And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation 22:12-13
Yesterday, I made a mental list of the things that I am willing and must give up to be a Christian-Christ like. The reality is that I have to let go of my sinful desires if I expect to receive the greatest reward of eternal life. Letting go of persons, places, and things is a requirement to becoming a “new creature in Christ.”
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
What really surprised me was the size of my list! Using Galatians 5:22-23 as a tool for the self-evaluation process gave me the harsh reality that I was not measuring up to what Christ expects of me. Oh yes, it was very overwhelming to realize that I had so many things wrong with my character, and my life.
But then I read and believed that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.
I received comfort and confidence from Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your GOD goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I reflected on Job’s proclamation: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth. (19:25)
My willingness to change was the requisite for God to dispatch His heavenly army to direct my steps according to His Word. I am sounding the alert to all of my friends and family: I can not talk about the things that I used to talk about, or watch the movies that I used to love, or listen to the smooth sounds of the R&B and Jazz that put me in the mood. I will continue to use my creative gifts, possess laughter, and love to talk; however, I will strive to honor God in all that I do and say from this point moving forward.
“If you believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; call him up and tell him what you want.”
Prayer for today: Dear God: I am ready and willing to let go of the things which are displeasing to you. I want to be more like you; therefore, I need your help in this journey. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Sonya Johnson Ruiz
AMEN 🙏🏾
LikeLike