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Identity

Woman Shares How Ministry Became Her Identity, Then God Said, “You Forgot About Me”

by Le-Jovale Vallejo November 17, 2023

Celestial Moya recently shared how God freed her from her past. But because of her experiences, she thought her efforts weren’t enough for God. That’s how ministry became her identity.

When Ministry Became Her Identity

Celestial Moya had a rough start in life. She experienced many terrible things that made her feel bad about herself.

“I got delivered. I was set free from a lot of things. In my younger years, I got abused sexually, and so that opened the door to a lot of perverted thoughts, mindsets, dreams that I had no control of,” Celestial said.

When she was set free, she became so on fire for God. And so, she wanted to help others, too.

“These things I’ve been dealing with for years I didn’t have to deal with now. I was like, “Then why are other people dealing with this?”

How Ministry Became Her Identity

“So I started to step into ministry with Jesus. I started praying for people and I would see them be delivered, I would see them be healed, and it was so amazing,” she said.

It was such an exciting time with God and it started out so pure, but without realizing it, it became tainted because she was still wounded from her childhood.

“I let ministry become my identity, I let the things that I do for God define who I was. I was not doing from love but I was doing for love,” she said.

DAVID PLATT: “IN MATTERS OF LOVE, ONE MUST GO HIMSELF”

But God spoke to her.

She remembered Him saying, “You’re doing all these things for Me but you’re forgetting about me.”

God’s Unconditional Love

Though she experienced Jesus, Celestial said she didn’t fully know Him. She admitted that she allowed other people’s words to define her.

But slowly and surely, she understood who she is and who God is the moment she started reading the Bible with her whole heart.

“I just remember God saying so clearly. He’s like, “I don’t ask you to read so that I could love you more. I asked you to read so that you could understand My love for you,” Celestial recalled.

She then shared a revelation from God that ultimately grounded and rooted her as His follower.

“I remember Him just telling me, “I didn’t come for the drunk Celest. I came for the little girl who believed the lie that she wasn’t enough.”

God’s Validation

“There were these little moments that God would have with me where He would just reveal just these aspects of His heart that blew me away. Because the way I love God today is because of the way that He’s loved me. And the way I love other people is out of an overflow of His love for me.”

“I didn’t realize how deep and how unconditional and how great it is. His love is healing. The reason why I could talk today about my testimony without tears is because God has fully restored me in His love. Because I realized that if Jesus loves you, that’s all you need. Jesus’s validation is enough,” she concluded.

"I Gave Permission to the Devil to Help Me": From Broken to JESUS!

Watch this video on YouTube

Reference: Delafé Testimonies

Header image: Celestial Moya [Delafé Testimonies]. YouTube, 14 November 2023, https://youtu.be/VossKe4C8lE

November 17, 2023 0 comment

Faith Spotlight

You Are The Apple Of God’s Eye: Knowing Your Value In God

by Navigator Jo January 13, 2023

written by Navigator Jo

It’s so important that we know and experience God’s opinion of us! It’s sad that so many believers, who say that they believe they are the children of God live like orphans!

God did not create us just to survive, but rather to thrive to such a degree that people encounter Him when they encounter us! When we have a revelation in our hearts (not just our minds) of just how extraordinarily precious we are to God we are changed forever from the inside out. No amount of doctrine or theology can have the transformational effect on us that an encounter with God does.

What God Did For You

Did you know that God wrote all about you in His book of life? Your life is not random and your birth was not a mistake, an accident or mistimed. God has invested an incredible amount of creative energy and intentionality in designing and creating you the way that He did.

You are unique and carry an expression of God that no other human being ever has or ever will. God planned you before creation. He chose your personality, your DNA, your dreams and the time of your arrival on earth. God smiled on the day He created you because His creation was ‘very good’!

You Are Beautifully And Wonderfully Made

The Great I AM chose your character and personality. He made you beautiful and beloved. Therefore, your assignment and purpose and time where chosen by Him so that you would be available today to bless His creation, find personal fulfillment and bring great glory to Him.

