fear PAIN! We do everything to avoid it instead of embracing it as part of life. It takes courage to suffer and face pain. Can you imagine Jesus stopping in his tracks while carrying his cross and saying, "I'm not doing this! It's too painful! Why should I lay my life down for people who would rather see me dead? The people in the church don't even like me. They think I'm a freak. I'm going back to being a carpenter because ministry is full of people who don't appreciate me." It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? However, every day someone walks away from their cross, their calling, and their family. I like what a friend recently said to me, "Let it burn!" He was referring to pain. If it hurts just let it burn. Amen. So be it Jesus. Your grace is sufficient.

Facing life with courage,

Jaziz Gutierrez

Reborn Identity

As I was laying in bed this morning I kept hearing the word "Identity."  Who are we?  Why are we here?  Can we have meaningful relationships?  Can I move on pass the divorce?  Am I lovable?  Am I worth the time?  Am I employable.  Identity is by far the most talked about topic right now as people struggle to find out who they are and overcome their personal struggles with their sexual orientation, unemployment and relationships.  The roles of men and women have changed over the years.  This has brought so much confusion to our society.  Especially in homes where single moms have to play the roles of mom and dad just raise up their children.  The breakdown of gender and parental roles have caused such fragmentation in our society that it has left us wandering around trying to find out who we are.  Have you ever heard someone say "I just need to find myself."  Well, most of us cringe when we hear that because it means that the person who just said that is going on a personal journey to find themselves and you are not invited.  The next thing you know they pack up their bags and they are gone.  Is it really that they can't find themselves or it is that they don't like their life and think they can have a better life without you?  What is sad about the statement I just made, is that they think their identity will change if they change scenery.  The truth is we define our world by and how we see ourselves in relation to it.


So what is identity?  I will define identity as the characteristics that define who we are, evidenced by what we do.  We are often defined by what we believe about ourselves and sometimes what others have said about us.  For instance, if your parents told you that you were good for nothing and nobody will love you; then most of time people live up to those expectations.  Let's say you were bullied in school and called names.  The most likely outcome will be that we take on the identity of our accusers.  A worse scenario would be to be molested, raped or abused and take on the identity of shame.  There are many divorced people out there who take on the identity of rejection.  Children whose parents leave and abandon them take on an identity of rejected orphans.  Everyday all over the world people allow events to define them instead of allowing God to tell them of their amazing value.

So who are we really?  Are we here just get by and live just another day?  Are we here to be abused by others?  Are we here to become successful, happy and raise a family?  What was our original design?  Some of us don't seem to know who we are!  If you don't know I will tell you... YOU WERE MADE TO BE LOVED!  You were meant to have an amazing life and have a relationship with your creator.  If you are reading this and you don't believe in God then I have only one thing to say...GOD BELIEVES IN YOU!  God decided to risk it all and give up his life to demonstrate your value and His love for you.  He didn't know if you would accept His proposal but He was willing to take the chance because YOU ARE WORTH IT!  Why am I capitalizing my words?  I want to give you the opportunity to start thinking about yourself in the way God thinks about you.  Before your mind starts to argue with you about your value and identity; I want you to know that you can become someone completely different.  Your heritage, past, crime record, mistakes, upbringing, divorce, abuse and etc. does not have to determine your future or define who you are.  God has already defined who you are and declared your value.  You are God's treasure!  All of God's Kingdom is destined to dwell in you along with God's son; Jesus Christ.  When He looks at us He sees Jesus.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

Many people are held to horrible images of themselves because they have believed a lie!  The devil is a liar!  He can only enter our lives though deception and lies.  Once you embrace the truth he can't keep you a prisoner of your past anymore.  He can't torment you with fear.  He can't cause you to be depressed, sad or suicidal.  He can't cause pain in your heart and he can't keep you defeated!  Why?  Because you have a new identity and it is Christ's!  Christ is victorious and already defeated him so don't give him a voice in your head!  Give no place or thought to the devil.  (Ephesians 4:27)  Realize that you win!  You are a new creation with God's DNA (destiny - now - activated)  You are now being conformed to the express image of the Son.  Circumstances don't define you; you define your circumstances.  You have nothing or no one to fear.  The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Some quick points:  To find your Christ identity you must realize:

1.  Baptism was meant to leave our old identity in the grave and take up a new one by following Christ.  God came in the flesh so he can be an earthly man with struggles and adversity but still walk in victory!  Jesus came out of the wilderness in power not defeated.

 In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea² And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John 1:1-2 Amplified

¹⁴ Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  Luke 4:14

2.  We have already been given a new spirit and God's nature when we got born again.  I hear a lot of people say "Well, I was born that way."  When are born of God's spirit, we take on His nature and leave behind our parent's nature.  We have a new Father and we take after Him not our culture or upbringing.
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

3.  We can't allow events, people or external judgments define who we are but we need to get a new mind set by receiving God's truths and implementing them, causing us to know what pleases the father's heart!  Don't let people tell you who you are.  We were meant to define the world around us because of who we already are!

