Living a Productive Life, Part 3
“I am the vine, you are the branches….”
John 15:5a (NIV)
“But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.”
Romans 11:17 (GW)
To gain a new power to be productive I need a new vision. I need to see myself as God sees me in Christ. As a Christ follower, you have a new identity! If you don’t see your new identity in Christ, you will never fulfill your destiny. This is the third step if we are to experience the power to live productive lives.
Step confidently into your new identity so God can give you a new power.
How do you do that? Here are two practical ways:
1. Recognize your true identity as God sees it.
When David was called of God, he was only a shepherd boy. He had no clue what God was going to do or how God was going to use him. His life changed forever when God anointed him to be King of Israel! For a while, things went great. He took out the giant, Goliath, and became the hero of Israel. Then, he finds himself on the run for a decade or more from a jealous reigning King who didn’t want to be replaced. But the day would come, that David would experience his destiny just as God said. Before that day could come, we find a significant verse in 2 Samuel 5:12 (Ampl) that says, “And David perceived that the LORD had established him King over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.”
The point is that David couldn’t step into His calling until he “perceived” who he really was: “a King!” Until you see your new identity, you will never experience your destiny! To do that, you must let go of the past. Past failures and sins will blind you from ever seeing your potential in Christ. David got a new vision of who he was through a connection with God that empowered him to be who God called him to be! Don’t let shame and guilt deceive you from the truth of who you are in Christ! Recognize your new identity in Him! You are a child of the King! Then…
2. Receive your true identity.
When God called a young pastor named Timothy, He gave him this assurance to claim: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
The same is true for you and me. Don’t let the feelings of fear and timidity convince you that God couldn’t use you. Let go of past failures and insecurities, of shame and guilt, and lay hold of God’s promises to receive your true identity in Christ. To see your new identity, you have to speak it! You must recognize it and receive it by faith. Make your confession today! “I am a child of the King. I am chosen by God. I am called by God. I am forgiven. I have a hope and a future. God has given me a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline!” Receive it today and experience the productive life God has purposed for you.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.