It’s time, we all need to be fighting for change.
First, we have to change ourselves. To do that we need to know which areas of our lives need more God. We all have some area in our lives where we need to let Jesus in. Just stop here for a moment….take a deep cleansing breath, hold it, slowly release it, close your eyes….repeat. Get centered. Focus on your breathing. Focus on God. Now, ask God to show you the area of your life that’s not totally surrendered to him. The area you tell yourself once I get this right I’ll do…..l’ll serve….I’ll give…..We all have something we need to change, we need to do better, that we need to stop hiding from but don’t know how. Or can’t quite get it right.
Great news there’s a scripture for that!
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says;
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
What is the veil? It’s all the rubbish that holds us back, holds us down, keeps us in chains. Negativity, self-doubt, fear, guilt, shame, unforgiveness, and all the other lies we tell ourselves. In Christ we are being transformed; our hearts and our minds are changing. The veil is being removed.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Just because we don’t see ourselves the way God sees us doesn’t mean we have to stay where we are.
He is the one who will renew your mind, your heart, your spirit.
Until our hearts, minds, and attitudes change how can we possibly change the world? We need to purposely, progressively, and passionately pursue being more and more and more like Jesus.
We need to purposely, progressively, and passionately pursue being more and more and more like Jesus.
Who we perceive ourselves to be determines how we act. This is why our identity is to be in Jesus first then and only then can everything else fall into place.
The closer we get to God the more we look like him, the more we talk like him, the more we walk like him, the more we act like him, the more we love like him. We start looking less and less like our old sinful selves. ‘Less of me God more of you’. That’s my heart’s cry. Without God, I’m easily offended, short-tempered, and negative.
Are you feeling it too? With everything that’s going on in the world. The viruses we are fighting against both physically, mentally, and spiritually are wearing on us all. We’re tired. We’re weary. We’re done in. We are feeling heavy and sluggish.
We need to actively and consciously put on Jesus’ love.
We need to actively and consciously put on Jesus’ love.
As I’m writing this I have an old 60’s song* going through my head. *What the world needs now is love sweet love. No, not just for some but for everyone. LOVE IS FOR EVERYONE!
People are hungry for something different, something new, something better. They are searching. They are ready for a change. This means the harvest is ripe!! It’s time for us to get out there and start sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
Now is the time for Christians to shine and be set apart to bring more people to God. Now is the time for us to show we believe everybody has value and worth.
Now is the time for us to show we believe everybody has value and worth.
All people are made in the image of God, we are all ‘image-bearers’ and should act accordingly. To discriminate or oppress anyone based on the colour of their skin or their country of origin is more than just a social issue it’s a sin issue. As this sin is confessed and addressed God can help us with the healing and unifying process. We need to stop looking at race and start looking at hearts. Let’s be love and light and shine like a beacon on a hill for all those who are tired, worn out and beat down.
“‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NIVUK
The time is now for change.
Written by Lorraine Sweet
*‘What the world needs now’ by Jackie DeShannon 1965
