Question: Describe your best friend. I will begin. He is loving, humble, caring, and protective, always warning me before making a mistake. Still, the best gift that he gave me was to die for me to have a new forever home when He comes back again. The initial description probably had you thinking she has a great man–husband or best friend. But the ending caused a mental reroute to the spiritual realm. Yes, my best friend is Jesus Christ.
Truth be told, it took me a few decades to understand that Jesus was my best friend. I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Still, my knowledge of Jesus was superficial. I attended church one to two times a week and helped those in need. I did not intentionally break the commandments. Nor did I engage in sinful, worldly pleasures. But my prayer life and studying the scriptures were at the bottom of my priority list. I fulfilled my Christian duties. Even so, my heart was in conflict.
Sadly, I didn’t realize I had a heart [relationship with Jesus] problem. It was an online sermon that brought the flashing red warning lights. Like a half-baked cake that appeared good to eat, but the inside was soggy, my relationship with Christ was based on an insincere and disobedient heart. A spiritual analysis of my lifestyle reflected priorities based on self. And my prayers asked God to bless my dreams, not reveal His plans for my life.
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
Although many Christians acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their mindsets are self-directed. They live to please themselves, which leads to disobedience–the dilemma of sin. The love of self leads us to a life of disobedience, which puts us outside of the will of God.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 ESV).
Jesus is our role model. In His humanness, Jesus prayed, “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). It wasn’t that Jesus had an insincere heart, or was seeking a way out, He was fully aware of the agonizing physical torture and death that He faced.
For Jesus’ priceless sacrifice and promise of Eternal life, a sincere heart reflects much gratitude. In humility and thankfulness, our daily prayer is, “God, Not my will, but Your will be done in my life. Amen.” A simple yet heartfelt and powerful prayer that keeps our hearts devoted and obedient to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 