What Are We Made Of?

The events of the past week or so have suddenly enveloped not just our cities, states and nation, but nations. It is affecting every institution we have in America—schools, sports, businesses, churches, ministries and events. Many have never felt so vulnerable. But there are ways to respond to this, and the first is to minimize panic—not just your own, but of people around you.

As serious and disruptive as this has been, at the same time, it is allowing us to take stock of all that we have, rediscover some of the neglected parts of our lives, and cut through the noise to focus on what really matters. It is making a demand of each of us, and this moment is collectively asking us the question, “What are we made of?”

Our physicality is one part of us, and biologically we know and can understand what we are comprised of as human beings, whether male or female. But I’m talking about a substance that cannot be defined under a microscopic lens or described in scientific terms.

I am referring to how we manage the life we are living through the choices we make, the risks we take, our loyalty, and stamina. This is about our ability to hold steady, focus, celebrate, rest, believe, forgive, and advance. This moment is testing our decision making, our core values, and our courage.

The sum total of any one of us is not mere genetics and DNA, but more so the heart, character, and life we live each day.

Taking stock of what we are made of will compel us towards the life that awaits us, and yes, a life of flourishing and advancing is still ours to experience!

But this ‘moment in the mirror’ is a part of the personal identity equation that we carry around as we face tough places. There is an internal math equation going on inside of us that’s looking to see, “Do I have what it takes to get through this? Am I made of something greater than what I face?”

For me, that equation shifted drastically when I gave my life to Jesus. After Jesus became Lord of my life, just like the Bible says, His spirit came into me, and made my spirit new. Now when I take stock of who I am, I am actually taking stock of who I am in Him, but also, where I have learned to live out of who He is in me (and yes, there is a learning process involved).

It is a process of renewing our mind to life lived through or in another—Jesus. This process involves catching ourselves in the ‘auto-pilot’ ways of our humanity which are very limited, leaning toward the negative, and to instead yield to the spirit of Jesus that we are now of.

The Christian life has been termed ‘the limitless life’, but that’s really only true for the areas where we have learned to yield to it. “Christ in me the hope of glory” is mine to choose daily in a million different ways.

We are born again in Jesus with His renewable capacity for resilience—a built-in power to heal, regenerate, and grow beyond our known limits in:

• -judgement
• -character
• -responses
• -how we perceive things
• -how we live life
• -how we respond to crisis

The key is to live out of His vast abilities that reside inside us.

The best way to do that is to read His Word; His spirit is in His Word, and His spirit is in you. So when you read His Word you expand. You grow strong in the Greater One that is in you, greater than anything in this world. Jesus, who is omniscient and omnipresent, knows what we face, and He gives you and I what we need to forge ahead. However, it is still ours to yield to and to take hold of.

Whenever I don’t yield to Him in me, I pay a price for it because my humanity comes up grossly unprepared for life’s toughest moments, but with Him and through Him, I shine. 

If you want to make Jesus the Lord of your life and leave behind your old limited ways, I’d like to help you do that. This is your moment to allow God to create a new and meaningful life for you and through you. You will not only become new, but God will enable you to help care for your community, your family, and friends. God loves you, and wants you to know Him so He can fill you with peace and give you real-life, forever.

“God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life.” Jesus said, “I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” God has provided the only way. Now we make the choice to receive. Pray this prayer right where you are:

“God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I admit that I am not right with you, and I want to be right with you. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins. The Bible says if I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved. I believe with my heart, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for saving me! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” (Romans 10:9)

If you prayed this prayer for the first time, we would like to know so we can answer any other questions you might have. Email us at info@jentringale.com to share your story.

May God’s presence be richly with you.