“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
‘New Year, New You’ seems to be the catch phrase captured on magazines covers, newspaper advertisements, and digital commercials. Maybe in changing approaches for our diets and exercise, we need to evaluate our approach to Christ.
Living a Christian life can appear an overwhelming task. Living a Christ-like lifestyle is counter cultural to the world. As our focus changes from ourselves to Christ, many alterations must be made.
Maybe you have been persecuted for your beliefs, in one way or the other. Maybe your walk with the Lord has been extensive and you wonder, “where do I go now?”
I came across something which, for me, answered that question in simplicity.
I started a new bible Study after Christmas. I am doing a Beth Moore study:Jesus, 90 Days With the One and Only.
Beth wrote one thing in particular which I have reflected upon for days. In day eight, she writes out a fictional account of a conversation between Mary and with her expectant, aunt Elizabeth. In this conversation, Mary asks her aunt what she should do with the baby once he comes.
“He will tell you what He needs from you. Beyond what He needs, all He wants is for you to embrace Him and talk to Him.”
As a mother who has born three babies, I can tell you: truer words were never penned about parenting! But I also see an accuracy in the spiritual sense, too.
Somehow a faith journey can seem so much more complicated than that. As humans, how easily distracted we can become by this physical earth, our physical needs.
But, it is indeed rather simple, (just not always simple to implement!): Love Jesus, talk to Him, and He’ll tell you what He needs from you.
Love Jesus: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
Put Him first, and everything else second. I know it’s not always easy; He doesn’t promise it will be easy. But, it’s the way He commanded. And He does reward obedience.
Talk to Him: You cannot have a healthy relationship without communication. Jesus knows what’s there already, but go ahead and talk to him and with Him about everything. Praise Him, acknowledge who He is and humble yourself before Him.
Listen to Him: He will tell you what He needs from you. Instead of frantically scrawling a to-do list or looking around and becoming overwhelmed, ask God to write the list for you.
There’s a wide, wide world out there. One person cannot possibly meet everyone’s needs. But Jesus can. And through each believer, He meets many needs. Ask Him what you should do today. He will make sure you are the person you should be if you follow Him.
Let Him reaffirm you, encourage you, and lift you up. He wants to bring you even closer to His Father!
Love Jesus, Talk to Him, and Listen to Him.
That is what to do with Jesus.
Reflections:
1) Have I complicated my walk with Christ?
2) Have I let the world distract me from Christ’s call and His deep love?
3) How can I simplify my life so I can simply love Jesus?
4) When is a good time each day for me to love Jesus, talk to Him, and Listen to Him?
5) For the next week, log you time with God. This does not need to be detailed conversation, just jot a few notes about how much time you spent and how you conversation went. Note how your days are going when you give yourself completely to Christ.
Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your thoughts and any New Year’s resolutions!
Please return by Monday, January 14 for the next post.