Join us for this five-part series on helping you and your family S.T.A.N.D. firm and shine.
Guilt, worry, fear, perfectionism, or self-loathing stop me in my tracks. I complained to God or others, and I found my son doing the same?
Do your children see you fret, complain, or put yourself down? Do you want freedom from these shackles?
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
If we know Jesus died so we can experience freedom, how do we achieve this freedom from the emotional rollercoaster and S.T.A.N.D. Firm?
I find when I experience fear, doubt, worry, perfectionism, or self-hatred, one or more of the principles from S.T.A.N.D. is lacking in my life. Most of these principles are taken from my book, Shine Don’t Whine, based on the verse Philippians 2:14-15
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”
As a Bible teacher I love acrostics. The principles are easier to remember and teach. I desired to shine at home, work, and in the community but I needed to stop complaining. The Lord took me on a journey through Scripture and radically transformed my attitude. He empowered me to get off the emotional rollercoaster and S.TA.N.D. Firm and shine.
S See yourself as God sees you
T Transform your mind with the Word
A Always pray
N Never Give up
D Do it again
Here is a shortened version of the principles. May they bless you.
See Yourself As God Sees You
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” Colossians 1:21-22 (NIV)
I lived a life separated from God.
Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me John 14:6
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day John 6:37–40
If the Lord is calling you, today is the day of salvation. Do not wait! Do you experience a tug on your heart? Don’t delay. Your Creator beckons you to come!
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If you are already His, you don’t need this prayer but this is a straightforward way to learn the plan of salvation so you can share it with others. God did not make a relationship with Him difficult. It is as easy as A-B-C!
A-Acknowledge you’re a sinner and separated from God All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:23-24
B-Believe that Christ died for your sin and that He is God. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
C-Confess and cry out. With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:9-13
We need to repent and turn from our dead way of living to receive full forgiveness and abundant life in Christ, we can pray to the Lord now, He knows our heart. If you need to repent here is a prayer for you to pray. Say it from your heart and put it into your own words too.
“Father, I know I have broken your laws and my sins has separated me from you. I am sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me and help me. I believe your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, rose from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I want Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey and to do your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”
There are angels rejoicing in heaven if you prayed this. Welcome to the family of God. Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10
Make sure you get yourself into a church that teaches from the Holy Bible. If you do not know of one or need help to find one, you can contact me, my information is at the back of this book.
Are you wondering what happened to you? You were rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the light. You belong to God now and no one can take the free gift of salvation away from you. You now have full access to the throne room of God. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13
His Holy Spirit will counsel you and help transform you. Always remember, God will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you and has called you for a purpose. Now you are a new creation in Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come 1 Corinthians 5:17
What a rollercoaster ride! We start as enemies separated from God, seemingly without hope. With one act of obedience, we can reconcile with our Creator. My prayer is that you did not rush through this chapter. There is so much to glean from it. For me, knowing I had nothing to do with my salvation except to receive the free gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ alone—by faith—makes me grateful, joyful and at peace. If I cannot earn my salvation, how can I do anything to lose it?
Continue with me on this journey through Scriptures and teach them to your kids. The darkest part of the journey is over. The news gets better and better. God chose to save us, and now He wants us to shine for Him. In the next chapter we will begin to see ourselves as God see’s us. Don’t believe the lies you have heard. You are a new creation.
Next time we will discuss Transforming our mind with the Word.
How has your identity in Christ changed your behavior?
What actions do you and your family need to take to STAND Firm in this area?
Cherrilynn is an award-winning writer in fiction and non-fiction. She offers coaching, editing, and ghostwriting services She loves to help writers achieve their publishing dream. Cherrilynn is an expert at the book proposal and memoirs. As a submissions reader and junior literary agent with Cyle Young, Cherrilynn learned the importance of a professional book proposal, editing, marketing, and many other aspects of the literary world.
Cherrilynn has been teaching for twenty-five years and is a speaker with Women Speakers. Her topics include leadership, prayer, book proposals, and the Bible.
She is a monthly contributor to Blue Ridge Conference blog, VineWords, and Arise Daily. She considers it an honor to be published twice in Chicken Soup for the Soul; Award-winning books Heart Reno, Breaking the Chains, and Get to the Margins Author’s Anthology.
Cherrilynn teaches writing as Christian Leaders Institute, has an associated degree in communications. Certified as a Christian Spiritual Coach, and is earning her Chaplain certification.
Cherrilynn proudly served in the military for twenty years, earning the John Levitow Military leadership award. She lives with her eighteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 21 years, Michael, Sr. she fondly calls her M&M’s