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Roman 12:2 Amplified

4.  We need to embrace our future and let go of our past!  You can't be the new you and still be holding onto past hurts and events.  We can't allow past hurts trump the cross.

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  Philippians 3:13

5.  We have to embrace a mindset of humility and be stripped of our rights to possess the fullness of Christ's identity.

⁵ Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility: ⁶ Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, ⁷ But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. Philippians 2:5-7

6.  Our identity is love.  It's not we do, it is who we are!

By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. John 13:35

7.  Self must be crucified that Christ's identity can live!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].  Matthew 16:24

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  Galatians 2:20

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Jaziz Gutierrez
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10 Reasons You Are Free From Sin

In time of intimacy and worship I heard the Lord say. There are many of my people that are still in slavery. I thought, “there is?” Yes, the Lord continued “they are not walking in the freedom that I have already purchased for them.” I felt sad to hear this news. I thought about this and saw people whose hands were hanging down from the chains unable to be lifted in worship to Him. Their head was hanging down and their countenance was downcast. Why is that?

Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law...

This lack of revelation is causing people to feel as if they can't live for God because they genuinely think that they have no power over sin in their life. That is a lie! The devil always enters our lives through lies and deception. It is for this reason I believe that many people have given up and cast of the restraint of God's conviction in their lives. Some people have cast off restraint because they don't fear the Lord and others because they love their sin more than they love God. The bible says, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. 6:24

Unfortunately, going down the highway of life without restraint is like getting on the highway without a seat belt. Little do they know that if they were to collide with the enemy's plan that they would become a casualty or become injured. When we cast off the restraint of God's laws and His conviction we are no longer protected. If you have ever been in an accident you know that wearing your seat belt can save your life.

Another example of restraint would be the story of my dog. We picked up a stray dog one day outside a thrift store. The young puppy was starving. My daughter had observed him eating cigarette butts because he was so hungry. This of course broke my heart and we lured him into the car with what little food we had on us. We have a fenced yard on ¾ acres outside of the city. We thought that this would be enough running room for him. In a matter of weeks he learned how to dig himself out of the yard. Time and time again we would have to fetch him from down the street. I must admit too that our dog was not only content with running away he also had some dominance issues. He thought he was a lot bigger in his mind than he was in his body. When I heard the dogs barking down the street I knew our dog “Porkchop” was going fence to fence teasing the other dogs. He probably was saying to them, “Hey look I’m out here and you’re in there.” Well one day his boasting came to an end when he got picked up and locked up at a local animal shelter. Now the animal shelter refused to release him to us without fining us $140.00. Ouch! My daughter started to cry and the attendants felt so bad that they made a deal with us, “We will license him, give him shots, neuter him and give him a new identity chip that will let others know he belongs to you for the same price.” We took the bargain.

In the same way God has rescued us and he bargained for our souls because we were locked up in our own personal prison. We were like "Pork Chop" running wild off the leash completely unaware or without the revelation that casting off restraint would one day lead to bondage. Jesus has set at liberty the captive! He paid the fine to keep us from being euthanized and He gave us a new identity. He gave us His identity. He circumcised our hearts and gave us new ones. Well thank God, that we don’t have to be like a dog who can get hit by a car because it got off the leash. God has given us the tools and keys to living free. He has revealed to us how we can end our struggle with sin through His Word.

Here are the scriptures that will keep you from Satan's lies and free from sin:

1. First of all, we must realize that we have been given a new nature. It is His nature. No matter what your family background, generational sin, addiction, or habit we take on the nature of Christ as he works from the inside out perfecting in us the spirit of holiness.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

2. The Holy Spirit now lives in us giving us the power to become His witnesses. We now have every good and perfect gift to impart grace to others. Not are only our chains broken we can break them in others.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

3. The Grace of God has now given us the power to overcome sin and walk in our new nature. We are no longer slaves to sin. God has a made a way of escape out the prison cell of sin.

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:23

4. The Word of God has been given to us so that we can renew our old thinking patterns and mindsets can be changed.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

5. The blood of Jesus was enough to cleanse us from every sin and deliver us out of darkness so we can walk in the light!

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Col 1:13-14

6. We know we are accountable to God and will one day appear before Him. This healthy knowledge called the fear of the Lord makes us clean. It causes us to put our seat belt on before we get on the highway of life.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:9

7. God himself purifies us by dealing with all areas of our being. We call that sanctification. Our job is to separate ourselves for His service and we call that consecration. If we do our part he will present us blameless at His coming.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

8. Most importantly, the love of God has been poured all over our heart. Now we can simply obey God out of love for Him.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:10

9. Our faith in the finished work of the cross is counted towards us as righteousness. Therefore, we can walk holy before God by faith.

For what does the Scripture say?“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:3

10. Don't worry, God will finish what he started in us!

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil.1:6

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12:22

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