7 Divine Evidences of a Devoted Christian

In my last post, I shared with you some of the destructive character traits that I battle with as a type-A personality over the years as a Christian. Based on some of the responses I received, I am not alone in struggling with anxiety and worry impatience and being aloof as to how these traits can affect those around me negatively.

However, in your daily walk as a Christian, you always have hope in Jesus. I began to share with you last time how my personality traits have started to transform over the past seven years since my stroke. So without delay, I want to share with you seven divine pieces of evidence of a devoted Christian.

These type D personality traits, when fostered in God’s strength, will give you peace, direction, and confidence in you are in Christ. 

Divine Evidence #1-Dying to Self.

The devoted Christian must first be willing to surrender everything to God. You are committing to each day to put God first in everything you do to honor him. In Luke 9:23, Jesus instructs that if anyone is to follow Him, they must take up their cross daily and follow Him.

Now that you are a child of the King, Jesus wants you to obey Him willingly.  Whatever your role may be, whether it’s a schoolteacher, homemaker, or even a pastor, you must first be willing to be obedient to Christ. Doing so means putting His will above your desires.

If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up His cross daily and follow Me. (Luke 9:23) kjv

It’s Gonna Take Courage

 

Not only are we to be obedient Christians, but this also addresses the type A personality thorn of trying to please others. Everything we do should bring honor to God. This leads me to another critical evidence of a devoted Christian.

Divine Evidence #2-Determined Courage

To live obediently for Christ’s glory takes courage. All through scripture, God has blessed us with examples of determined courage. How about Noah when God instructed him to build an ark that was three times the size of a football field? Noah and his family had never seen rain before, and yet they made the ark as God commanded.

Remember Daniel and his steadfast courage to continue praying to Almighty God despite king Darius’s decree not to pray to other gods? Daniel faced 30 days in the lion’s den, and yet he prayed three times a day with his window open! [clickToTweet tweet=”Determined courage trains your mind to be dependent on God.” quote=”Determined courage cultivates your mind to be dependent on God.”] Courage challenges you to walk forward in faith trusting in the Savior who rescued your soul.

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Whether God has called you to do something you feel unqualified to do– forcing you out of your comfort zone. He instructs you to wait for His direction. It takes courage to live obedient for Christ. As you walk with determined courage, something else is taking place in your mind that you may not even realize. This leads us to the third divine evidence of a devoted Christian.

 

Stronger Faith

Divine Evidence #3-Developing Faith

This evidence can be one of the most difficult for every Christian, including myself. As I shared in an article on faith earlier this Summer, your faith develops via trials, tests, and temptations. I look back and remember everything God has brought me through since the stroke, but I struggle mightily at times in my weakness.

The pain and trials I encounter send me into the arms of my Savior as I seek His comfort and wisdom.   As your faith in Jesus continues to develop, you may never get the answers you seek, but God asks you to trust Him. Look at Abraham, the patriarch of God’s children. God instructed him to leave his family and move to a foreign land.   Later, He then promised he and his wife, Sarah, a son when they were well past the years of having children.

They both struggled as their faith was tested when they jumped ahead of God’s plan.   There were consequences for that sin, but then years later, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Issac per God’s command. Then God stepped in and said to Abraham, ” Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him, for now I know that you fear God, for you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.” (Genesis 22:12)

You may not understand what God is doing in your life at this very moment. However, I do know this; He is developing your faith as He prepares you for what lies ahead. The life of a devoted Christian is not an easy one, but it is the best life you can have when your sole purpose is to live for Him.   He wants what is best for you, and He knows everything that lies in the path on your journey called life.

And without faith it is impossible to believe Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder to those that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

I want to share with you a passage of scripture that I have memorized over the past few years. I keep a copy of this scripture in my daily reading bible to keep it fresh in my mind as I begin each day. Please write this passage down and remember it when your faith is tested.

But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to your eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:9-10) 

Right Where God Wants You

This divine evidence is an ongoing process for every Christian. Always remember God will never impart more on you than He knows you can bear in Him. He is with you through the refining fire, and you will come out like a most glorious vessel for Him.

Divine evidence #4-Dedicated to Serve 

When I was younger, service to God was something I had no desire to do at all!  Service to me meant going far away to Africa and running from lions while dodging the spears of the natives.   I fought to live in service with every fiber of my being.

You can serve God right where you are. God has you exactly where He wants you, and He has been preparing you to serve Him. Service is about obedience and surrender. Do you desire God’s will for your life, or are you still hanging on to what YOU want? You can serve him in your employment, in your home with your family, or even in the church.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men. (Colossians 3:23)

God has blessed each one of His children with gifts, talents, and abilities to utilize for His glory. For myself, I have always wanted to write since the 9th grade. My first published work was a romantic poem about being in love for the first time and the emotions involved. I have always loved the passion of poetry and how it makes you feel when you read it.

However, God now uses my writing to encourage, enlighten, and hopefully inspire readers to know Christ deeper. The best feeling in the world is to be in the center of God’s will. When your life is dedicated to serving God, you are not seeking to please others but to live your life for Christ.

So let me ask you this? Are any of these divine pieces of evidence visible in your life? Ponder this carefully before I continue. I plan to share with you the final three divine pieces of evidence next time. I pray you will look inside and ask yourself where you are in experiencing these pieces of evidence of a devoted Christian. Being a devoted Christian is about your walk with God. It is an ongoing process, but when you take your eyes off Him– that is when those type-A personality traits can show up!   Until next time.

 

In Christ,