Annunciation
Moving from our false self by asking God about our true self.
Moving from our false self by asking God about our true self.
“...it is important that we regularly allow Jesus to speak to us about our identity.” –Living Fearless Guided Journal (p. 12)
“...all human activity and innovation begins with a simple action: ask a question.” –Living Fearless (p. 93)
“There’s your prayer life. If the Father knows what you need before you ask him, why don’t you ask him what you need?” (See Matthew 6:8) –Living Fearless (p. 96)
Annunciation is about moving from that false self by asking God about your true self. Moses and Gideon being great examples of God exposing their false selves by speaking to their true identities. Jesus, having come to serve, was initially refused by Peter to wash his feet. Visualize Jesus standing before you, offering to serve you - would you let him?
Lord, am I being resistant to you serving me? If so, in what ways?
The story of Salim getting his drivers license is one of God working through this young man exposing the lies embedded deeply within him and at the same time revealing truth. Salim would daily confess his wrong belief that he was a failure and a disappointment asking God to speak to him about his true identity. God did just that. (p. 112)
Lord, are there stubborn areas of resistance within me requiring daily exercise as with Salim? If so, what are they?
Commit to the daily spiritual exercise as did Salim on page 112.
David is a great example of the importance of asking questions. When he would “inquire of the Lord”, he was met with great success. When he did not…well, you know. Contemplate the value of asking questions of the Lord, for David was not the only man after God’s heart. Consider making an experiment of a challenge before you, and then emulating David’s method of success. (p. 119-124)
Having “swept the house clean” of your false identities, go before the Lord and pray the prayer beginning on page 125 concluding with:
Lord, would you speak back to me the name or the identity that you call me? What do you say about me, Lord? What do you call me?
Finally, when people don’t hear or sense anything at all during the prayer exercises, there are typically 2 reasons:
Unforgiveness for yourself or others
Anger
Inquire of the Lord about it.
God do I have unresolved anger or forgiveness about anyone? About anything?
If so, ask God to help you deal with this. Seek community if necessary in doing so. When you ponder being around or with the source of anger or unforgiveness and you still feel the emotion prick you, it remains unresolved. It’s like a dishwasher at times - rinse and repeat.