How would you finish this sentence: Who would I be if I weren’t____________? Perhaps you might say moody, passionate (often a euphemism for opinionated), particular (as in a perfectionist), or funny (which may take the form of a merciless tease or a sarcastic wit).
We’ve known ourselves to be a certain way for so long. We’ve heard people say, “She’s just that way,” and it has become part of our identity. One man I knew didn’t feel really alive unless he was in a rage.
TODAY’S EXPERIMENT - Picture an imaginary conversation with someone who knows you well. Ask this person what he or she would change about you if it were possible. Then put yourself in the presence of God and read these verses to God: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other. Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator. Colossians 3:5–10.
Pray, asking God one of these questions: is it really possible to...
Put to death whatever belongs to my earthly nature?
Take off my old self with his practices?
Put on a new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of my Creator?
If you wish, continue going over that last phrase, asking God to give you a glimpse of what it would be like to be renewed in knowledge in the image of your Creator. This is part of what God wants for you.
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