“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – (James 1:2-4 ESV)

Think about a person who stands unagitated and immovable in spite of the fierce pressures coming against him. The Bible calls this quality ‘steadfastness’.

The Lord wants us to be people of steadfastness. He does not want us to sway and slip with every passing torrent. Steadfastness is built up in us as we go through various trials. That’s why the Lord exhorts us to be joyful in trials because every trial is an opportunity for building up our spiritual and emotional ‘muscles’.

Think about a body builder. Before he begins his body building program, his muscles would probably be loose and not so strong; but as he daily does this program, eventually his muscles become strong and powerful. This happens because his muscles have developed the quality of steadfastness as a result of withstanding pressures.

Similarly, the Lord wants you to develop steadfastness in your life through the pressures and trials that come against you. Consider every trial that you face today as an opportunity to become more strong and unflinching. And as you tackle your daily pressures with this mindset, you grow in endurance, boldness, vitality, and confidence in God. What the devil planned for evil will become a channel for success in your life.

- – - written by Joe Abraham (from www.gloriousliving.net)

As true believers in Jesus Christ, the following list tells us who we truly are in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit!

“I am…

Able to do all things through Christ – Phil 4:13
Abounding in grace – 2 Cor 9:8
Abounding in every good work – 2 Cor 9:8
Abounding in hope – Rom 15:13
Abraham’s offspring – Gal 3:29
Accepted – Rom 15:7
Acknowledging my need for God – Mat 5:3,6
Adopted – Gal 4:5
Adversary of the devil – 1 Pet 5:8
Alien and stranger in the world – 1 Pet 2:11
Alive with Christ – Gal 2:20
Always having all sufficiency in all things 2 Cor 9:8
Ambassador for Christ – 2 Cor 5:20
Anointed – 1 John 2:27
Anxious for nothing – Phil 4:6
Appointed by God – John 15:16
Assured of reward – 1 Cor 15:58
Assured of success in Him – Prov 16:3

“I am…

Baptized into Christ – Rom 6:3
Beautiful – Is 61:10
Becoming a mature person – Eph 4:13
Becoming conformed to Christ – Rom 8:29
Belonging to God – John 17:9
Blameless at His coming – 1 Thes 5:23
Blessed – Jer 17:7; Eph 1:3
Bold and confident – Eph 3:12
Bond servant – Ps 116:16
Born of God – I John 5:18
Born again – 1 Pet 1:23
Bought with a price – 1 Cor 6:20
Branch, part of the True Vine – John 15:5
Bride of Christ – Is 54:5
Brother of Christ – Heb 2:11
Brought near – Eph 2:13
Built up – 1 Peter 2:5
Buried with Christ through baptism – Rom 6:4

“I am…

Called – 1 Cor 1:9
Cared for with compassion – 1 Pet 5:7
Carried – Ex 19:4
Child of God – John 1:12
Cherished – Eph 5:29
Chosen – Col 3:12
Christ is my hope – Col 1:27
Christ is my life – Col 3:4
Circumcised spiritually – Col 2:11
Citizen of heaven – Phil 3:20
Clay in the Potter’s hand – Jer 18:6
Clean – John 15:3
Cleansed – 1 John 1:7,9
Clothed with Christ – Gal 3:27
Comforted – 2 Cor 1:4,5
Competent – 2 Cor 3:5
Complete in Christ -Col 2:10
Confident – Pro 3:26
Confident of answers to prayer – 1 John 5:14,15
Confident He’ll finish me – Phil 1:6
Confident He will never leave me – Heb 13:5,6
Conformed to His image – Rom 8:29
Continually with God – Psalm 73:23
Controlled by the love of Christ – 2 Cor 5:14
Created in Christ for good works – Eph 2:10
Crucified with Him – Gal 2:20

“I am…

Dead to sin, alive to God – Rom 6:6,11
Delighted in – Is 42:1
Delivered – 2 Tim 4:18
Desired – Ps 45:11
Died and my life hidden in God – Col 3:3
Disciple of Christ – Luke 9:23
Disciplined – Heb 12:5-11
Drawing near with confidence – Heb 4:16

“I am…

Empowered to obey – Phil 2:13
Encouraged – 2 Thess 2:16,17
Enlightened – Eph 1:18
Enriched in everything – 1 Cor 1:5
Equipped – 2 Tim 3:17
Eternal life – Rom 6:23
Eyes fixed on Jesus – Heb 12:2

