1 Peter 1:13-14 NLT
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.”
How do I prepare my mind?
There is only one way to prepare our minds, and that is by prayerful time and meditation in God’s Word.
If we make this a priority in our lives, God will start to tap us on the shoulders for use in expanding the Kingdom of God.
Our minds will start to light up, and our thoughts and actions will start to move away from our desires and will start to focus on the needs of others, and we will start to look at the plight of others with compassion and a willingness to step out to help in faith to help.
I find that I still struggle with the desires of my heart ❤️ , but my experience is that the deeper that I get into the Word of God, the less these desires affect my actions and that my heart is turning away from my needs and starting to focus more on what I can do for others.
I am finding that the giving of my time and resources is willing, and I am leaning on Jesus Christ for my needs and energy, knowing that He will meet all my needs and the energy I need.
On occasion, I find myself slipping back into an old pattern of thinking, but because of the time I spend in God’s Word, it becomes evident to me very quickly, and I bring this to God as soon as it becomes apparent.
1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
One of the most important things to me now, is my witness before others.
I keep my opinions to myself more and more, knowing that I am weak and susceptible to fall at any time, but with tears, I beg God to give me the strength, day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, to stay in His will. And I find myself in conversation with God all the time asking Him for His wisdom and hope to “stand firm” in the face of the challenges that arise before me, with this command resonating in my mind to…
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
All the while focusing more on the needs of those around me than on my own needs.
John 15:13 NLT
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
This is starting to develop an upward spiral of getting to know Jesus, through His Word, acting in a manner that focuses on what He would do and doing it despite my fear and doubt, while realizing that the people around me won’t understand but that the people who are chosen to understand will, knowing my job is to live in His will, planting the seeds, watering those seeds but in the end, the result will be in His hands.
This gives me a great sense of peace in my mind because I don’t understand most of what is going on around me, but I know I’m living in a fallen world, but I have the Creator of the universe living in the center of my heart, and He does know what’s going on. And I keep my focus firmly on His glory, knowing that He will accomplish His goal.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Romans 8:28 NLT
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
And all this gives me a deeper desire to stay in the Word of God, a desire to continue turning from my old ways, a desire to help those around me, and a desire to do what pleases God not out of fear of being punished but out of the love, joy, and hope that He provides during my trials and challenges knowing those are there to make me into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.
And for that I willingly lay down my life.
Heavenly Father, thank You!
I know I don’t deserve Your grace, but I thankfully and willingly accept Your love, and I lay down my will to be shaped by Yours.
I realize that every breath I take is by Your grace; I ask You to let me take that breath and praise You with everything I do and say.
Let me be a beacon of hope, grace, and compassion to those around me, shining brightly to the world around me.
I am nothing without Jesus Christ and I lay my life and will down to You.
I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, my All in All, Amen!! 🙏❤️
