Phase 3

Identity and Intimacy with Christ

The grace that you should seek

You want to realize through the working of the Holy Spirit in your heart who you are, first through your own eyes, and then through the eyes of the Lord, especially as you consider your true self in Christ.

As a result, you want to realize also that the only reasonable response is to glorify God by accepting your current self, including all your wickedness or weaknesses, your shadows, and other false-self issues, and to allow God to forgive and heal you by His grace while living with others in the community of faith.

This conviction of the heart should then result in a deeper sense of identity and intimacy with Christ. Practically speaking, you are now finding your true worth or value, not in external things, your self-image, other people's opinions, or the things of this world, but only in Christ.

How to experience this grace

Go through this Phase for at least one week. Ask the Lord specifically for the grace that you seek. Meet with your Spiritual Director before, during, and at the end of the week. Go through the suggested Scripture passages by meditating and contemplating on them. You may use other passages as the Spirit leads you. Spend time in unhurried prayer before the Lord once a day for the whole week and journal your experiences. Meet with your Spiritual Director at the end of the week to co-discern your conclusions.

Suggested Scriptures:

Day 1 - Philippians 3-4
Day 2 - Romans 7-8
Day 3 - Job 38-42
Day 4 - Psalm 8
Day 5 - 1 John 1
Day 6 - 2 Peter 1
Day 7 - John 21

Other Suggested Resources:

Keys to Real Life, Habits of Grace, Soul Keeping, Sacred Rhythms, Spiritual Enneagram

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