Rom 13:14
By being fully clothed in Christ makes it impossible for the flesh to even imagine how to find any further expression or fulfillment in lust. Jesus is Lord of your life. (Mirror Bible)

Your life: your way or God’s way?

“That’s just who I am.” Is this your response, when confronted, because your behavior is offensive or off-putting? If it is, you are making a way for you to continue to be who you choose to be. Now, your choice may not be a bad thing if you are acting like the person God created you to be. If you aren’t, the Bible calls it “making provision for your flesh,” the focus scripture of today Romans 13:14. You learned a bit about this yesterday and September 11. Why is this so important that it keeps coming up? Because you are in reconnaissance. Yes, you need to understand how the enemy works against you. You also need to understand why he uses specific tactics against you. It is important that you understand what characteristics you have that allow him to be successful.

Galatians 5:24 Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. (The Message MSG)

How do you know which way you are living your life? You have to spend time in the presence of the Almighty God, making sure you have not changed His original creation to accommodate some situation you were in. Look at what God created you for and make sure you have not allowed your personality to get in the way.

• If you are living your life God’s way, you are a part of the whole (1 Corinthians 12:12).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you put forth your best effort at all times (Colossians 3:23).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you seek His kingdom first  (Matthew 6:33).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you make peace, not accommodate dysfunction by trying to “keep the peace” (Matthew 5:9).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you are a light that points others back to Him (Matthew 5:14).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you find your path in His presence (Psalms 16:11).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you act like one who He adopted into His family (Ephesians 1:5).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you act like He accepted you, despite you (Ephesians 1:6).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you forgive as He forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you act like you know him (John 17:3).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you show Him you love Him. (Deuteronomy 6:5).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you glorify Him with your life (Revelation 4:11).
• If you are living your life God’s way, you enjoy the life you have in Him (Psalms 16:5-6).

If these statements are not true for you, you may need to rephrase your statement and say, “This is who I am now, not who God created me to be.” Here is some glorious news! You don’t have to keep the changes you made. Even if you don’t remember who you were before you started changing things. God does. He can show you who He created you to be; the life He made for you before the foundation of the world.

Isaiah 57:18a I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him also and will recompense him and restore comfort to him. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

He will also show you how to live. You have to be willing to ask God and allow Him to buff out the kinks and dents.

1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

He does not need to make you over; the creation was perfect when He finished.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I want to live my life Your way. I don’t want to justify my behavior. I want to stand in You. I appreciate there are strengths and weaknesses in me; I submit both to You. I don’t want my strengths to overcompensate for the things You need to correct. I also don’t want my weaknesses to shine brighter than my strengths. I repent for all the damage I did to Your creation. I repent for every change I tried to make moving me from Your original plan for my life as if I knew better and You had made a mistake. Thank You for repairing and restoring me. Most of all, thank You for forgiving me. I submit myself to You and I celebrate all You have done in me. Thank You for showing me who I am in You. Help me not to make any more changes to Your original work of art…

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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.