In the last blog we looked at becoming the lover that Christ wants us to be. Developing a relationship with Jesus is a continual process. We can spend a lifetime cultivating a loving and deep relationship. Remember to enjoy the journey…it is not a destination you are seeking but a person. One way we develop our relationship with the Lord is by the simple act of turning our loving attention to Him in everything we do. We give Him all of our attention, praise, and love in every task that we are doing throughout the day. It may be sweeping the floor, helping with the dishes, cleaning up leaves…it’s for the love of God! This is communion with Christ. This process will take time but as we pursue Him with child-like love and simple faith we will uncover whom He is.
As we are transformed from glory to glory we will begin to identify with the Lord in another area. He will lead us into a very challenging area. He will ask us to daily deny ourselves, and our desires for the love of Him and for the love of others. The more we deny our selfish desires, the closer we will look like our Savior. The more like Jesus we allow ourselves to become, the more our families and the world will see His attributes flowing out of us.
This will change your life, and the lives of those you come in contact with. The world is looking for the real Jesus.
I can remember an old hymn my father used to sing. He would walk through the house singing “Oh to be like Thee, Oh to be like Thee, blessed redeemer pure as Thou art.” Men of God if we dedicate our lives to becoming more and more like Christ, we will be the husbands He calls us to be. Daily we must surrender our lives to the Holy Spirit.
Pray these words with me… “Holy Spirit help me in this area of my life. I need you. Help me become more like Christ. I can’t do it on my own…I’ve tried so many times and failed. I need your strength to surrender in this area of my life. “ In Psalms 119 David was crying out to the Lord for His help! He knew that He could not do it on his own. In verse 18 David cries, “open my eyes so that I may see…” In verse 29 he says, “keep me from the ways of deceit…” He was asking the Lord to help him in the area of lying. In verse 33 he continues, “teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statues…” David was asking the Lord for help. In verse 37 David admits he has a problem looking at things he should not be looking at. He asked the Lord to “turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless “. Daily we must make a conscious effort to choose to pick up our cross. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." Before we get out of bed and place our feet on the ground every morning…we choose. Today choose not to be easily offended the first time someone says something you don’t like or agree with. Brothers it is impossible to even choose without the help of the Holy Spirit! But, the gospel is Good News…with God all things are possible. Just put your trust in His Son and surrender your will to the Holy Spirit! Remember, the word declares “Lord not that my will be done, but that Thy will be done in my life”. When we as men begin to wake up and daily pray this over our lives, you can mark the day that yourself, and your household will be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Father, I thank you that you have given us the Comforter…the Counselor…the Holy Spirit to guide us into all things. Father, I pray you would give my Brothers the strength and the knowledge to become the Men of God that you have destined them to be. Before you created them in their mother’s womb, you called them by name. You have raised them up for such a time as this to become leaders for their families and the world. Father, I pray in Jesus name that you would empower them to grow in the likeness of your Son. Father, may they always know that you are continually holding their hands, and walking this walk of faith with them. Lord we give you all the praise, honor, and glory for the transformation that is, and will be taking place in our lives. And Father, when people notice the transformation in our lives we will point them straight to you.
We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!
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