In 2016, I faced a major decision: reenlist or leave the military. Conventional wisdom said stay six more years and retire. Yet Lisa and I had committed the decision to prayer and trusted that GOD would lead us, and he didn’t disappoint.
GOD graciously encouraged us and spoke to us in various ways, but perhaps the one that meant the most to me were these six little words: your identity is found in Christ. Those weren’t his exact words. Those six words are what I took away from what he said to me, which was, “Your identity is not as an Air Traffic Controller, but is found in Christ.”
Recently, while doing a Bible study with Aubrey and Ava, we were talking about Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Words Are Powerful
I know that sounds like an understatement, but I wonder how often we remind ourselves that what we say can have a profound effect on others. Let’s circle back to what GOD spoke to me: “Your identity is not as an Air Traffic Controller, but is found in Christ.”
I wonder how many of you need to hear something similar right now. Maybe things aren’t working out in your life like you had envisioned. Perhaps you’re facing a significant decision like Lisa and I were. Well, allow me to speak life over you. Your identity isn’t found in your job; it’s found in Christ. Words are powerful.
If you’re following our UMFC ministry on Facebook or YouTube, you may have seen our most recent teaching, “Demystifying the Sword of the Spirit.” In that teaching, we explain what the sword is and how to use it. We start by referencing Matthew 4, which, in my opinion, is the logical place to begin understanding Ephesians 6.
Matthew 4, as most of you know, Jesus faces temptations from the tempter (the devil). During that time, Jesus says powerful words, “It is written,” then proceeds to quote passages of scripture that apply to each particular temptation. Obviously, “It is written” by itself doesn’t really help us, but I’m using those words as a synecdoche.
Like Jesus, you and I need to utilize those three powerful words to resist temptations when they come. There’s power in our words because there’s power in His words (Hebrews 4:12). We stand by faith on Jesus’ words and defend ourselves from spiritual attacks.
Before we wrap it up, I have one more little thing to share with you.
Jesus began his ministry in Matthew 4 by being led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. His earthly ministry (in one sense) ends in John 19 on the cross.
Consider this: In the wilderness, Jesus says, “It is written,” but on the cross, Jesus says, “It is finished.”
Now, obviously, what he spoke on the cross wasn’t English, so I won’t make too much of the connection other than to say that I find it interesting that we have two sets of three-word sentences at critical moments of Jesus’ ministry.Good news: Some of you may know I’ve been working on my Novel, A Picture of the Heart, for several years. Well, we’re in the home stretch. We expect to release a video this week announcing the official release date. We’ll also do a cover reveal this week on my YouTube Author page which I’ve added a link for below. It’d mean a lot to me if you would subscribe to that page since it will soon be the official place where I release information about the Novel.