Nancy Taylor Tate
What does it mean to live life in identification with the Lord? How do we get there?
A place of identification with the Lord is available for those who seek it. It is a place of being, where His heart has become so formed in us that it is now Christ who is seen in us (Galatians 2:20). We become a witness, or, a sample of Him (Acts 1:8).
As we position ourselves to identify with His heart, His heart becomes our heart, His ways, our ways. From that deeper place of experientially knowing Him, we begin to move beyond the facts we know about the Lord into experiencing His life, the very life of Christ, in our life experiences. His thoughts and ways begin to find greater expression through us. Now, in identification with Him, we can act, speak, or pray as the Holy Spirit leads.
As we “follow on to know the Lord,” simply knowing facts about the Lord is not enough. Philippians 2:5 admonishes us to “let this mind be IN you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Within the body of Christ are those who have a deep, inner relationship with the Lord. Their lives are governed not by what they can do and still make it to heaven, but by a desire to know the Lord more, and a deep, inner commitment to walk in His ways. This is the people I want to be a part of!
Quality times of fellowship apart with the Lord and practicing His presence throughout the day, are central to this kind of walk. As we spend time with the Lord, we come to know His heart. As we allow His inner working in our hearts, we become a greater reflection of Him and expression of His heart.
The call of God is always, “Come.” We never outgrow our need for time in His presence. As I cultivate an open and sensitive spirit toward the Lord, my recognition of and appreciation for His presence grows.
Paul prayed that we would have “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17). We can pray for this too. As I learn to linger in His presence and to become receptive, there comes a Spirit-given impartation into my spirit. I receive divine enabling from the Lord to “be” or “become” a witness of Him. I learn to hear and obey, living a Spirit-led life and a life of integrity.
As I spend time with Him, I am being changed into His image and likeness. As I become more like Him, I understand more deeply who He is, His thoughts, and His ways. From that place, I can begin to identify with Him in my life experiences and in my times of prayer for others.
From that place of identity with Him, He calls us to come further. “Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves” Song of Solomon 7:11–12.
We will talk more about the approbation and favor of God later, but our focus now is on the call of God. The call is always to “come!” Then, in identification with His heart and purposes, we go with Him—in His power, strength, nature, character, and authority.
Spiritual authority is something we must qualify for through our own personal relationship with the Lord. When I live in right relationship and submission to His Lordship, He can then entrust me with His authority.
We are to become places marked by the presence of the Lord—places where not only His presence, but His power can find expression. What a glorious calling! “They that know their God will do exploits” Daniel 11:32. Not those who have degrees, titles, positions, or money, but those who know their God! This means we can all qualify for God to use us, when and in whatever way He would so desire, as we make ourselves available to Him.
The prayer my dad prayed many years ago has become a very personal prayer for me as well: “Lord, if there could be a place where You can be who You want to be and do what You want to do, I am available.”
I like to pray this prayer corporately, and have seen heads nod in agreement as I say, “Lord, if there could be a people in whom You could be who You want to be and do what You want to do, Lord, we are available.”
Today, as I write this prayer, I invite you to make this commitment to the Lord as well: “Lord, if there could be a people in whom You could be who You want to be and do what You want to do, Lord, we are available.”
As faithful witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ, like Paul, may we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14.
It is not “a” voice that the Lord is raising up today, but a corporate voice, as the sound of many waters. “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” Revelation 19:6.
May we be a part of that multitude. As we lift our voices to Him in worship, thanksgiving, and praise, may we declare, “Alleluia, the Lord OUR God the Almighty, He reigns” as we make ourselves available to Him in whatever way or time He would use us.