Some of the most defining “growing up” years of my life came in those early days of motherhood.
All of a sudden there was this dramatic shift in focus.
Before kids I worked, played, ate, and slept according to my own schedule. After kids, I quickly learned that much of parenting – especially in those early years – is about dying to self. Schedules and everyday conveniences would now take on a new look. This beautiful, noble calling would not be without its sacrifices; but oh the deep joy of pursuing something other than my personal gain.
It wasn’t about me. It was hard, and it was freeing.
There was a better me developing, but I would definitely have to fight hard against the selfish ways of my former life.
In many ways the Christian life is much like this. When Jesus transforms us, there is this dramatic shift:
Priorities and every day life take on a whole new look.
Surrender becomes a calling instead of a dreaded sentence.
The old must die to make room for the new…
Okay, so practically, how do we do it? How do we get good at dying to ourselves so that God is consistently glorified in our lives?
Peter says that we arm ourselves.
Think of it as preparation for battle. Just as soldiers enter the battlefield with strategic training and discipline, we too must ready ourselves in the fight against sin and our former way of thinking so that we’ll be prepared for suffering as Christ’s return draws near.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” ~ 1 Peter 4:1-2
{If you’re unable to see this video, you can view it here.}
1 Peter 4 says that we arm ourselves…
1. By right thinking. Time in God’s Word reminds us of our human frailty and points us to our Savior, who willingly suffered in our place. When we’re consistently spending time in our Bibles, our minds are transformed by this amazing truth, resulting in an attitude that’s ready for battle (1 Peter 1:13).
2. By fleeing from sin. When we arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ, we are done with sin. For the believer, fleeing the daily temptation of sin doesn’t just stop with recognition and repentance – it’s actively fought by turning the opposite direction and running hard after righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22).
3. By living for God. And now it’s time to grow up in Christ by surrendering our lives to him. Paul Tripp encourages us with this: “Your life doesn’t belong to you anymore, but you need to know that the One who now owns it is a willing giver of faithful, patient grace.” The great news is that with Jesus residing in us, God’s power can equip us with everything good to do his will (Hebrews 13:21).
Here’s the thing: we can’t hold onto our old selves while trying to live in the new.
In our flesh we’ll fight it. Ooooh, how we fight it. But because we were made to bring glory to the One who made us, discipline in godly living yields a joy and peace that can never be found while we’re stubbornly still on the throne.
Living for God…
It’s hard. It’s freeing. And it’s far better than anything this world has to offer.
Go ahead and step down, once and for all.
Let’s arm ourselves for godly living this week… because He’s worthy.
At His feet,
*Let’s talk: Do you struggle most with right thinking, sin-fleeing, or life-surrendering? Our team would be honored to pray for you this week…
{Week 4} Challenge: Read Colossians 3:1-17. On one side of a notecard, list all of the things this passage says to “put to death.” On the other side of your notecard, list all of the things this passage says to “clothe yourselves” with. When you are confronted with temptation this week, use your notecard to remind you of ways that you can live for God by replacing sin with righteousness.
{Week 4} Reading Plan:
{Week 4} Memory Verse:
THANK YOU, WHITNEY! I GOT GOOSEBUMPS WHILE READING, AND EXPERIENCED THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT TRULY INSIRED YOUR WRITING.
I AM APPLYING “HUMAN PASSIONS” TO MY LACK OF SELF-CONTROL REGARDING (UN)HEALTHY EATING HABITS.
PRAYER IS WELCOME! I WILL INCLUDE OTHERS THAT SUFFER THIS SAME WAY IN MY PRAYERS AS WELL.
THANKS AGAIN!
Praying for you Elma!
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Elma,
Thank you for your transparency and for the Spirit-driven recognition that self control also applies to our temple that He must inhabit. I will absolutely pray for you.
Father God, I come to you on behalf of Elma who desires to commit and submit wholeheartedly to You. Lord, help Elma to remember that her body is Your temple, and everything that she eats and drinks is to glorify You. When she is tempted to overeat, allow Elma to quickly and clearly see your way of escape. Lord, allow no tricks of the enemy in the form of unhealthy body image, quick and unhealthy weight loss gimmicks, or self-condemnation/self-hatred to overcome her. Lord, overflow Elma with the Holy Spirit whenever she must endure tough struggles with food and her health. Guard her heart and mind from impulsive and emotional reactions which may lead to gluttony or binging. We thank You that it is not by our own might or our own power, but by Your Spirit that all things are accomplished. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
~Terria
I struggle most with right thinking. More often than I like, I find myself worrying, when my response should be to immediately come to Jesus with my concerns and lay them at feet and leave them there.
Yes, many of us struggle with this too Carla! Praying alongside you, and our other sisters in Christ, as we seek to grow closer to Him daily. Praising Him with you friend!
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
I struggle with daily surrendering my life.
Salema,
I know your struggle. Daily surrender is the tough calling that Christians have been given. Not only are we called to surrender our lives, but we are also told that we have to take up our cross daily. To die daily. To choose Jesus over our own desires. To follow Jesus when we may lose our closest friends, be alienated from our family, risk our reputation, lose our job, or in the most extreme cases lose our life. Every day we are faced with the tough choice to choose Jesus over the comforts of this life. Whatever we choose speaks volumes about our love for Him.
