ABOVE ONLY DEVOTIONAL by ArchBishop M. E. Idahosa. Monday, 7th January 2019. God's Recipe for Newness

ABOVE ONLY DEVOTIONAL by ArchBishop M. E. Idahosa.

Monday, 7th January 2019.

God's Recipe for Newness

Romans 12:2 (NLT), Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. *Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

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Things are not going to automatically change in your life simply because this is a new year. Things are going to change in your life as you renew your mind and are intentional about uprooting old thoughts. The state of your life is a product of the level of your thinking. The reason that God wants you to change is not simply because this is a new year, but because He wants you to become more and more like Christ. The more you understand and align yourself with the new life that God has given you by including you in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the more you will walk in Newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and live and function in the manner you were designed to function in Christ.

The major tool that God uses to transform our minds is the revelation of Christ. Jesus referred to His word as ''spirit and life'', John 6:63. Only the genuine revelation of Christ can stir up the life and spirit of God inside us. We must be ready to allow the revelation of Christ to dwell in us richly, Col. 3:16. We must hear it, study it, meditate on it, speak it and pray it until it settles into our consciousness. As we see ourselves the way God sees us (just like Christ), we are transformed. God's word is not ordinary; it is quick, powerful and sharper than any double edged sword, Heb. 4:12. It penetrates into every area of our lives and it transforms us, As we keep focusing on Christ, God transforms us into Christ from one level of glory to another, by His spirit. 2 Corin 3:18.

Prayer Focus:
Lord, I thank you that as I renew my mind by focusing on the revelation of Christ, you are transforming me by your Spirit.

BIBLE READING PLAN IN ONE YEAR :
Genesis 18-19, Matt 6:1-18.