This post also appears on the Women Pursuing God blog series: #BeautifulNew and is part of the series 2015 Pre-Launch Sequence: changing up my morning rituals. It is absolutely true that if you spellcheck my name, Jeri, it comes up as “jerk”! I often feel like a jerk. In fact, I realized lately that the prayer I pray on the mornings I don’t take time for a real quiet time with God – the days I’m just rushing out the door - is… “Lord, please help me to not be a jerk today.” It’s funny that my highest goal for some days is to not be a jerk. Doesn’t seem very lofty or visionary does it? I questioned myself to determine what I mean when I say “jerk”… what am I afraid of being? · Harsh. · Mean. · Insensitive. · Self-centered. · Cruel. · Critical. This week the Lord showed me that my thinking is a bit off. You see, I know in my mind that I am a new creation! I am recreated in Christ! The old has gone and the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) I’ve been given a heart of flesh for my old heart of stone! (Ezekiel 11:19) NEW CREATION ≠ Jerk But I realized I still really believe I am a jerk. Deep down, I do not believe I am a new creation. I am just trying to paste a nice Jesus cover on top of a jerk--like one of those “skins” we buy for our smart phones. The truest thing about me is what God says about me. If you spellcheck my name it does come up, jerk… but if you “Truthcheck” my name, it comes up #BeautifulNew. God’s Truth tells me: · I am created in Christ Jesus to do good works He prepared in advance for me to do. (Ephesians 2:10) · I am holy and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12) · I am a co-worker with Jesus. (1 Corinthians 3:9) · That I am a child of light and I shine like a star in this society. (1 Thessalonians 5:5, Philippians 2:15) What I believe about myself impacts, maybe determines, how I will act. If I believe I am a jerk, I will act like a jerk. But if I believe what God says about me and if I walk in His power, not mine… I will start to behave like the #Beautifulnew person that I truly am. So, as I discover new morning rituals the first direction from God is to cease praying, “Lord, please help me to not be a jerk today.” Instead I have a new prayer: "Lord, thank you for making me a new creation – one that joins with You in encouraging, loving, and building up others. Thank you that that is the truest thing about me. Thank you for making me #Beautifulnew."
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AuthorJeri writes about her spiritual journey as she lives out her everyday life. Archives
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