God always has watched over you, He does today and will forever. Our Heavenly Father never loses sight of you or has His attention distracted from you. He nurtures your spirit and blesses you with His endless and completely unconditional love daily. In addition, our Heavenly Father sees the potential in you rather than shortcomings. The deep longing of His heart is simply that you nestle up to Him as Father, become entwined with Jesus and are responsive to the gentle prompts of Holy Spirit.

You can bring something to this world that no other person can by being the ‘you’ God created. Other people in your sphere of influence need the deposit that God placed in you to be manifest and available. Celebrate your miraculous design and unique purpose.

The truth is you really are the apple of Father’s eye, part of Jesus’ Bride and the delight of Holy Spirit. You are not abandoned or alone. He has adopted you. You are not an orphan!

You are a co-heir with Jesus as the inheritance of Father. He promises, “I am always with you and everything I have is yours.” (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5, Luke 15:31)

In conclusion, may you encounter the tangible expression of His blessing, His favour and His presence each and every day of your life regardless of your situation and circumstances.

– Navigator Jo

January 13, 2023 0 comment

Featured

Gang Member About To Get Stabbed By Prison Cellmate Prays For Attacker Instead

by Rhoda Gayle November 30, 2022

written by Rhoda Gayle

A gang member was about to get stabbed by his prison cellmate, and instead of running away or reporting to the guards, he asked his attacker if he could pray for him.

Gang Member

Patrick Seymour grew up attending a church in Mississippi with his single mother. Though he believes that God existed, he saw God as someone who is distant from him. He thought that he doesn’t fit the standards God wanted to see from His people.

“I view God as a God who has standards,” he recalled. “It put me at odds with Him. Because You have these expectations for my life but it didn’t speak to my hurt.”

Photo Courtesy: YouTube | The 700 Club

Patrick Seymour

Hurt by his father’s absence in his life, he thinks of himself as someone who is not good enough. In an attempt to find his identity and significance, he joined an infamous LA gang at the young age of 12. Patrick thought that he finally found a group that would accept him and he thought he finally found his identity.

Four years later, he was arrested for larceny. Because he was a member of a gang and was bringing a gun at that time, he tried as an adult and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, while he was in prison, he began to challenge God and Patrick saw God’s hands at work in his life while he was behind bars.

“I just saw God as being a God in the sky, I didn’t see Him as being personal. Something is going on, I don’t know what’s going on.”

Redemption

That is when he decided to attend church. It is also the time when he felt God’s love and mercy for him. Eventually, he surrendered his life to Jesus and began a journey of transformation with Him.

“Hey I know you’ve done these things, but I forgave you. I’ve already paid the cost of that. You’re forgiven, you don’t have to be that guy anymore… You are accepted. What you need and what you’ve run to get is only in Me that you’re going to find that. So, let’s leave that and I’m going to show you who you’re going to become.”

Patrick left the gang and followed Jesus. News of his transformation quickly spread. Someone ordered his cellmate to kill him. One night, he woke to his cellmate pointing a knife at him. Instead of trying to escape, he asked his cellmate if he could pray for him. That prayer changed the heart of his cellmate. The following morning, his cellmate requested to be transferred.

In 2017, Patrick has been released from prison. He is now a transformed man serving the Lord as a pastor, entrepreneur, and loving husband and father. God has transformed his life and has given him identity in a way gang life never could.

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Reference: YouTube | The 700 Club

November 30, 2022 0 comment

Faith Spotlight

Asking Yourself The Hard Questions

by Sarah Crockett November 23, 2022

written by Sarah Crockett

Have you ever felt stuck? It’s common to hear the phrases “I got stuck in traffic” or “I’m stuck on this math problem”. But what do we do when we find ourselves feeling stuck in life? Wouldn’t it be nice if the answer was an easy one? The truth is when we find ourselves feeling stuck the only way to get out of the rut is to dig deep. We have to begin asking the hard questions…to ourselves!

