“But be doers of the WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a MIRROR; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who LOOKS INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25 NKJV, emphasis mine).
Beloved, God’s Word is a mirror that reflects back to you the true image God has of you. If you want to know who you truly are and how God sees you in Christ, you have to look in the Mirror of God, which is the Word of God. In fact, if you're not already abiding in the Word or walking by meditation on the Word and confession of the Word, begin immediately. Get into the Word, find out what it says about who you are and what you have and can do in Christ, then believe it and confess it continually. As believers, the Word of God is our mirror indeed, and it is important that whenever we look in it and walk away, we don’t forget what we looked like. The Spirit, speaking through the apostle Paul, says that “we all, with unveiled face, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV). In other words, as we continually look in the Mirror (or Word) of God and meditate on the Word, we are being transformed by the Spirit of God into the image we see, and that image is the glory of the Lord; and so, we are being transformed from one level of glory to another. This also means that we believers are the glory of God; hence we see our own reflection as we look in the Mirror (or the Word) of God, and thus are being transformed into the substance of that image by the Spirit of God from glory to glory. In this regard, James also adds that we are not just to look in the Mirror (or the Word), but do the Word also. He says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face IN A MIRROR; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty (that is, the Word of God) AND CONTINUES IN IT, and IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER but A DOER of the work, this one WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES.” (James 1:22-25 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). Simply put, looking in the Word of God or hearing the Word without acting on the Word or believing it and doing (confessing and claiming) what it says about you, is a useless exercise that benefits no one. You need to act on the Word of God. You need to believe the Word of God enough to be moved to do what it says and claim what it says. When you READ the Word and you BELIEVE the Word, you will CONFESS or SPEAK the Word (see 2 Corinthians 4:13). Of course we all speak and do what we believe, and we believe what we do. And so those who believe right will act right, and those who believe wrong will act wrong. Right actions (or right living) will be born out of your right believing, and vice versa.
Beloved, it is important that you believe and speak the truth of God's Word and not the words of this world. It is important that you don't go about saying or confessing what you feel, see or hear in the natural realm (particularly if it's contrary to what the Word of God says). Don't confess the ugly picture your current circumstance may be presenting to you; instead, always say or confess what God's Word says about you. Agree with the opinion of God (see Amos 3:3) by speaking and doing God's Word. Be a doer of the Word. God’s Word expresses God’s opinions, plans and thoughts. God’s Word has integrity. The Bible is truly a revelation from God to us; it is God Himself speaking to us; “it is God-breathed” (see 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). And so, as a believer, the Word of God is your creative material. It will definitely give you what it promises, if you go for it. Therefore in your day-to-day conversations and confessions, don't use your own words or the words of this world but the Father’s words. Reject every thought that is contrary to the thoughts and plans or the mind and will of God for your life as a believer. God's thoughts or plans for your life are thoughts or plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (see Jeremiah 29:11); so align yourself with God's thoughts and plans, and make them your daily confession.
It is indeed important to be consistent in your confession (or the things you speak in agreement with the Word of God). Don’t be a double-minded person. Don't make a positive confession now, and then confess the opposite later; the second will nullify the first. For instance, don’t say “I’m healed” now, and the next moment you see another symptom of the sickness, turn around to say, “I’m sick.” For your confession to be effective or for it to work for your good, you don’t have to stagger (or base your confession on the changing circumstances); you have to be fully persuaded about the Word of God, and base your confession on it, just like our father Abraham (see Romans 4:19-21). You have to believe the Word before you speak or confess it (see 2 Corinthians 4:13), so that you will continually make the same confession without doubting it or contradicting yourself. The Bible says you are to hold fast your confession. (see Hebrews 4:14). People who make contradictory confessions do so because they walk or judge by the sight of their eyes, and decide by the hearing of their ears; they harbor doubts in their heart; they waver between two opinions because they don't completely believe or trust God's Word (God's opinion). James says, “he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6-8 NKJV). Don't be a double-minded man, or else, you won't receive anything from God.
