Manna for Your Morning

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 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. — Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) Ephesians 4:23 (AMP) says: “be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude].” The process of being renewed is continual. May we daily present our bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice. Instead of copying the behavior and customs of this world, 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. (See Romans 12:1-2) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the ...

When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;” — Luke 9:54-55 (NASB) When the Samaritans did not receive Jesus, James and John were ready to call down fire from heaven to burn them up, but Jesus rebuked  them and said, they did not know what kind of spirit they were made of. As followers of Christ, and children of God, may we know our new nature. It is the nature of our enemy to steal, kill and destroy. As new creations in Christ, our nature is one of life, love, grace and peace. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. (Luke 9:56 NKJV) His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10b NLT)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. — Romans 12:2 (NKJV) We often focus on changing our behavior, but real transformation starts on the inside. What we allow our minds to dwell on and what we let seep into our hearts determines our behavior. It's when we renew our mind by meditating on the Word of God and spend time with our heavenly Father, allowing His love to penetrate our hearts, that our thoughts, attitudes and behavior will change. 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. (Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT)