80 | Affirmed and Equipped: Positive Affirmations for the Christian Disciple

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What does it truly mean to make disciples when everything around you feels like it's crumbling? After enduring the harrowing hours while waiting for my twin grandchildren to reunite with their parents during the devastating Guadalupe River flood, I've reflected deeply on that question. And thus arrived at the explanation that the Great Commission wasn't just for the twelve disciples—it's for every believer for all times. 

When Jesus said "Go and make disciples of all nations," He was establishing the foundation for our purpose on earth. This call to discipleship means surrendering everything: heart, soul, mind, and strength to Christ. It's a complete identity transformation that happens through the power of the Holy Spirit shaping us for His work.

Jesus didn't choose His followers based on impressive credentials. He selected ordinary people—tax collectors and fishermen—who were simply willing to say yes. God isn't searching for perfection in us either; He's looking for availability. 

Discipleship happens in the quiet corners of everyday life: bedtime prayers with your children, conversations over coffee with friends, or mentoring someone who's struggling. When we embrace this sacred commission, even our interruptions become divine appointments.

The path isn't without cost. Jesus spoke clearly about placing Him above everything else—even family. This doesn't mean abandoning our responsibilities, but centering Christ in everything. Sometimes this requires stepping away from relationships that hinder the gospel or showing up for others while your own heart is breaking. Yet even in our pain, we remain called. 

Let's rise up in faithfulness, making disciples not out of obligation, but because we've experienced the profound love of the One who commissioned us. 

Book your Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour today at paulabehrens.com/coaching and discover how to deepen your spiritual practices, grow your faith, and find healing from anxiety and stress.

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Transcript

Living on Purpose in Christ

Paula Behrens 0:00

Have you ever wondered what it really means to make disciples in today's messy and confusing world? Are you feeling the pull to live with deeper purpose, but you just don't know where to start? And when tragedy strikes, like the recent deadly flood in Texas, do you find yourself asking how can I keep going, much less be a faithful disciple of Christ? Today's episode dives into the heart of disciple making what it is, why it matters and how ordinary people like you and me are called to carry out this extraordinary mission. Even in the midst of heartbreak, we are called to follow boldly in the footsteps of our Lord and love others deeply. In other words, we are to live on purpose in Christ.

Paula Behrens 0:43

When I first began my seminary work while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized. But, truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos there was a lesson. Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness, I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices.

Paula Behrens 1:18

Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful God-aligned day. I'm Paula and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God, but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you.

Paula Behrens 1:43

Hey friend, I want to personally invite you to the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour. This isn't just another Bible study or spiritual to-do list. It's a deeply intentional one-on-one session where you'll create a devotional routine that fits your life and reignites your love for "time with God," all while using your senses. We'll partner together to design a peaceful, Christ-centered routine that helps you breathe again spiritually and emotionally. You'll walk away with clarity, focus and a renewed connection to the Holy Spirit. And right now, because of the state of grieving we find our nation in, we will also dedicate part of our time to addressing any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing. Through a simple yet powerful modality, using essential oils and guided steps, you'll have the opportunity to realize emotional healing and a deeper sense of peace. As your anxiety is lowered, you will then be better equipped to grow into the faithful disciple you were called to be. Book your call now at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/c oaching (no spaces). All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Paula Behrens 3:01

As the waters of devastation recede from the Guadalupe River, our nation still mourns deeply, prays earnestly, and leans into hope beyond hope. I personally hold close the miracle that my own grand twins, my precious grandson and granddaughter survived that flood, and I know that while I clung to hope and prayer for their safety, God held them and many others in his mighty hands. But even in the midst of chaos, we're reminded that our calling to follow Christ and to lead others to him remains as urgent and sacred as ever.

Paula Behrens 3:35

In Matthew, chapter 28, verse 19 through 20, Jesus leaves us with a command, not just a suggestion, saying: Go and make disciples of all nations. These were some of his final words before ascending into heaven, a commissioning and foundation for every believer's purpose on this earth. In these words, Jesus wasn't just sending out his 12 closest followers, he was sending out all who love him. That means every believer, including you and me. But what does it really mean to make disciples, and how do we live that out in the messiness of everyday life, even during grief, stress and exhaustion? Well, Jesus answers this question not only with his words, but also with his life.