God's Word has integrity; God's Word has power. And so you can trust God’s Word. The Bible says, “No word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37 NIV). When you stand on God's Word, you are standing on a word that will never fail, you are standing on steady ground. When you build your hope on God’s Word, you are building on an immovable Rock. The Bible says that the words Jesus spoke during His earth walk were the words of the Father (see John 12:49), and so Jesus performed practically all His works or miracles with the words of the Father. (see John 14:10, 24). Just as God’s words in Jesus’ mouth never failed, they won’t fail in your mouth. They didn’t fail in Peter’s mouth when he commanded the lame man at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to rise up and walk in the name of Jesus. (see Acts 3:1-9). We must all bring ourselves to believe and to speak the words of the Father, just as our Lord Jesus Christ did, and just as Peter and all the early apostles did. It is in our own interest to do so. God's Words are creative words; they're healing words; they're demon-dominating words; they are words filled with God and His faith. Indeed, God’s Word is powerful. The Bible says the worlds were framed by the Word of God. (see Hebrews 11:3). So go for the Word! Begin to frame your world with the Word of God: meditate on the Word, trust the Word, act on the Word, and God will make good of His promise. The Bible says that God watches over His Word to perform it (see Jeremiah 1:12). Therefore, be an imitator of God as a dear child (see Ephesians 5:1) and begin to speak or confess the Word of God; begin to claim all the exceedingly great and precious promises that have been given to us by God; begin to call those things which do not exist as though they did (see Romans 4:17), and they will become. This is the God kind of faith; this is how you partake of the divine (or God) nature. (see 2 Peter 1:4).
Today, if you will just look into the Mirror (or Word) of God, it will show you who you truly are. And once you look and see your true reflection from the Mirror of God, grasp that image, lay hold on it, never forget it, and never stop speaking or confessing it. As a start, here are a few truths about your image or identity, and your rights and privileges in Christ that you can begin to confess right now. Commit to continually saying or confessing these truths, and your life will never be the same: “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and I believe God has raised Him from the dead. (see Romans 10:9-10). I have the Son of God, and so I have the life of God in me; I have eternal life; I have zoe in me. (see 1 John 5:11-13). I have the Living God as my Father; I am the begotten child of God (see James 1:18; John 1:12). I have God’s incorruptible seed in me. (see 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9). I am a partaker of the divine (or God) nature; I have the nature of God. (see 2 Peter 1:4). I am the brother of Jesus, and Jesus is not ashamed to call me His brother. (see Hebrews 2:11). As Jesus is, so am I in this world. (see 1 John 4:17). I have the mind of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). I have the Spirit of the Son of God in me. (see Galatians 4:6). I have the resurrection life in me; I have the Spirit of life in me; I have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead in me. (see Romans 8:11). I have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead in me. (see Ephesians 1:19-20). Oh yes! I am a success; I am an overcomer. (see 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4). I am complete in Christ. (see Colossians 2:9-10). I am the anointed of God. (see 1 John 2:20, 27; 2 Corinthians 1:21). I am the sanctified child of God. (see Hebrews 10:10). I have been perfected by Christ. (see Hebrews 10:14). I am holy. (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:5, 9). I cannot fail; I cannot be defeated; I am a victor. (see 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:57). I live the abundant life. (see John 10:10). I live a life of victory. (see 2 Corinthians 2:14). I live a life of favor. (see Ephesians 1:6). I permanently stand in grace (unmerited favor), and I have access to grace by faith. (see Romans 5:2). I have peace with God. (see Romans 5:1). I permanently have fellowship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3-4). I permanently have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. (see 2 Corinthians 13:14). I am led by the Holy Spirit as a son of God (see Romans 8:14). I am born into God’s Family as a son (see James 1:18; Romans 8:16), and so the Father's home is my home. I come from above; I am a citizen of Heaven. (see Philippians 3:20). Whatever I ask the Father in the name of Jesus, He will give me. (see John 16:23). Whatever I ask (or demand) in the name of Jesus will be done. (see John 14:13-14). I will not and do not live in lack; I lack nothing. (see Psalm 23:1). I am more than a conqueror. (see Romans 8:37). I am God’s elect. (see Romans 8:33). I have found the light of life. (see John 8:12). I am no longer walking in the darkness of sense knowledge; I walk by faith and not by sight. (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). All things are possible to me. (see Mark 9:23). I am blessed (together) with Abraham the believer. (see Galatians 3:9). I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). I have been freely given all things. (see Romans 8:32). I am an heir of the world. (see Romans 4:13, with Galatians 3:29). I am an heir of God and joint-heirs with Christ. (see Romans 8:17). All things are mine; the whole world is mine. (see 1 Corinthians 3:21-22). I am rich. (see 2 Corinthians 8:9). I eat the good of the land. (see Isaiah 1:19). I have the peace of God. (see Philippians 4:7; John 14:27). Christ Himself is my peace. (see Ephesians 2:14). I have the joy of God; the joy of the Lord is my strength. (see John 15:11; Nehemiah 8:10, Galatians 5:22). Jesus Himself bore all my sins and diseases, and by His stripes I was and I am healed. (see Isaiah 53:5; 2 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17). I have divine health, because the Spirit of life is in me giving life to my mortal body. (see Romans 8:11). I am a new creation in Christ, a new species of being. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). There is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus. (see Romans 8:1). I have no more consciousness of sin. (see Hebrews 10:1-3). I am a kind of firstfruit of God's creation, God's absolute best. (see James 1:18). I'm God's workmanship. (see Ephesians 2:10). I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (see Psalm 139:14). I am created according to God in true holiness and righteousness. (see Ephesians 4:24). I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). I am created to do good. (see Ephesians 2:10). I know who I am. I am no ordinary being; I am not a mere man. (see 1 Corinthians 3:3). I am a god-man. (see Psalm 82:6). I am the beloved and special child of the Most High God. (see John 1:12; James 1:18; Psalm 82:6; 1 Peter 2:9). I am the Father's will; I am born of His will (see James 1:18), so I am able to do His will. The power (or ability) of God is at work in me. (see Philippians 2:13). My sufficiency (or ability to meet all needs) is from God. (see 2 Corinthians 3:5). I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (see Philippians 4:13). I fear nothing; I am bold as a lion. (see Proverbs 28:1). God's divine power has given to me all things that pertain to life and godliness. (see 2 Peter 1:3). I have authority in the Name of Jesus over demons, over the laws of nature, and over all circumstances. (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:17-18). I was bought at a price. (see 1 Corinthians 6:20). My Father loves me. (see John 16:27). I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath. (see Deuteronomy 28:13). I am born to win. I am seated in the heavenly realms with Christ and in Christ. (see Ephesians 2:4-6). My life is hidden with Christ in God. (see Colossians 3:3). I am in God (see Colossians 3:3), and God is in me. (see 1 John 4:4; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 4:6). I am one Spirit with the Lord; I and the Lord are one. (see 1 Corinthians 6:17). I am a branch of the true Vine. (see John 15:5). I am a member of the Body of Christ. (see Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12). I am seated above all principalities and powers of darkness, and all things are in subjection under my feet. (see Ephesians 2:4-6, with Ephesians 1:20-23). I am the light of the world. (see Matthew 5:14-16). I am the salt of the earth. (see Matthew 5:13-16). I am an ambassador for Christ. (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). I am a king and a priest to my God and Father. (see Revelation 1:6). I reign in life; I reign above every circumstance and situation. (see Romans 5:17). And I proclaim the praises of Him who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. (see 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 13:15).” “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25 NKJV).
Beloved, we believers are truly blessed, and we should never stop confessing our blessings. We have been given exceedingly great and precious promises in Christ. And the Bible says that all the promises of God in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). May you hold fast your confession as you claim these exceedingly great and precious promises and partake of the divine (or God) nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (see 2 Peter 1:4). Amen.
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