Our Identity

As I sit here on my toilet (my apologies), I am struck at amazingly different arenas of thought. I think about community group and where I stand among the people who are within, not in the sense in which I gauge who is spiritual and who is not, well maybe I am guilty of that as well, but I sat tonight and felt very judged. This isn't a normal tendency that I have. I usually feel comfortable within my circle of brethren. I think I am still escaping the ever-present judgment of a close friend. It strikes me hard to think that I cannot feel the courage to speak my mind, but as I have said many times, my fear of man and what he thinks has become something of a burden on my motives. Also, as I strengthen my bond with Christ, I am compelled to look outward, or at least at first, which is fruitful and encouraging. Prayer centered around my Church body and friends is healthy and the necessity to look inward isn't driving my prayer as it has before, or at least, it is not the driving force behind my prayer. I am feeling insufficient. BUT I read an interesting and truth-driven explanation of an attitude that is applicable when dealing with relationships. It cut to the core of what I find very savoring;
Basically, most relationships that fail are due to a lack of identity and worship. Identity meaning who we are, not what our name is and where we live and what we do at our job, but where your heart lies and how you view yourself. This being said, we can see how we shape our identity, is how we treat people. For instance, if I claim to be smarter than you, then I will act accordingly. Any advice you give me will fall on deaf ears. If I tell myself that I think I deserve your respect, I will watch to see if you are giving me what I think I deserve. But if we change that and put our focus to the identity of the man Jesus Christ and Him living in us, we rid ourselves of these motives! We have to see our identity vertically, towards God, and not seek our identity by our relationships or anything else. And when we fail to worship God in our relationships we ascend ourselves to His throne and exhaustively try to recreate others in our own image. We strive and exert ourselves all the time to change people to the way we think we need to, but in reality we are depriving God of His power in our hearts. We turn to unbelief because we think His power is not sufficient to change our friends and family into sheep white as snow, rinsed in the blood of the lamb. We are foolish, but Jesus died on the cross, so that's okay. :)

An attempt at James:

James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the 12 tribes in the dispersion. Greetings.
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.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him as God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother boast in his exultation and the rich in his humiliation, for like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat, withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person when he is tempted is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do not be deceived my beloved brother. For every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.


The purple is the only part I didn't get out of verses 1-18. I need to get on my A-game. Goodnight all. God Bless.