Paula Behrens 4:23

Let's begin in Matthew, chapter 4, verse 19, where Jesus first extends his invitation: Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. That short sentence contains a world of change. Jesus wasn't offering a self-help plan or a new hobby. He was offering a new identity. His call to discipleship wasn't just a call to hang around a wise teacher or to add a spiritual element to an otherwise ordinary life, it was a divine reordering of purpose. The invitation from Jesus continues to reach out to each of us today, encouraging us to walk alongside him, learn from his teachings and embody his example.

Paula Behrens 5:08

To be a disciple is to live in surrender heart, soul, mind and strength, in surrender to the One who saves us. It means following Jesus not only when it's convenient or socially acceptable, but all the time. It's about laying down our comforts, preferences and dreams, if need be, to pick up his mission. But the amazing thing is that this level of commitment is not something we muster up in our own strength. Instead, it happens through our willingness to invite the Holy Spirit to mold us, shape us, and strengthen us for the work at hand.

The Call to Make Disciples

Paula Behrens 5:44

Being a disciple is deeply personal, yes, but it's never private. Jesus never called anyone to faithfulness that stopped with personal salvation. His call has always included action, to be a disciple and then to make disciples. We see this so beautifully in Luke, chapter 6, verse 12 through 16, where Jesus calls the first twelve. Scripture tells us that Jesus spent the entire night in prayer. He sought the Father's heart. He didn't rush and he didn't choose those first twelve based on popularity or charisma. This moment reveals a key truth. Disciple-making is birthed through intimacy with God. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to withdraw and pray before selecting his disciples, how much more must we lean into prayer as we prepare to share God's Good News with the ones he puts in our path? And let's not miss this. Jesus chose ordinary people a tax collector, fishermen, a zealot, people who didn't have resumes but who were willing to say yes. The same is true today. God isn't looking for perfection. He's looking for availability. He's looking for a heart that says: Here I am, Lord. Send me.

Paula Behrens 7:09

Throughout his life, Jesus didn't just teach in sermons or speeches. He walked alongside his disciples. He ate with them, he traveled with them, he comforted them and he also corrected them. His model of discipleship was deeply rooted in relationship. He lived out the truth that he taught, showing them how to pray, how to forgive, how to serve and suffer well. When we consider our call to make disciples, we must remember that people need more than just words, more than just information. They need someone to model for them. They need to see the gospel lived out in you and me and in all Christians. That leads us back to the heart of the gospel, the Great Commission, where Jesus says: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Jesus was not leaving any room for inactivity. He didn't say: If you feel like it, go. He said go.

Paula Behrens 8:14

This commission extends far beyond pastors, missionaries, seminary students and Sunday school teachers. It belongs to every woman, man, youth and child who has encountered the saving grace of Jesus. Whether you are a teacher, a nurse, a stay-at-home mom or dad, a grandmother or a pastor, if Christ is in you, his commission is for you. And here's what's so powerful. Making disciples doesn't require a pulpit or a stage. It begins in the quiet places of your life, in the bedtime prayers with your children, in the conversations over coffee with a friend, in the way you love your neighbor, or mentor a new believer.

Embracing the Cost of Discipleship

Paula Behrens 8:55

When we embrace this commission, Jesus Calling, our lives take on eternal significance. We begin to see relationships as sacred ground, interruptions as divine appointments and challenges as growth opportunities. We stop measuring our lives by productivity and start measuring them by impact. Still, that doesn't mean it will be without cost. Jesus was honest about the cost.

Paula Behrens 9:22

In Luke, chapter 14, verses 25 through 33, he says that we must be willing to "hate" or love our families less, and even our own lives, in comparison to our devotion and love for him. That's the key, in comparison to our devotion and love for him. Jesus was speaking with clarity. To follow him means choosing him above everything else. That doesn't mean we abandon our responsibilities or neglect our loved ones. Instead, it means placing Christ at the center, ensuring that everything we say, do and think flows from a deep love for Christ and his mission.

Paula Behrens 10:04

This might occasionally require stepping away from relationships that hinder the Good News of Christ, placing those loved ones in God's competent hands and trusting that he will guide them and work in their lives according to his perfect will. And it doesn't stop there. Jesus says we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow him. That cross represents sacrifice, not just once, but daily. That might look like forgiving when it's hard, serving when you're tired, or speaking truth when it's uncomfortable. It might even look like showing up for someone else when your own heart is grieving, like I've had to do these past few days as our community reels from the Guadalupe River tragedy.

