Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Faith

God’s Love Letter

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Before you were born . . . I loved you (Ephesians 1:4). Loving you brought me great joy (Ephesians 1:5). In fact, I loved you so much that I gave my son so you could be completely free to love me (Ephesians 1:6-8).

Sin cannot and will never separate us. Nothing you have done or will ever do could ever take away my love from you . . . and so you and I can have a relationship with no barriers (Ephesians 1:7; 3:12). No pretending.

You cannot lose me. Not even death can separate us (Ephesians 8:38).

I am a good Father—the perfect father (Ephesians 1:5 & 8). Do not look for an earthly father as an example of me—there is only one God. I am he (Isaiah 45:5).  You can trust my love for you because not only am I loving . . . I AM LOVE (1 John 4:16). Not just any love—but AGAPE love. Perfect (1 John 4:18). Unconditional.

You Are Part of a Family…

You belong (Ephesians 1:3). You are a part of a family (Ephesians 1:5). You are never alone (Hebrews 13:5). Not today. Not ever (Ephesians 1:14). You have complete security in me. I am always here if you need to talk to me. I hope you will get to know me better and understand more every day about the depths of my love for you (Ephesians 1:16-17).

 I am also the master planner (Isaiah 25:1; Ephesians 1:11). You don’t have to worry about your future. And sometimes I am a mysterious planner (Ephesians 1:9) My ways are so much higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  It is in the mystery of not knowing the full blueprint that you have to use your faith and continue seeking me—which is the best place for you to be (Ephesians 1:16).

 Just trust and follow me. I am full of wisdom (Ephesians 1:8). You can be completely confident in that still small voice that is leading you (1 Kings 19:11-13; John 10:4). Don’t worry about tomorrow I always work out everything according to my plan (Ephesians 1:11). And the plans I have for you are to prosper you and not to harm you.

They are to give you a hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11).

When this broken world gets hard and bruises your soul, remember I have prepared a place for you in eternity–you have an inheritance beyond your comprehension (Ephesians 1:11). So when life gets hard—look up, find hope and live differently (Ephesians 1:18) 

The Holy Spirit Will Bring You Peace…

The peace the Holy Spirit will bring you amid any storm is like a holy thread connecting you to heaven (Ephesians 1:13).  Let it remind you that I am with you and will never leave you.

I am here as your Father to help you through whatever you face. In the midst of life’s pressures, pause and enjoy the presence of my Holy Spirit and taste of what is yet to come.

 Most of all, I want you to understand that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the same power that caused the Red Sea to split, is the power that lives inside you (Ephesians 1:19). So plug into this power simply by pulling away from the chaos and into my presence.

You are my masterpiece and I have a good work I planned for you to do before you were born (Ephesians 2:10). Becoming the woman you were created to be is one of the greatest gifts you can give this world.

 Don’t use your faith just to survive. Use it to surrender and you will find my power is all you need.

 So remember the greatness that is within you.

You are loved and accepted.

You are part of a family. 

So stand tall and rise up. See your very weakness as a doorway to depending on me so you can do great things for my glory.

You are a treasure.

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

The Crown

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The weight of the historic golden crown ordained with jewels settled on her head but seemed to reach into her soul. At age twenty-five, Elizabeth of Windsor would never be the same. The crown not only rested on her head but also embraced the core of her being. The princess became a queen. With this new identity, the crown would not only grace her head but would also guide her every step . . . and her destiny.

The Weight of the Crown

And as I watched the series The Crown on Netflix, I was fascinated with how the crown impacted Elizabeth’s life and decisions—it carried greater weight than even her family. One scene caught my attention in particular. After her father’s early death, as Elizabeth faced the magnitude of becoming queen at age twenty-five, her grandmother wrote these words of wisdom to her:

While you mourn your father, you must also mourn someone else. Elizabeth Mountbatten. For she has now been replaced by another person. Elizabeth Regina (Regina is Latin for queen). The two Elizabeth’s will frequently be in conflict with each other. The fact is the crown must win. Must always win. (Episode 2, Season 1, The Crown, Netflix)

Let that statement just settle in your heart a bit. The crown must win. Your new identity as queen must win. Embracing who you are over who you were must lead the way.

Elizabeth would need to intentionally embrace this new reality and let the crown reign through her choices. Reign over her desires. Reign over her feelings. Reign over her inadequacies. Reign over her past and future. Reign over her purpose. She no longer lived for herself. The crown—her new identity—reigned in her heart.

How the Crown Relates to Our Identity

This is the very essence involved in embracing our authentic core identity, a process that is at the heart of the Christian life.

You see, brave heart, the death of Jesus Christ allows him to reign in you. When you accepted his offer of salvation, you became a queen crowned with far greater treasure than Elizabeth’s earthly crown. You are crowned with Jesus’ righteousness for a purpose beyond yourself.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8:17 NLT)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

For Christ to reign in our life, his crown must reign in the core of our being. This is not selfishness or pride. This is embracing the reality of who we are in Christ.

For years, I struggled with my identity, a struggle that gave way to some unhealthy choices. Things began to improve when I understood more about authentic core identity. You too can make this shift by allowing the crown to win in your thoughts and faith and in the core of who you are.

The Battle between Our Identities

Much as the two Elizabeths would wrestle, our old and new identities battle in our heart. But Jesus fights for our heart and the battle is won as we surrender to the crown that is rightfully ours by embracing the words he writes on our heart through faith.

This is why we incorporate authentic core identity into the Respond step of the Nourish Bible Study Method.

Embracing Our Authentic Core Identity

So, what do I mean by embracing authentic core identity?

Embracing authentic core identity is agreeing in your heart by faith with God’s blueprint for your life and how he sees you.

Only by seeking your Creator can you uncover your true identity. Finding your core identity is not about frantically striving to be someone, but surrendering to God by allowing his Word to define the purpose for which you were created.

This is a precious treasure to guard by faith against outside influences…

  • What others say
  • Your circumstances
  • Your actions
  • Your past
  • Your feelings
  • How others treat you
  • Worldly standards

…so you can truly give to others by embracing all God has created you to be.

Part of your authentic core identity is who you are as God’s child with your life hidden in Christ. It is also the specific purpose your heavenly Father designed for you before you were born to bring him glory (Ephesians 2:10). Embracing the unique way he has made you and the spiritual gifts he has given you to support your purpose is also a part of embracing your authentic God-given identity (Romans 12:1–8; Psalm 139:13–14).

Authentic core identity is a deep topic and one I will discuss in greater detail in our podcast and video teaching message this week. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to listen and our YouTube channel to watch.

And today, may you remember the treasure you are. Whatever happens, brave heart—hold your head high. Carry the crown in the core of your being as you embrace your identity in Christ.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Romans 8:1-17 

Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life. 

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.