“I am…

Favored – Ps 5:12
Fearing God – Ps 25:14
Fellow citizen with the saints – Eph 2:19
Filled to the fullness of God – Col 2:9,10
Filled with the fruit of righteousness – Phil 1:11
Filled with the fruit of the Spirit – Gal 5:22,23
Filled with joy – John 17:13
Filled with knowledge of His will – Col 1:9
Finished product in progress – Phil 1:6
Forgiven of my sins – 1 John 1:9
Formed from the womb – Jer 1:5
Fragrance of His knowledge – 2 Cor 2:14,15
Free from the law of sin and death – Rom 8:2
Freed from sin -Rom 6:7,22
Friend of God – John 15:14,15
Fruit-bearer – John 15:5,16
Future assured – Rom 8:18,28

“I am…

Gifted – Rom 12:6
Given all things – Rom 8:32
Given His magnificent promises – 2 Pet 1:3,4
Given the Holy Spirit as pledge – 2 Cor 1:22
God is for me – Rom 8:31
God’s gift to Christ – John 17:24
Granted grace in Christ Jesus – Rom 5:17,20
Guarded by God – 2 Tim 1:12
Guarded by God’s peace – Phil 4:7
Guided – Ps 48:14

“I am…

Handiwork of Christ – Eph 2:10
Having every good thing – Philemon 6
Having light – John 8:12
Having purpose – Ps 138:8
Having revelation from God – 1 Cor 2:10,12
Having the mind of Christ – 1 Cor 2:16
Having the Peace of God – Phil 4:7
Heir – Gal 3:29; 4:7
Helped by Him – Is 44:2
Hidden with Christ in God -Col 3:3
His – Is 43:1
His special possession – 1 Pet 1:18,19
Holy and dearly loved – Col 3:12
Holy and blameless – Eph 1:4
Holy – Heb 10:10
Honored – 2 Tim 2:21
Hope fixed  1 Tim 4:10

“I am…

Image and glory of God – I Cor 11:7
In Christ Jesus – I Cor 1:30
Indestructible – I Pet 1:23
Indwelt by Christ Jesus – John 14:20
Indwelt by His Spirit – Rom 8:11
Inscribed on His palms – Is 49:16
Inseparable from His love -Rom 8:35
Instrument of righteousness – Rom 6:13
In truth – John 17:17

“I am…

Joint heir with Christ – Rom 8:17
Justified – I Cor 6:11

“I am…

Kept – I Pet 1:5
Kingdom of priests -Rev 1:6
Knowing all things work for good – Rom 8:28
Knowing whom I believe – 2 Tim 1:12
Known – 2 Tim 2:19

“I am…

Lacking no wisdom – James 1:5
Lavished with riches of His grace – Eph 1:7,8
Laying aside the old self – Eph 4:22-24
Led in Christ’s triumph – 2 Cor 2:14
Life abundant – I John 4:9; John 10:10
Life and peace in the Spirit – Rom 8:6
Light of the world – Mat 5:14
Like a watered garden – Is 58:11
Living Christ’s life – Gal 2:20
Living for Him – 2 Cor 5:15
Living stone – 1 Pet 2:5
Loved – Is 43:4; Jer 31:3; John 3:16; Rev 3:9
Lover – Ps 18:1

“I am…

Made alive with Christ – Eph 2:5
Made by Him – Ps 100:3
Member of His body – 1 Cor 12:27
Minister of reconciliation – 2 Cor 5:18-19
More than a conqueror – Rom 8:37
My needs met by His riches – Phil 4:19

“I am…

Named – Is 43:1
Near to God – Eph 2:13
Never forsaken – Heb 13:5
New Creation – 2 Cor 5:17
New life – Rom 6:4
New self – Eph 4:22-24
No condemnation – Rom 8:1
No fear – John 14:1,27
No longer slaves to sin – Rom 6:6
Not given a spirit of fear – 2 Tim 1:7
Not my own – 1 Cor 6:19
Noticed from God – Ps 33:13,14

“I am…

Object of mercy – Rom 9:23
Obtained an inheritance – Eph 1:11
Of God’s household – Eph 2:19
On the winning side – Col 2:15
One with Him – John 17:23,24
One spirit with Him – 1 Cor 6:17
Overcomer – 1 John 5:4,5

“I am…

Partaker of Christ – Heb 3:14
Partaker of the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:4
Partaker of grace – Phil 1:7
Partaker of the promise of Christ – Eph 3:6
Peace with God -Rom 5:1
Perfect and complete – Jam 1:4
Pilgrim and a stranger – Heb 11:13
Possessor of all things – 1 Cor 3:21-23
Power/authority of God behind me -Phil 3:21
Prayed for  John 17:20
Prayers go up before God -Rev 8:4
Predestined to adoption – Eph 1:5,11
Prepared beforehand for glory – Rom 9:23
Presented to God holy, blameless – Col 1:22
Pressing forward – Phil 3:14
Priest – 1 Pet 2:9
Protected – 2 Thes 3:3
Provided for – Matt 6:33
Purchased – Rev 5:9

