Change Takes Time

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

When God helps me grow spiritually, 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 he wants to make an oak tree, he takes 60 years.

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 possible, but it’s not going to happen overnight.

As I strive toward being stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, and financially. I need to be intentional about it. The Bible says, “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. I throw off the old things and the old ways that keep me from getting to know Christ and becoming like him. And I put on my new self with the help of the Holy Spirit. I let God do his work within me, no matter how long it takes.

The result will be, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).

In summary, I need to put on my new nature, created to be like God, who is truly righteous and holy. When God helps me grow spiritually, he doesn’t just snap his fingers so that it happens instantly. He does it incrementally. The Holy Spirit will make changes in my life far beyond anything I thought possible, but it’s not going to happen overnight. As I strive toward being stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, and financially. I need to be intentional about it. This is how I become more like Jesus. I throw off the old things and the old ways that keep me from getting to know and becoming like Christ. And I put on my new self with the help of the Holy Spirit. I let God do his work within me, no matter how long it takes. The result will be that I become more and more like him.”

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Father, help me to embrace my new nature, head in a new direction and to have the new way of thinking that having the Holy Spirit in my life will provide.

Today, I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job.  I pray all these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.