Paula Behrens 10:52

To be honest, in those first few hours of July 4th, when the flood hit the camps and I was so worried about my grandchildren, disciple-making wasn't the first thing on my mind. It was still there in the back of my mind, but it certainly wasn't the first. My prayers were raw, my faith felt fragile, but as I cried out to God hour after hour, something settled in my spirit, a peace not of my own doing. When I finally heard the news, 16 long hours later, that my grand twins had been reunited with their parents, I wept with relief and thankfulness and I remembered, even in our darkest moments, we are still called. God still has work for us to do.

Emotional Healing, Clarity, Spiritual Growth

Paula Behrens 11:37

So how do we begin to make disciples in our daily lives in a practical way? Well, it starts with relationships, authentic, sometimes messy, but always grace-filled relationships. Making disciples isn't a program or a formula, it's a lifestyle. Begin by asking God to show you who in your life needs encouragement, guidance or simply someone to walk with them through it all. It could be a young person in your church, a co-worker, a neighbor or even someone in your family. Invite them into your life, share meals, ask questions, pray with them, be honest about your own journey, the victories and the struggles. As you do, speak truth, point them to scripture, model prayer and, most of all, be available. And don't underestimate the power of your everyday witness, the way you respond to stressful situations, the peace you carry in trials, the love you extend to difficult people, that's discipleship in action. Also, remember that sharing the gospel is not a one-size-fits-all effort.

Paula Behrens 12:44

God has uniquely endowed you with specific gifts, experiences and a testimony that can speak powerfully into someone else's life. Your story, your survival, your hope, God can use all of that. As you pour into others consider small group settings or mentoring opportunities. And if you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, that's why I offer the "Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour," to help you find clarity, healing, strategy, and spiritual growth. During this Zoom session, you will learn how to immerse yourself in prayer and God's Word, utilizing the natural gifts of essential oils to realize more deeply his presence. It's not about the oils themselves, but rather how God employs his creation to remind us of his nearness.

Paula Behrens 13:29

If the recent events have left you shaken or searching for peace, which I have a feeling is a whole lot of us. I want you to know that you're not alone. Given these recent challenges, we will also dedicate part of our time to addressing any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing. Through a simple yet powerful modality, using essential oils and guided steps, you'll have the opportunity to realize emotional healing and a deeper sense of peace. As your anxiety is lowered, you will then be better equipped to grow into the faithful disciple you are called to be.

Positive Affirmations for the Christian Disciple

Paula Behrens 14:02

Discipleship is not just about what we do. It's about who we become. As we follow Jesus closely, we are transformed, and out of that transformation flows influence, guidance and legacy. That's why this episode is titled "Affirmed and Equipped: Positive Affirmations for the Christian Disciple." As you disciple others, you need to hear these truths:

Paula Behrens 14:27

You are chosen, you are capable, you are called, you are not alone.

Paula Behrens 14:33

These are not empty words. They are affirmations grounded in scripture and rooted in the reality of God's power and amazing grace. As followers of Christ, we must speak life over ourselves, just as we pour life into others. Affirmations like: I am empowered by the Holy Spirit, or God has equipped me for every good work, helps to reframe our thinking and ground our identity in Christ.

Paula Behrens 15:00

Let's not settle for a quiet faith. Let's embrace the call to walk in purpose, to disciple with intention and to live boldly for Christ, no matter the cost. Because even in our pain, even in the floods, we are still called. Let's rise up in faithfulness and make disciples, not just because we're told to, but because we've experienced the deep love of the One who calls us to do so.

Paula Behrens 15:29

Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you would take just a few moments to follow the show and leave a review. Also, prayerfully consider investing just one hour to deepen your faith and nurture your spiritual growth. In your Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour you will discover how to craft a personalized devotional routine that will fit perfectly into your busy schedule, incorporate essential oils into your spiritual practices, create an easy-to-follow tracking plan for consistency, and learn tried and true strategies to experience your quiet time with God, not just as a routine, but as a joyful journey. Schedule your call now at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). Be sure to check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into him and walking in his wisdom. See you next time.