Qualified to share inheritance – Col 1:12

“I am…

Raised up with Christ – Eph 2:6
Received mercy – 1 Pet 2:10
Received the Spirit from God – 1 Cor 2:12
Received an unshakable kingdom – Heb 12:28
Received the riches of grace – Eph 1:7
Reconciled to God – Rom 5:10
Redeemed – Gal 3:13
Refined – 1 Pet 1:6,7
Reigning in life – Rom 5:17
Rejoicing – Rom 5:2,3
Renewed – 2 Cor 4:16
Rest provided – Matt 11:28-30
Rewarded by God – Is 49:4
Rich – 2 Cor 8:9
Righteous – Rom 3:22,26
Righteousness of God – 2 Cor 5:21
Rooted and built up in Him – Col 2:7
Royalty  1 Pet 2:9
Royal priesthood – 1 Pet 2:9

“I am…

Safe – Ps 4:8
Saint – Rom 1:7
Salt of the earth – Matt 5:13
Sanctified – 1 Thes 5:23
Satisfied – Ps 17:15
Saved – Eph 2:5,8
Sealed by God with Holy Spirit – Eph 1:13
Seated in heavenly places – Eph 2:6
Secure – Deut 33:12
Sent – John 20:21
Servant of Christ – Rom 6:22
Set free – John 8:31,32,36; Gal 5:1
Sharing Christ’s Inheritance – Rom 8:17
Sharing Christ’s glory – John 17:22,24
Slave of righteousness – Rom 6:18
Sheep of Christ – Ps 23:1
Soldier – 2 Tim 2:3,4
Son of God – Rom 8:14
Spirit of love, power, and sound mind – 2 Tim 1:7
Stable – Is 33:6
Standing in His grace – Rom 5:2
Standing firm in Christ – 2 Cor 1:21
Steps established by the Lord – Ps 37:23
Strengthened in Him – Eph 3:16
Strong in the Lord – Eph 6:10
Sustained from birth – Ps 71:6
Sweet aroma of God – 2 Cor 2:14,15

“I am…

Temple of the living God – 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19
The Lord’s  Mal 3:17
Thought about – Ps 139:17,18
Transferred to kingdom of His Son – Col 1:13
Transformed into His image – 2 Cor 3:18
Treasured  Ex 19:5; Ps 83:3; 135:4; Mal 3:17

“I am…

Unafraid  Ps 78:53; Pro 1:33
Understanding things given by God – 1 Cor 2:12
United with Christ – Rom 6:5
Upheld – Deut 1:30,31; 33:27
Useful of His glory – Is 43:7

“I am…

Valued – Matt 6:26
Victorious – 1 Cor 15:57

“I am…

Waiting for our Savior – Titus 2:13
Walking in new life – Rom 6:4
Washed, sanctified, justified – 1 Cor 6:11
Wisdom – Col 2:3
Witness of Christ – Acts 1:8
Worshipper of Christ – Ps 95:6
Worthy  Col 2:18; Acts 13:46

Yielded to God – Rom 6:13

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“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)

I want to tell you about my friend. He’s had a tough and hard life. In school, we fished, played on the same football team together. We even shared the same bike. But the one thing we couldn’t share was when I became a Christian.

When students are studying , we debate long into the night about things like life, universe, God and everything. Thinking back, I think he quite enjoyed making challenging bold statements. And I thought a lot about the things that he said and though difficult they are to hear, I would like to share them with you now.

——————————————————————————

I should trust God with all things…

Proverbs 16:20

Whosoever trust in the Lord, happy is he

this is a lie

to be happy, trust no one but yourself

I will not tell my friends & family

what is important to me

it will be obvious

in my life

anything and everything

is more important than

GOD

I tell you this

I read in the Bible

Jesus is God’s only son

but I know this is a lie

God does not exist

people tell me

religion is a waste of time

I do not agree that

I should be spreading the Word of God

in these days and times

the destruction of the church is expected

I can no longer say that

people care and love each other

it is obvious that

all people are full of hate

I find it difficult to believe that

there is a God

——————————————————————————

and this is the way my friend felt, for many years, until Jesus reversed his way of thinking.

Want to know how my friend feels now? Read his thoughts (red text) backward now and you will know.

My friend is now known as Rev. Martin Preece . Praise The Lord.