Put on a new man (or woman!)

"... put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:24

When I was a teenager, I had a favorite pair of jeans. I'll bet you had a pair, too. You know, the ones that made you look fantastic. Worn and faded in all the right places, they made you look skinnier here, rounder there, and longer there. Every time I put them on - which was nearly every day - I felt like a new person. I stood taller. I felt stronger. Boys and beautiful cheerleaders no longer sent me cringing to the other side of the school halls. I had more confidence, but not in myself. It was the jeans.

The Spirit of God can be compared to those jeans. Stay with me while I explain.

Much like a wardrobe, you choose to put on the Spirit of God every day, in every situation. You could go into the world without Him, but why would you want to? He makes you stand taller. He gives you confidence in situations that would otherwise make you cower. He makes you strong, able to withstand anything life throws your way.

He makes you a new creation.

Becoming a new creation is not something we do easily or lightly. It's not a choice we typically rush into because it's the popular thing to do. This isn't putting on a pair of pants just because we want to impress the school ranks. This is taking the Spirit of Jesus and putting Him on over our own spirit. To be in the world with the image of Jesus shining out of us. To interact with others as Jesus might. To overcome our own evil and selfish desires and do the will of God.

No, not the popular thing to do at all, is it?

And yet when we see someone who has done this, we want the same thing. To shine with love and grace and mercy. To treat people, regardless of their station in life, with respect and honor. To bring light and life to people who struggle in the darkness. That's Jesus, and that's putting on the new man (or woman) which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Did you put on the new person God created you to be today? If not, it's not too late. Do it now. Go to your prayer journal and write your requests to God about this. Then remember to record how He answers you.

Father God, may we remember each day to put on the new person you created us to be. May we always look to You and to Jesus for wisdom and direction in this new creation. May we be a light in the darkness for the ones we love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings on you today, dear ones.
Shelley

Devotion Challenge

Spiritual Challenge for January:  Prayer Journal


Happy New Year to all of you!!!  This year Shelley and I felt compelled to provide a topic of spiritual challenge each month in addition to our prayer blogs.  Since our focus for January is a New Year, New Love, New You we decided that we want to push the boundaries of our own comfort zones and find areas to grow.  Then of course we had the hair brain idea of asking you to join us because more is better when attempting change and for support in change. 

For the month of January, the spiritual challenge is to begin a prayer journal.  All through scripture you will find exhortations to “remember” the goodness, works, ways, thoughts and the attributes of God.  Psalm 77: 11-12 says “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”   One way of remembering God’s work and direction in your own life is to write out prayers for reference in the future.  Your prayers can be written out in snippets, in part, or in whole and then as God answers your prayers these too can be added to your journal.  

The prayers can be responses to the Lord from your reading, your own daily devotional prayers, praise and thanksgiving for the blessings you have been given, or maybe your prayers for others.  The goal of a prayer journal is threefold; 1) to encourage your prayer life, 2) to look back at your prayers and remember God, and 3) to look back and see how God has answered your prayers.  As you sit with God for any length of time you will begin to gain understanding in situations that might have alluded you before.  God will communicate to you through your thoughts, interactions with others, or in a myriad of ways.   These outcomes too can be added to your prayer journal for future reference and to remember how God has spoken to or directed you. 

If you have been a Christian for a long time you might have heard this practice referred to as a spiritual discipline.  A spiritual discipline has the purpose of creating habits designed to bring you closer to God which is also one purpose of our challenge for January.  Keep in mind that the main goal of this challenge is not to become “formal” pray-ers or even to document your prayers but rather to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus where we know and love him more. 

So grab a notebook, anything you can carry around with you easily, and jot down your prayers, praises, and conversations with God.  What is on your heart that needs to be put into a prayer??  God already knows so put it into words and allow the Lord to increase your faith or challenge you as you wait on God to move.  At the end of the month Shelley and I will give you feedback on how our month has gone with this discipline.  Please contact us through our e-mail at Elohimprayer@gmail.com and give us your feedback on this challenge. 

Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And finally as we go deeper into our relationship with the Lord our whole mental attitude can shift and so that we desire a more holy and faith-filled life and a better way of being.  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8