Pursuing More of Jesus

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psa 19:14

What makes our hearts acceptable in God’s sight? More of us or more of Jesus?

If we want our hearts and minds to be more like Jesus then we need to spend time with Him. We need to sit down, press in, bow our hearts, open our arms, put our thoughts on Him. We must repent when He reveals an area of our flesh that needs to change. Ask The Spirit for His help. He is our strength and our redeemer. He longs to help change us to be more like Jesus.

If you actively do this you will see Jesus revealed more and more in your daily life.

I have had a lot of things that needed to be transformed in me and thank God He is still at work daily revealing my areas that need to change. One area that He has helped me with that I have seen victory in is cursing.

I used to cuss with the best or worst of them. That’s just how we spoke in my circle of friends. When I became a Christian I found that my new circle of friends didn’t talk that way. It takes real effort not to blurt out a cuss word. Sometimes it seems that is the only way to get someones attention or express yourself. When you work in the world you can be surrounded by people who curse. So how can you be in the world but not be a part of the world?

First I needed to see what God’s Word said about cursing:

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Eph 4:29

Ok, so that is pretty clear, we need to have good words come out. I then thanked God for showing me this area that needed to change, repented of it, received His forgiveness and asked for His help to change. Change is not easy, especially with a long time habit.

Here is something that I do daily that helps me fight that battle. Every morning, when I put on the Armor of God (ref Eph 6) as I put on the Helmet of Salvation I speak out the following:

Lord,

Take all of my thoughts captive unto the obedience of Christ, casting down all imaginations and anything that raises it’s head up against the knowledge of You (paraphrased 2 Cor 10:5-6)

Help me to see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, think with Your thoughts, feel with Your feelings, speak with Your words, dream Your dreams and see Your visions.

This is an open invitation to The Lord asking Him to take control and help me throughout the day to be more in line with His thoughts and words.

Speaking Scripture is a very effective weapon that God has given us in tearing down strongholds in our lives. But you can’t just say the words, you must believe what you say is true and believe in the One Who gives you the power to overcome.

Is there an area in your life that needs to change? Go to His Word and find out what He says about that struggle you are experiencing. Maybe it’s not cursing, maybe it’s an addiction or sexual sin. Maybe it’s jealousy, greed or pride. God has given us tools to help tear down those things that are preventing the full power of His Spirit from flowing in and through us.

Write out the verses He gives you and begin to mediate on them. Begin to repeat them over and over again. Ask the Spirit to help you to be mindful of that area of weakness. Ask Him to make you keenly aware when that temptation comes and to give you the strength to choose not to succumb.

Are you willing to give over that area that hinders you from receiving God’s fullness in your life?

Today is the day to make a change. Choose to put God first and watch His Transformation take place.

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Phil 1:6