Subscription Lists

I've been reading the book of Romans lately and just really meditating on the lessons that can be learned and applied from this book in my daily life. In reading it I am reminded of how I'm supposed to "live the life" as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.

I am challenged daily in so many ways to go against living the life. From the poor service I received in the restaurant last night, to the person who cut me off in traffic, to the customer that got angry with me for some reason or another… I struggle in my flesh to be like Jesus and love others unconditionally. I look in the mirror and see myself… not always loving, not always hopeful, not always kind, and not always praying. It is a daily struggle between flesh and spirit.

Every day we receive from the Lord, the fruits of His mercy. For such an amazing gift, shouldn't we give of ourselves - all we are, all we have and all we can do – in return?

The simple answer is yes. Buy do we do it? No, not very often. Why? We give the excuse that we are human and it's hard. But why is it so hard?

I think for some of us… we have this expectation that when we accept Jesus as our Savior… that's it. We now have a pass to heaven and nothing else is expected of us. This is far from the truth. Accepting Christ as your personal Savior is only the beginning. It's not going to be an easy road, but it is going to be a rewarding road. This journey starts with your mind.

So then, how do we renew our minds? It is dying to sin more and more and living to righteousness more and more until it is perfected in glory. The enemy to this renewal is conformity to this world. We are constantly bombarded with messages from the world as to how we should dress, what we should drive, where we should live, how we should live… all these things distract us from focusing on being more like Christ and instead causes us to think more about ourselves and how we should be keeping up with the Jones.

Do you form your plans for happiness on the basis of things of this world? I know I do. I've thought – gee if I could meet the right man and get married, life would be great. Or, if I could find the right job and make enough money all my worries would be over. No wonder I'm never satisfied. The things of this world are passing away and will therefore never satisfy.

I have said before it is my desire to be more like Jesus – more of Him and less of me. But as long as I continue to focus on things of this world…I will never be more like Christ. I will constantly be distracted by the temporary trappings of this world. Sometimes it seems like a losing battle. At least that is what the enemy would like us to think. The enemy would like for us to be discouraged, distracted, and depressed.

When I am discouraged I try to take a moment and meditate on God's word. He reminds me to be hopeful. When I am distracted I try to focus on God and the reason He has called me to this time, place, task, situation or circumstance. He reminds me that it's not always about me… sometimes He is using me for His greater purpose. I chose to be obedient. When I am depressed I breathe a silent prayer to Jesus asking Him to calm my spirit and lift my head so that I can go on. He is always faithful, He is always listening, and He is always answering my prayers (although I don't control HOW he answers them – but yet He still answers them).

Today it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will give me understanding and that this understanding will change my will, my affections, my conversations, till there is change in me into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness and true holiness. To be more like Him, I have to give my self up to God.

Are you willing to let go of the things of this world, so that you can be more like Him?

Maybe you too will pray this prayer with me.

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept