Do I Want to Be a Mushroom or an Oak Tree in How I Grow?

In review of Ephesians 4:24 it says, “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (NLT).

Today’s verse is from the last part of Ephesians 4:22-24. It tells me to throw off my old sinful nature and my former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Put on my new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and set apart for a purpose.

My old way of life before I believed in Christ is completely in the past. It should be put behind me and discarded. My life should no longer be driven by desire and impulse. Now I am to put on a new nature, head in a new direction, and have a new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me.

I’m reminded this morning that when God wants to remove the defects in my life, he doesn’t just snap his fingers so that it happens instantly. He does it incrementally. When God wants to make a mushroom, he takes six hours, but when God wants to make an oak tree, he takes 60 years.

So, do I want to be a mushroom or an oak tree?

The Holy Spirit will make changes in my life far beyond anything I thought was possible, but they’re not going to happen overnight. I would like my life, through the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and with support from other believers, that I will be more mature everyday, more Christlike, and further along in his purpose for me 10 years from today.

In order to be stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, and financially, I’ve got to be intentional about it. This is much like what I’m learning through Financial Peace University  God’s Word tells me to, “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:24 NLT).

This is how I become more like Jesus. The apostle Paul says, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).

Bottom Line:

Put on the new self, created to be like God, upright and holy.

What this means to me:

I must put on my new self, which is created in God's likeness and which reveals itself in the true life that is upright and set-apart for a purpose.

In summary, I need to throw off and discard my old sinful nature and former way of life, which had been corrupted by lust, deception and selfishness. Instead, I need to let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Put on my new nature, one that is created to be like God, truly righteous and set apart for a purpose. I'm reminded that when God removes defects in my life, he doesn't do it instantly, rather he does it incrementally. But to be different and changed, I've got to be intentional about it.  

Father I believe I have been a bit too arrogant about my past knowledge and understanding of things. I need to be humble, and open to learning and not thinking that I know it already or that I’m a gift to others. This morning father I pray for assistance in being humble, generous and intentional. I also ask for your wisdom and guidance in handling my day to day activities, my leadership and how I interact and respond to others. Father please fill me with your Spirit today and remind of the things that I’m learning and more importantly to put them into practice. I pray these things though your Son Jesus name, amen!

What I Think, I Am

In review of Ephesians 4:23 it says, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (NLT).

Today’s verse comes from Ephesians 4:21-23. I’m reminded that since I have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, I am to throw off my old sinful nature and my former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, I need to let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes.

The good news is that my old way of life before I believed in Christ is completely in the past. It can be put it behind me like old clothes and things to be thrown away. When I decided to accept Christ's gift of salvation, it was not only a once-for-all-time decision but also a daily conscious commitment. I should not allow myself to be driven by desire and impulse. I must put on my new nature, head in a the new direction and have the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me.

Change requires new thinking. In order to change, I must learn the truth and start making good choices, but I also need to change the way I think.

I’m reminded that the battle for sin starts in my mind, not in my behavior. The way I think determines the way I feel, and the way I feel determines the way I act. If I want to change the way I act, I start by changing the way I think. In addition, if I want to change the way I feel, I must start with the way I think.

Think – Feel – Act

For instance, I could say, “I need to love my family and my co-workers more,” but that isn’t going to work. I can’t fight my way into a feeling. I must change the way I think about them, and that will change the way I feel, which will then change the way I act. The Bible says, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Ephesians 4:23 NLT).

To sum it up: I am not what I think I am; rather, what I think, I am. The battle for sin, the battle to deal with those defects in my life that I don’t like, starts in my mind. If I want to change anything in my behavior or anything in my emotions, I start with my thoughts and my attitude.

The renewal of my mind is related to the word repentance. Repentance seems like a harsh word. It seems like something bad, something I don’t really want to do, something painful. But what I’m learning is that repentance has nothing to do with my behavior. It is about changing my mind, learning to think differently. “Repent” simply means to make a mental U-turn. It’s something I do in my mind, not with my behavior. Changing the way I think will then affect my emotions and my behavior.