Salema, as you know, we won’t always make the right choice. There are days when my flesh will scream so loudly to be satisfied that I simply give in just to make it stop. But for those who have given their life to God through Jesus Christ…God’s love for us will not change. He loves us despite ourselves, despite our flaws, our mistakes, our struggles, or our failures. Therefore we can surrender each moment, each circumstance, and each situation to Him, knowing that we can’t make it through on our own. I will be praying for you and your willingness and the humility to let go of your life and give it over to the One who can be perfectly trusted with it. Blessings to you! <3
~Terria
I definitely struggle with right thinking! I worry and when I worry, I get grouchy and then it’s just a mess! I struggle with helping people(my family members) and then getting my feelings hurt when they won’t help me. I should go to Jesus and lay it at His feet instead.
Beth,
I also struggle with right thinking definitely in regards to worrying and trying to fix the issue myself before I come staggering to Christ, when in reality I know I should have brought it to Christ first. Its such a hard thing to do when you’re worries like we probably are. I have been intentionally trying to think of Christ first in every situation. I tell myself “Jesus has this” “God’s in control”. Its amazing the sense of peace this can bring me!
Lindsey
I’ve started doing that too! As soon as I realize I’m asking myself what I can do to fix a situation I remind myself that I can’t fix anything, only God can. And I also remind myself that He has gone ahead of me into what ever the situation may be.
I probably struggle equally in all of these areas at different points in my life. Right thinking is usually the hardest yet I often find times of selfishness rising up within me. Great post today!
I thought the same thing when I read this, Jennifer. Selfish me struggles with all 3. I am thankful that His mercies are new every morning, and He is so incredibly patient with me.
I am currently struggling with the total surrender. It doesn’t make sense to me at all, knowing that God has the best for me. Why wouldn’t I just give it all back to Him? Thank you for praying.
Tina,
I think that is what is so amazing about God. He doesn’t want us to pay Him back. He wants us to pay Him forward…to share with others the wonderful things He has done for you; to love the unlovable so that they may see Him through you; to give of yourself cheerfully and joyfully so that those around you may experience His love; to trust Him with your children, your husband, your hopes, your dreams, your plans and your expectations; to embrace suffering because through your patient endurance people see Christ. Total surrender is so very difficult, because we are not hard-wired to do it. Even Jesus’ sweated drops of blood contemplating having to surrender to God’s plan for Him. I will be praying for you that you start consistently surrendering those small things in your life to God. As you begin seeing that God can be absolutely trusted, that God will absolutely provide, that God is always present, and that God knows better, I pray that your trust and faith in God will blossom and bloom until you are able to give your everything, your every moment, your every issue, your very self away to God.
~Terria
Thank you very very much for preparing this study for us all to enjoy and grow by. I am enjoying it very much and am loving getting into God’s word each day.
Paula,
Thank you so much for joining us in this study. I look forward to hearing at the end just how you have been able to apply and share the things you have learned and how much you have grown spiritually through LGG! <3
~Terria
I think I struggle with all 3 at different times. On days I don’t get up and get time in the Word right away it doesn’t seem to happen. There is usually 1 day a week it seems to happen.
I struggle with fleeing sin, especially the sin of gluttony and laziness or not using my time well.
And also in surrendering my life to God. This may co inside with the above sin of laziness.
Jnel,
I think so many of us from time to time struggle with ‘using our time well’. I catch myself ‘wasting time’ when I could be doing something for someone. For me, if I make sure I spend time with God – my day is so much better, I have a better attitude in how I am spending my time. Even if it’s 5 minutes, I make sure I give them to him first thing in the morning, around lunch time and later in the evening. It keeps me in check so to speak, and I find I use my time more wisely but if I skip my time with Him… shoot I’m off balance and find myself wasting it away again being lazy. It’s a daily battle.
Praying for you to find your balance.
Martha
I think the root of the other two starts with “right-thinking” which is my ginormous issue. The constant unceasing negativity that goes in in my mind is drowning and has sucked th life right out of me. A thought can just trigger a bolt of sadness or anger and I shut down or usually snap at my husband or daughter ( who are undeserving of that treatment ) and then the enemy tells me my husband should be more supportive and it turns into a cycle of passing blame and anger (sins ). My head is welled up , I am even sure God has given up on me. I’ve been born and raised in this walk of God. But I feel all I ever do is try to deserve his love. I don’t know how to surrender my life and my failed dreams and Career and every other area.
Rebecca,
God is with you and He doesn’t give up on you! He loved you before you were born, and doesn’t stop loving you. He is very patient. You love your daughter and when
she messes up (whatever that is), you don’t stop loving her. You might correct her,
but you are there loving her through it. He is there doing the same thing for you,
loving you through each trial. Praying for you to find a way to release the negative
talk, forgive yourself for your past failures (He has forgiven you already). Praying
peace for you!
Martha