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

Praying according to the Scriptures

"Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Luke 11:1-2

And my prayer is pure. Job 16:17

One thing we want to do here is teach you how to pray according to the Scriptures. There are so many aspects to think about when we begin praying this way, but one of the most important is praying in Jesus' name. What does that mean?

Think about the things you know about Jesus. Even the unbeliever knows His name, knows His nature. Jesus is love, peace, and POWER. It is undeniable the things He did while walking the earth - the people He touched, healed, blessed. And though Jesus was kind about most things, He was firm about everything. He prayed expecting to see results. He knew the power at work in Him - because it came from the Father and was His own - and He instructed His followers to recognize that power also.

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him" (John 14:7).

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).

So, praying in Jesus' name is to pray with purity, love, and power. It is to talk to God and expect to see a change. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have the Spirit of truth dwelling with us and in us. The most powerful force in the universe. The Spirit of the One who indeed created the universe. Shouldn't our prayers reflect that power and love and grace?

Think about that as you go into prayer. If you are asking inherently selfish or harmful things, or things otherwise against God's will, be prepared to wait for God to answer it. Be prepared for Him to work a change in your heart.

If you want nothing to do with prayer, think about it anyway. Consider your reasons for avoiding that Power or for misusing Him.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites... Pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 5:5, 6