When I repent, I make a mental U-turn. I turn from guilt to forgiveness. I turn from purposelessness to purpose in life. I turn from no hope to new hope. I turn from frustration to freedom. I turn from darkness to light. I turn from hell to heaven. I turn from hatred to love.

I also change the way that I think about God. He’s not mad at me. I’m deeply flawed, but I’m deeply loved.

I change the way I think about others, I change the way I think about my family and my co-workers. I change the way I think about the world, I change the way I think about the economy, and I change the way I think about my past, my present, and my future.

So being renewed in my mind means more than changing the way I think about God and Jesus; it also means I change the way I think about my own defects. The Bible tells us, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5).

Bottom Line:

Let the Holy Spirit help renew your thinking.

What this means to me:

I should let my attitude and thoughts be constantly changing for the better.

In summary, I need to let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. My old way of life is completely in the past. Going forward, I should not allow myself to be driven by desire and impulse. I must put on my new nature, head in a new direction and have a new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me. Change requires new thinking. I must learn the truth and start making good choices and I need to change the way I think. The battle for sin starts in my mind, not my behavior. The way I think determines the way I feel and the way I feel determines the way I act.

Thank you Father for this reminder that the way I think determines the way I act. I must fill my mind with the truth and think of it and steer away from my own selfish desires. This morning Father I pray for the Holy Spirit to help remind me of this, I also ask you to provide me with your wisdom and guidance in how I conduct my job, lead and interact with others. This I ask in your Son Jesus name, amen!

If I Want to Change, I Have to Face the Truth

In review of Ephesians 4:21 it says, “You have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him” (NLT).

Today’s verse is Ephesians 4:21. It’s speaks of living as children of light. Paul tells me that I should no longer live as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused, minds full of darkness; with hearts hardened against God. Since I have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, I am to throw off my old sinful nature and former way of life. Instead I am to let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes.

People should be able to see a difference in me because of the way I live. I'm now a person of light. I'm leaving behind my old ways. Living for Christ is and will be a lifelong process. I won't automatically think all good thoughts and express all right attitudes. But If I keep listening to God, I will be changing all the time.

What I’m learning is that the secret to personal change is not willpower. The secret is to know and face the truth. You must know and face the truth about myself, my relationships, and my own nature.

Nothing will change in my life until I know and face the truth about my weaknesses, my relationships, my successes and failures, and my past and future.

Nothing changes until I know and face the truth that is found in Jesus Christ.

Why is it necessary to learn the truth before anything can change in your life? Here’s why: Behind every self-defeating habit in my life is a lie that I believe. If you get in debt, it’s because you believed some lie like, “I can spend and get away with it” or “I can always pay it back.” You might have overestimated how much you were going to make, or you believed the lie that you needed a much bigger house. But do I? Am I sure it’s the truth? Can I prove it’s the truth? Am I absolutely certain that what I believe I’ve said about my finances is true?

When it comes to relationships, what about the things I say to myself about myself? Is the way I think about my past or about some event the truth, or is the truth what God says about it?

The Bible teaches that personal change starts with truth. It is the truth that sets me free. The apostle Paul says, “You have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him” (Ephesians 4:21 NLT). Who is the truth? Jesus, and because Jesus is the truth, he will always tell you the truth. His Word is the truth. The Bible is his Word, and that means the Bible is truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

What I hear on television isn’t always going to help me, because it’s not always the truth. What I read in books isn’t always the truth. But what God tells me is always going to be the truth. God’s Word shows me how to get back to the life I was created to live, and then it shows me how to stay on God’s path.

This is why it is so important for me to continue to have a daily quiet time in the Word of God: Change requires learning the truth. Nothing will change until I get the truth into my heart. As long as I build my life on a foundation of lies, misconceptions, deceptions, or half-truths, I will never change. But when I face the truth and respond to the truth, I will begin to see change in my life.

Bottom Line:

Live differently, now that you have heard about Jesus and learned the truth from

him.

