Hello friend, 

Good day to you. 

I played a song this morning that really blessed me. I'll share it with you. I believe you'll be blessed by it too. It simply says, 

Lord, you are good
You are good
And your mercy forever endures. 

Here's the link to the song: https://youtu.be/B8BEOHy9qBo

Friend, God's mercies remain forever. Amen. 

In the last piece, we learnt that you are a spirit who has a soul (mind, will, emotions and conscience) and resides in a body. 

I remember sharing with you that when you got saved (i.e., born again), the part of you that got saved i.e., became completely new is your spirit.

In your soul (mind, will, emotions and conscience) and body, old things did not pass away when you got born again - if you were smart before receiving Christ,  you'll still be smart. If you didn't know math before you got born again, you won't just become a Professor of Mathematics because you are now a new creature. Heaven No!😁 

If the only scripture you knew before you got saved was John 3:16, that'll be the only scripture you'd still know after receiving Jesus.   

I'm simply saying that you still have an unrenewed (natural) mind which has to go through some training. This training is called learning; it's called the renewing of your mind. You've got to renew your natural mind with God's Word (The Bible) so that your thinking pattern can change. Hear what Romans 12:2 says: ...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God. You see?

This same idea of soul transformation applies to your body. If you were fat before you got born again, you won't lose weight because you just got born again. You'll still be fat! If your muscles weren't big before you got born again, new birth does not make them big suddenly. The new birth does not increase or reduce your body size. Only your spirit is completely changed! Your spirit is the real you.

You see, even Jesus who was God in the flesh had to learn. He came to earth as a baby not as a mature looking man. He grew in wisdom and stature; He learnt obedience. This does not mean that he was disobedient. You don't have to be disobedient and get punished before you learn obedience.

The moment you were born of the Spirit, you were given the fruit of the Spirit. However, this fruit won't find expression in your soul and actions if you don't know (through the learning of the scriptures) that it has been given to you. Also, if you know that you have the fruit of the spirit and you don't acknowledge and use it, it won't work for you. Philemon 1:6 says, "the communication of your faith become effective by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" Did you see that? 

Every good thing in Christ is in you, but you've got to know, acknowledge and release them even in the midst of any hardship you face. 

It's just like having an iPad with so many functions. You'll never experience the usefulness of that device if you don't get knowledge of it via its manual. Also, if you know its functions and try to devise your own functions or not even explore those functions at all, it still won't work for you. The iPad works but it just won't work for you that way!

You have to know and acknowledge what belongs to you in Christ so that you can release it. It is the Truth you know and acknowledge that will make you free.

Let me tell you this: whenever you are getting impatient in the midst of an adverse circumstance, faithfully declare to yourself: I AM PATIENT! It isn't hypocrisy, it is the Truth. That's who you are. You should never allow your behaviour to determine your position in Christ. In Christ, you are Righteous. Glory! Know and Declare who you are in the midst of what you face.

Your state can change, but your position remains. Scripture declares that God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). That's your position in Christ and that's wonderful.

You will surely face suffering from all of these three sources: the flesh (your unrenewed mind), the world and satan till Jesus returns because these entities are not from God and consequently reject the Word of God in you. So, it's a fight. However, you don't fight to win; you fight, knowing in your heart and soul that you have won (2 Corinthians 2:14).  

I assume that there was a day you sang a hymn, praying to God to lift you up and let you stand on higher ground, right? Good. You prayed the right prayer by singing that song. So, some unrenewed things and patterns of thinking have to go down so that your soul can lay hold of greater spiritual realities that are present in your spirit. This is why you are suffering but I tell you, "It's worth the fight".

The purpose of satan in your suffering is to take your attention off Jesus (The Word). That's how he steals from you and then progresses to kill and destroy you (John 10:10). The primary power of satan is deceit. Deceit steals! That's why Truth is very important. 

When you go through hardship, what you shouldn't do is neglect the Word (Truth) by which you were saved.  Keep renewing your mind to who you truly are in Christ. This way, you will produce the result (fruit) of your right standing with God despite the afflictions you face.

In Christ, your suffering is to your advantage.   

Right knowledge leads to right believing and right believing produces right living.

God is healing you. 

Come up higher. 

I Love You. God bless you.