Spiritual Introspection

One of the greatest tools of the enemy is to cause us to be so introspective that we are unable to change the environment around us. It's really important that you get this. When you and I become too preoccupied with ourselves then we hinder the work of God through us. Today I want you to be able to celebrate what God IS doing in your life.

How many times to you read in the Bible where God has called people to a specific task and yet they argue with Him? You hear phrases like (and I'm going to paraphrase): "I'm not a good speaker" - Moses, or "I'm too insignificant" - Gideon, etc. The problem that most of us face isn't whether or not we hear what God is asking us to do but rather than we cannot see past ourselves to think He can use us. This is dangerous introspection.

Introspection, for those who might ask, is basically a looking into one's own thoughts or feelings about themselves. It's a searching of the heart. The problem is that if we do not go through the process with the help of the Holy Spirit then we tend to come up empty. Religion has done a good job of teaching us how to beat ourselves up and to view our lives outside of Christ. We have been taught that there is nothing good in us, that we will always be sinners, and to think differently is to have an exalted view of one's self. However, if you are going to look inside of yourself then you must do it through the lens of Christ. You must have God's view and opinion or you will never be able to move past yourself.

One of the greatest expressions of proper introspection came from David when he asked the Lord to search his heart. Notice that he didn't go on the journey by himself. I would encourage you to do the same. If you notice that there are areas of your life where you have failed to bring them into agreement with the Word of God then ask the Holy Spirit to shed light in those areas. Learn to confess the problems without owning them. In other words, confess who you are in Christ and that those behaviors/feelings/etc. do not line up with your position in Him. This is one of the greatest things about prophetic ministry. We learn to "mine" out the gold in people's lives because we view them in Christ. It doesn't mean that we shrug off sin but that we call out the greatness that is in them. We say things like "Hey...you don't need to do that because this is who you really are." And trust me when I say that you will always find it difficult to see the "good" in others when you are unable to see any good in yourself.

You may be wondering why this is important. Let me explain: You and I have an opportunity (every day) to affect the environment around us. We are constantly going into situations where there is negativity, anger, disappointment, hopelessness, and/or despair. If we enter those environments totally consumed with our own "issues" or "problems" then we fail to see what needs to change around us. In no way am I belittling what you are going through, I'm simply saying that if you are in Christ then you should be able to process things a lot faster. The quicker we can get through our own "stuff" the quicker we can help others.

My advice to you today:
Celebrate what God is doing and has done in your life.
Claim His promises over your life
And step out in that anointing.

Never shove things down that you should be dealing with. Never allow the enemy a foothold in how you view yourself. Live in a constant awareness of who you are in Christ. You might be thinking there is so much in your life that is wrong. I'm saying that if you are in Christ then there is so much about you that is right. Go in His grace and you will discover great opportunities to be used for His glory.

If you don't know "who you are" then I encourage you to read God's Word. Read those early letters to the church in the New Testament. Read that you are "In Christ" and that you are "seated in heavenly places". Read that you are "the righteousness of God in Christ", that you are "more than a conqueror", and "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." God has done a marvelous job of ensuring that we have His definition of our lives available to us and he wants us to know that "sin no longer has dominion over us" because of His grace at work in our lives. I trust that these truths will help you establish your heart and frame the way in which you view yourself. In this process, you discover that what you believe will actually change the way you behave. Continue renewing your mind and be amazed at what God does through your life.