Asking The Hard Questions

Asking the hard questions is the only way to find the root, or reason, for feeling stuck. It requires being honest with ourselves about our emotions, beliefs, and decisions. As Danny Silk says, “The only person you can control—on a good day—is yourself.” In other words, the only person we can actually change is ourselves.

Asking ourselves hard questions is the only way to get to the root of any problem. Additionally, knowing what the root is is the only way to know what need to be done to see change. In other words, if you chop visible parts of the tree off and leave the roots, over time you will have the same tree again. Thus, it is imperative for an individual to determine the root, or cause, of a situation in order to uproot it and change.

Setting The Example

So how does one go about asking the hard questions? More importantly, what kind of questions need to be asked? Justin and Abi Stumvoll are two of the leading pioneers in asking the hard questions. For example, in a recent podcast on to their steps to overcoming betrayal is asking yourself, “What is my part in this [betrayal]?” Talk about asking yourself a hard question?! However, as they often encourage listeners, asking the hard questions, being honest with our answer, and taking care of our hearts in the aftermath is the only way to get free.

Asking ourselves the hard questions helps us solidify our identities. The answers to the hard questions reveal areas in our hearts where we are believing God’s truth and other areas where we are believing lies. John 8:32 reminds us, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” If we want to be free and live fully alive, then we’re going to have to ask ourselves the hard questions!

Discovering Your Identity

As Christians, one of the main areas we often struggle and find ourselves stuck in unhealthy ruts is knowing our identity. Again, in order to breakthrough and discover our true identity in Christ we must also ask ourselves the hard questions. For example, “Do I really believe I’m worthy of love?”, “Am I able to receive love from God and others?”, “Do I find my worth in my performance or position?” Our answers to questions like these reveal the truth of what we are believing. Are believing like orphans or as sons and daughters? The truth is our experiences with our earthly fathers can affect the way we relate to our Heavenly Father. In other words, our identity is shaped by interactions, or lack of, with our earthly fathers.

Are you looking for a resource for discovering your God given identity and help asking the hard questions? Justin and Abi recently published The Father Series that does just that! The Father Series is a 12-part e-course that will help you ask yourself the hard questions. Get down to the roots and discover the ways you are projecting your childhood experiences onto your Heavenly Father.

Go deep. Ask the hard questions. Freedom and breakthrough are on the other side of uprooting your negative beliefs. You’ve got this!

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Save $100 on The Father Series through December 1st, 2019 with coupon code GREATFRIDAY

Learn More: The Connected Life with Justin and Abi Stumvoll

November 23, 2022 0 comment

Featured

‘Aladdin’ Actress Naomi Scott Shares Her Faith & Identity In Jesus Christ

by Rhoda Gayle October 28, 2022

written by Rhoda Gayle

“Aladdin” actress Naomi Scott talked about her faith and identity in Jesus Christ.

Naomi Scott

Naomi Scott grew up in Hounslow, England in a Christian family with both her parents being pastors. She also sang in her church since she was younger. In 2011, she began her career in the entertainment industry starring in films such as Lemonade Mouth and Terra Nova.

Three years ago, she made the headlines for her phenomenal performance as Princes Jasmine in Disney’s “Aladdin” movie. One thing that is remarkable about this 29-year-old Disney princess is that she is an outspoken Christian. In an interview with Compassion U.K., Naomi talked about the importance of faith for her.

“Sometimes [my husband and I] get asked the question, ‘How do you juggle your faith and what you do?’ But for me, I don’t know how I would do life without my faith,” Naomi said.

Photo Courtesy: Instagram | naomigscott

Faith

She then continued to explain that she doesn’t consider her faith as a separate entity from her career and her life. Rather, she perceives it as a part of who she is as a person.

“That peace that you know you’re loved and valued is something that keeps me incredibly grounded, incredibly focused,” she explained. “Quite honestly, I don’t see it as this separate thing, this add-on thing. My faith is just a part of who I am and what I do.”