What this means to me:

I am now living a differently light, one that others should be able to see a difference in, because I follow him and are learning the truth that comes from him.

In summary, since I have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from me, I can throw off my old sinful nature and ways of living. Instead I can let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. People around me should be able to see a difference in me because I am following Jesus and learning/practicing his truths. Living for Christ is a and will be a lifelong process. I won't automatically think good thoughts and express the right attitudes, however, If I keep listening to God, I will be changing all the time. The secret to change is not willpower, but for me to know and face the truth. Behind every self-defeating habit in my life is a lie that I believe. It's important to learn the truth, for  it's the truth that will set me free. What God tells me is always going to be the truth. God's Word will show me how to get back to the life I was created to live, and shows me how to stay on the path.

Father, thank you for helping me daily to see and learn your truths. I pray this morning for your wisdom and guidance in my role at work, in my leadership and in my interactions with others. This I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen!

Make a Plan for My Money, Responsibilities and Resources

In review of Proverbs 14:8 it says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (TLB).

Today’s verse is Proverbs 14:8. It tells me that a prudent person will understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves.

A prudent person will look ahead, think through, examine the facts and know where they are going. Only a fool just proceeds thinking he knows everything, and not facing the facts.

I’m learning that money is a tool to be used for God’s purposes. I’m not to hoard it, stockpile it, or even worship it. I’m to use it! I can use temporary resources, what God has put in my hands, for permanent good.

In Luke 16, Jesus turned the dishonest but shrewd manager into the hero. The manager knew he was going to be fired, so he decided to make some friends by lowering the debts owed to his master.

What did Jesus like about this guy? The man was dishonest, but he did three things right, and those three things reveal lessons that God wants me to learn and apply to my handling of money, finances, resources and time.

First, the manager looked ahead. Seems most people never look ahead when it comes to their finances. In addition, they’re not saving anything, and that’s not smart. Proverbs 14:8 reminds me that, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (TLB).

Second, the manager made a plan. How do I know if I’ve got a financial plan? It’s really simple: Do I have a budget? A budget is simply planned spending. A budget tells your money where I want it to go rather than wondering where it went. I’ve got to have a plan. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:9, “We should make plans—counting on God to direct us” (TLB).

Thirdly, the manager acted quickly. Luke 16:4 says, “I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired” (NLT). The manager didn’t procrastinate; he didn’t delay. He set his plan in motion. He didn’t say, “Someday I’m going to get my finances in order” or “Someday I’m going to start saving for retirement.”

Jesus didn’t commend the manager’s dishonesty but his attitude, which said, “I’m going to think ahead. I’m going to make a plan. And I’m going to invest in relationships that will benefit others and me in the future.”

That’s smart! And Jesus wants me to do the same when it comes to my money and finances. Am I spending my treasure here on Earth or looking ahead and storing up treasure in heaven?

Bottom Line:

The prudent person gives thought to where they are going, but a fool only thinks they do.

What this means to me:

It would be wise for me to know and understand where I'm going, otherwise I would just be proceeding like a fool.

In summary, it's wise to look ahead, understand where I'm going, face facts and not deceive myself. When it comes to money, God has given it to me as a tool to be used for his purposes. Thus, I shouldn't hoard, stockpile or even worship it. I'm to use it for permanent good. Jesus commended the dishonest manager not for who he was but for his prudent planning. He knew he was going to be fired, so he decided to make friends by lowering debts. In doing so, he looked ahead, made a plan and acted quickly on it (he didn't procrastinate, he set his plan immediately in motion). It wasn't his dishonesty, but rather his attitude that Jesus commended.

It occurs to me this morning that this advice is not only good for financial stewardship but for many other things, such as my work. I should look ahead and put a plan together (telling what I want to see happen) and not procrastinate, but act quickly on executing it.

This morning Father I thank you for this reminder for not only how I handle my personal resources, but work ones as well. I pray for your wisdom and guidance in how I handle my responsibilities and tasks, in how I lead those who report to me and how I interact with those around me. I pray this through your Son Jesus name, amen!