Seated with Jesus but Still in Training

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17, NET, bold emphasis mine).

“You don’t have to stay down there,” Holy Spirit whispered to my heart. I was in the midst an intensely difficult season. Fierce battle was raging on every side of me. In the midst of it, He invited me higher. He invited me to sit with Him, above it all.

He was referring, of course, to the position Jesus already bought for me with His blood: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6, NIV). This verse immediately follows the declaration, “It is by grace you have been saved” (v. 5b). This means that, part of His act of saving me was to seat me up there with Jesus. My position in God is inseparable from my salvation. It’s a done deal.

However, I don’t always live out of that position. I’m in a training process to do so. I’m learning, more and more, to operate out of that higher place, above the fray. I have found that I’ve needed His gentle reminder more than just that one time.

Do you find this is true for you, too? That when God teaches you something, you don’t immediately have it down perfectly? He began instructing me in this particular area, several years ago. And I find myself, still learning. Still wishing I was better at it.

That’s okay! See our verse for today? It speaks to the learning process. First of all, the Scriptures that shape us are inspired by God. As the NIV renders it, these words He wrote for us are “God-breathed.” He breathes them right into our spirits. And they are “useful for… training in righteousness.” You are I are in active training right now. Every day of our lives, He is informing our hearts through His Word. He is coaching us in His ways. He is training us in righteousness.

The end goal is in the next verse: “that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped…” As we eagerly submit to His training, He equips us. He raises us up according to His heart.

Purposefully recognize, then, His intentionality in every aspect of your life. I will preface this to point out that whatever the negative factors are, He did not create them. Remember that His intention for us was Eden. It was Paradise. It was perfection. However, since we now live with the effects of the Fall, He masterfully weaves them into His training process. Whatever the enemy meant for our harm, His hand unfailingly turns into beauty.

That person in your life who is so very difficult to love? Yep, that’s right. Part of His training process.

That change you’ve been longing for, still feeling desperately out of reach? Yes. If you let Him, that, too will be an instrument in His hands for astonishing good. As you trust in Him, He is shaping you.

That menacing mountain that seems to be looming over you, staring you down with an odious look? It’s just part of the obstacle course. You will learn to leap over it, to dance triumphantly on top of it, and then to order it out of your way. The day will come when it will no longer even exist.

On that day, you will suddenly realize how capable and equipped you have become. You will suddenly take note of what a high position you have learned to operate from. Seated with Jesus in heavenly places, you will fall down in overwhelmed gratitude to thank Him. You will worship the One who takes the very worst in life and uses it to bring forth unspeakable glory.

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How is Holy Spirit training and equipping you through the particular adverse circumstance you are facing?

17 thoughts on “Seated with Jesus but Still in Training”

  1. How refreshingly true-to-Him to point out His intention was Eden. I am sometimes dismayed by the prevalence in society at large – and often in the “church” – at claims that every negative thing is simply the will of our Sovereign, which we therefore ought to accept. How woefully consistent is the corrupt heart of man at shifting the blame due us to the One who lovingly bore our blame.

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  3. Well Jen once again you spoke right into me the answer to the very thing I’ve wrestled with. Thank you again for your obedience and faithfulness to His body.

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    1. Aw, Vi, that blesses me SO much!! So much that I just copied and pasted your words into a note on my phone, because they so encouraged me. I love you, my dear sister, and I rejoice that Jesus spoke and ministered to your heart through this 💖🤗

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  5. We thank you Father in Heaven, for holding each part THAT BELONGS TO YOU in perfect harmony and synchronization by way of YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AND DIVINE PLAN FOR ALL THOSE YOU HAVE CALLED BY NAME TO SHARE IN YOUR GLORY.

    YOU ARE OUR INHERITANCE. YOU ARE THE PRIZE.

    Irrespective of nation, location, gender, age, status, or wealth:
    Irrespective of what others say, do, move, buy or sell, agree, swear, conspire to, sign, agree on, make a pact with, swear an oath to, cut or climb, ascend or descend, bruise, steal, deal or kill:
    Irrespective of any plan, strategy, or operation, regardless of make, model, kind, breed, or rank:
    Irrespective of any quantity or quality, method or mode of communication, transportation, level, initiation, or implementation:

    – NO ACTION, NO WORD, NO COMBINATION OF, ANY ONE, PART OF, OR ALL-

    SHALL EVER BE WORTHY
    EQUAL TO, OR ABOVE

    ALMIGHTY GLORIOUS GOD

    THE FIRST AND THE LAST- THE GREAT I AM.

    OUR JOY IS ETERNAL BECAUSE HE IS ETERNAL.
    WE REJOICE ETERNALLY
    BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FREED
    FOREVER,

    THROUGH IT ALL, FROM IT ALL,
    BY MEANS OF HIS EVERLASTING MERCY AND GRACE

    GLORRRRRRRY GLORRRRYYYY HALLELU-YAH!

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  6. Jenn, yet another warm smile as I read your thoughts here. You bless many by being obedient to Holy Spirit’s leading.
    2 Timothy 3:16-17 are two of the verses I first committed to memory. And though I am no Greek scholar, I have looked into this verse. “God-breathed” carries with it the idea of God exhaling. I love to ponder this: He has breathed out His word from the inner core of His being so that we may come to know Him more closely.
    What an awesome God we serve!
    Blessings to you and your household my Sister,
    Chuck

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  8. We are learning through a process of ongoing improvement that will never end. The Holy Spirit is teaching me to turn over my anger, and frustration, and resentment, to God, and choose kindness. I will not agree with everyone all the time. I will need to speak up against injustice. By choosing to respond with kindness, we can help each other, be better to each other.

    Peace to you and your family Jennifer. ❤

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    1. Yes we can! As I have been reading through the Gospels again, I have been so struck by Jesus’ wisdom in conversations with people. He so expertly avoided the controversies they wanted to suck Him into, and yet spoke liberating truth in love at all times!

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