The success of “Aladdin” took her to a “whole new world” in her career as an actress, and she considers her success as the grace of God. However, she is still keeping her focus on Jesus Christ.

October 28, 2022 0 comment

Faith Family

Letting The Father Fight For Us

by Lindsi Gross September 17, 2022

written by Lindsi Gross

Today for the first time since the COVID-19 shutdowns, my son made a new friend at the park. I watched him just be a kid, and my heart broke for the season we’ve been in. The parks only recently opened, and we haven’t had very many playdates. The little boys introduced themselves by talking about their parents. “MY mom is over there! Her name is Lindsi!” And then the other little boy said, “My dad’s name is DADDY!” This moment hit my heart like a refreshing and heavy wind. I felt the love and reassurance of the Father fill my heart. Are we confident in who our Daddy is?

Family Is Our Safe Place

I found it so adorable, yet so amazing that these kids introduced themselves by talking about their parents; their safe place. Their identity comes from their family. I know that this season has been a difficult time for families. Our schedules shifted drastically, and it’s been difficult emotionally. At that moment in the park, I felt the Father saying, “Parents need Me to father them. Will you let Me comfort you? Do you see Me protecting you?” I want to stand on the truth that my Father is with me and for me.

Jesus Showed Us Who The Father Is

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He began with, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (Matthew 6:9). Jesus came to show us Who the Father is. Every beautiful thing that Jesus did came from the heart of the Father, and every truth Jesus spoke came from His Dad. “For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing…” (John 5:20a). As parents, I want to encourage us to be like children, and to allow our Heavenly Dad in. He is strong. He has the answers to our problems. I want to be like that little boy who confidently said, “My dad’s name is DADDY!”

We Show Our Kids Who The Father Is

If I know who my Father is, I will be able to point my kids in the right direction. God equips us! All we have to do is surrender with childlike faith! “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21a). He is a good Father! We can boast about how strong He is, knowing that HE is for us. He knows our names, He counts every hair on our heads. He is our provider and KING! Let His name be your foundation!

September 17, 2022 0 comment

Faith Spotlight

Your Identity In Christ: 5 Bible Verses To Remember

by Lauren Koch July 21, 2022

written by Lauren Koch

As a child of God, you carry a new identity in Christ. You are a royal priesthood. Read these scriptures below and experience Jesus’s presence. What you believe about yourself is powerful. Allow God’s ideas to be the guiding post for how you understand who you are. God’s word provides your purpose, and having a rooted identity in Christ and His realities for you will propel you into your destiny. You are his beloved.

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

1 Peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 John 3:1-3

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

Colossians 3:1-3

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Romans 8:11

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

July 21, 2022 0 comment

Faith Featured

Made To Conquer

by GOD TV July 7, 2022

written by GOD TV

You know, there’s a quote by a Roman philosopher, Seneca, that says, “No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity, for he is not permitted to prove himself.” You know, men need something to conquer. It’s how they find their purpose. It’s how they find their identity. They need a challenge in front of them to know that they’ve succeeded. Men aren’t made to just sit around and allow things to happen around them. They’re made to kill. They’re made to conquer. They’re made to take authority over things. That’s how we were designed.

And there’s this thought that men are not born; men are made. Boys are born. You’re born a male, you’re born a boy, but men are made in the process of adversities and challenges, and life itself of learning how to overcome and be the authority that you were designed to be. And how is it that we, as men can lead the next generation, not just our own children?

I’m a father of five girls. I’m not leading men in that way, but I am leading the men around me, the boys that see me every day. I’m an example of what it is to conquer. I’m an example of what it is to take authority over things. And for my girls, they’re seeing what an example of a true life filled man should look like. The standard is being set by me for my daughters, but it’s also being set for all of the men that are watching my life, the young men that I encounter, I challenge them, constantly.

