"Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance." - Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP
Merriam-Webster defines become as:
1: to come into existence
2: to undergo change or development
So my question for you today is, who are you becoming? A question to ponder for sure. Have you checked your heart lately? Have you been tuning into God's word as of late, or have you been distant? Another scripture comes to mind...
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." -John 15:1-2 NIV
I think one the of the hardest things about seeing your goals fulfilled, is the daily sacrifices that you must endure to reach them. In our fast paced society we are so good at getting what we want, when we want it. We want instant results... but realistically if something is hard to obtain, it takes a lot of work, sacrifice, and motivation, right? Too many people often give up on themselves. It's easy to do. I would know! Often times we won't see the "fruit" of something right away, or the goal, or the thing that we are working on, to become better versions of ourselves. It takes time, and practicing self-control, and discipline- day in and day out, before you actually start to see the fruit of your hard work.
Did you know that one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control? Galatians 5:21-22
"Therefore become imitators of God..." it is a process where we are continually running to the Father and asking that He would break off the dead stuff, so that we can be intentional with our time, and resources to bear good fruit. He is doing a new thing...blooms in the wilderness... do you not perceive it? I feel like in order to become who we want to be... we need to be sitting at the feet of Jesus first. It's not as complicated as we make things out to be sometimes. Let me tell you there is no other place I want to be more than with the Lord.
For fruit to grow, it needs the proper soil, seed, water, and light, which we can get from God's word. Here's something...
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”- Ephesians 5:8-14 NIV
This scripture is so convicting for me on so many levels, because often times I feel like I am this exact person they are describing...the one who is sleeping. The one who is lying down and not active in my faith. The one who is dead in sin all too often. It's a scary thing to think about. For me to grow I need to be in the Lord and the Lord needs to be in me. I need His light to shine on me. For me, I've dealt with depression on and off for years and even this morning I was having a moment where I just felt like I was stuck in this funk- this depression funk, and I felt paralyzed to do the things I needed to do as a mom. My kids depend on me for everything. But I can hear the sweet scripture rising up in my spirit saying, "Where does my help come from? Truly? From God the maker of the heavens and earth.."
I had to sit with my bible open and I cried out "LORD- BREAK THE DEAD STUFF OFF OF ME! BREATHE LIFE INTO ME. WAKE ME UP FROM MY SLUMBER. I don't want to be stuck in this cycle of not bearing fruit. I just want to be with you Jesus. I want to hear you. I am so desperate for change. Help me to become everything you want Lord. I want to please you, papa God." It could just be because I am a deep thinker...but I think a lot about how my time is limited here on Earth. I don't know how much longer my physical body will be here..and there is this voice in me telling me all the time that I need to make my life count.
I don't know about you, but I am tired of being sick and tired. I am tired of saying, "Oh I'll do that, or I'll get around to that... and then never accomplishing such goals. I am tired of having these dreams and then being paralyzed at the helm because I get caught up in all the stuff of the world, that I forget to pursue what really matters to me.
Becoming, growing, and planting yourself- even in a dry and horrible climate that you don't want to be in...(I get it) it's all a part of a so much bigger picture that you can't even fathom yet. Right now it's easy to be so laser focused with a skewed perception of your life...but when you sit at the feet of Jesus-He changes the way you see things including yourself loved one.
One day you will be standing on a mountain top of victory (I believe this with every fiber of my being) and you will look back and be SO AMAZED that YES YOU- YOU accomplished that- you did that thing---that you felt in your weakest moments was so impossible to do at the time-but guess what you did it- and now you are here!
When you accomplish something...even if that something is a "small" something in your book... all of a sudden you realize that you can do anything because you know who you are. You know who goes before you, and who is with you at all times!! Believer, sweet child of God, I implore you to listen to me... you are so much more than you will ever know. You are a rare treasure. You are the most valuable possession that God loves, cherishes, and owns. You are a beneficiary of everything that belongs to Jesus Christ because you are a co-heir of the Living God. Let me encourage you and say... embrace the pain, shake it off- become who you were meant to be, and who you are in Christ. The living God lives in you. You have so much power and purpose- you can literally do anything -anything-because God is with you mighty warrior.
Put in the hard work... do the things you don't feel like doing...be consistent. Anything worth having is worth working for. Then just watch...because you are going places. One day at time. One baby step at a time. Surround yourself with people that will encourage you. Speak life. If anyone can do this...it's you.
With all my love,
Your sister in Christ.