People that know me know that I’m always going to say, “What’s the next mountain in front of you? What’s the hill you’re conquering? What’s the cliff you’re about to jump off of?” Why? I want to see people fly into their destiny. I don’t want to see them passively allow things to just happen in their lives. I want to see men step up and take authority over what’s been in front of them. I want them to know that they’ve actually achieved something, because they were designed to conquer.

I just want to encourage you men, that don’t allow life to pass you by. Grab a hold of it, conquer it, take authority, be who you were designed to be. Demonstrate for the next generation, for the young men around you, that they were born to conquer.

So Father, I just thank you that there’s a courage that’s going to rise up in the men, watching this and listening to this. That there’s something going to stir up in the nature of how they were designed. And they’re going to see who they’re supposed to be, how they’re supposed to live, and the example that they’re supposed to set. And God, I pray that this would be a generational blessing and reproducing increase from their lives to the next. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Know The Father’s Love

by GOD TV May 13, 2022

written by GOD TV

God loves you. God loves you. He loves you with an everlasting love. And if you woke up this morning or you’ve been feeling lately that, you know, I wonder if God loves me, let me reassure you that He loves you. And in Ephesians, I love the book of Ephesians, everybody should read the book of Ephesians, because it gives you your identity, who you are in Christ, but it tells you in Ephesians, I think it’s in Ephesians 3:16 through 19, something like that is that, that we can know how high, how deep, how long and how wide that the Father’s love is for us. And so that also, I love it in Ephesians, where it says that we can be strengthened in our inner man by Holy Spirit. You are never by yourself. God promises you that He never leaves you. He never forsakes you. And He wants you to know His great love that He has for you. He is love. God is love. And so I want you to start thinking about and start asking, Father, I want to know the love that you have for me. I want to experience how high, deep, wide, and long your love is for me. I want to know that in my spirit man, that I’m being strengthened by Holy Spirit.

So I just want to release that over you, that you can know just how high, deep, long, and wide that the Lord is for you. And you know, His love will do exceedingly and abundantly above anything that you could hope or ask for. God is so good. And through my walks with God, I’ve realized just how good He is. But even in me knowing the goodness of God, I still know so very little. But start that journey now to know the love of the Father, ask Him because He loves to reveal His love for you.

So Lord, I thank you that right now, whoever it is, wherever they’re at, that they would just feel the love the Father. They would feel the love, Father, that they would feel your presence in a way that they’ve never felt you before, and Lord that it was just draw them into a deeper relationship with you. A deeper fellowship with you in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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The Root Cause Of Many Disorders Is A Confused Identity

by John Mathai April 11, 2022

written by John Mathai

Identity is the sense of our core being. We are known by who we are as a person. When we are secure in our identity then others will be able to relate with us and we with them. A confused identity will reflect many aspects that makes it difficult for a person to function. This could impact on our personality, sexuality and give rise to various disorders. Identity is developed over years and some have a smooth process while others get stuck on the way. Life events and relationships can impact on the formation of our identity. A trusting relationship early in life with good attachments to parent figures and others can lead to a healthy identity. However most of us will experience many changes and so face challenges that makes the journey difficult.

Trust

Trusting relationships are important is early development of a sense of self. We feel secure and so can explore the world without fear. Fear causes us to avoid certain challenges and so deprive us of learning and growth. Many get stuck in this process and never grow up. This may lead to the development of disorders that further impacts on our identity. Gender dysphoria and other disorders are a result of such arrests in development. We see this acted out in superficial behaviours that hide a deeper fear of exposure. We see this characterised in reflections in art and body disfigurement. What is displayed is a reflection of the deeper issues in a person.

Remedy

Jesus came to give us a new identity. He said in Him we are a new creation. The old has past and the new has come. In Him we are secure and free because He takes our burdens and frees us to live life and that abundantly. He is the source of life and can reverse all that has gone before. Wholeness and freedom results in health and release from all disorders.

Dr. John Mathai

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