Tag Archive | likeness

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 60 – Spiritual Growth

May21

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 60

Spiritual Growth

Heavenly Father, you have saved me and called me to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Teach me the best ways to mature in You, grow in my faith, and bear much fruit for Your glory. I am wholly Yours. Transform me into the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ, so I may live a life that pleases You.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My faithful child, you have already been given everything you need to become like Jesus Christ in every way. The One who saved you and gave you His spirit is able to teach you how to live a life that pleases Me. You have been given a new life in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). All things are possible through Him who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).

It is up to you to tap in to that divine power in Christ Jesus. Allow Jesus to live His life in and through you. Abandon sin, and rely on the life giving power of Jesus Christ; make Him the Lord of your life. Read God’s Word and listen for His voice within you. He will guide you on an exciting journey of faith and adventure in Him. Grow and mature in your relationship with the Lord by spending time in His Word and obeying the instructions you hear from His lips. Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Grow in relationship with Me and become even more fruitful.

My divine power gives you everything you need for a godly life through your knowledge of Him who called you by His own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3). Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Listen to the voice of My Spirit within. I will teach you everything you need to know to live a godly life. It’s up to you to practice what I teach you. Stay true to the quality of character modeled for you in Christ. I predestined you to be conformed to the image of My Son (Romans 8:29) and reflect My glory in ever increasing measure.

This is how you know that you live in Him and He in you: He has given you of His Spirit (1 John 4:13). Remain in Me, as I also remain in you (John 15:4). Talk to Me, listen to Me, obey Me, read My Word, pay attention to My Spirit within, and walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh. Grow in your knowledge of Me, and allow the Spirit to transform you into My likeness. All these things contribute to your spiritual growth. Remain in Me and the Spirit will produce His fruit in your character. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). Your spiritual growth is achieved by remaining in relationship with My Spirit. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Spirit, and you grow in Me at the same time. It pleases Me very much.

Prayer:

Almighty God, full of grace and mercy, pour out Your love on me today. Allow me to hear Your voice and see glimpses of Your heart for me. Father, show me the stagnant areas in my faith, and help me grow in the grace and knowledge of You. You are my King and the object of my affection. I submit my heart and my will to You, and ask that Your Spirit transform me into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, let my life be a fragrant offering daily unto You. Speak to me now as we meet in conversation. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God: 

  • Father, in what areas has my faith lacked growth? (Record what you hear.)

 

  • Jesus, my Friend, what areas of my character does the Spirit need to transform to make me more like you? (Write down all the thoughts He gives you.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, how do you transform me? How do you make me more like Jesus? (Journal all the ideas He gives you.)

Review God’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

Prayer:

Father God, I never want to remain stagnant in my faith. Help me to grow in the image of Christ through the transforming power of Your Spirit. I understand that challenges and trials may produce the most concentrated growth in my spirit. I submit myself to Your leading to transform me however you see fit. I trust that You walk with me in all circumstances and teach me Your ways. Lord, refine me and make me like gold, pure gold (Zechariah 13:9). In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Zechariah 13:9, “This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Romans 8:28-30, 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

2 Peter 1:2-12, 2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

2 Peter 3:18, Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:13, This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

You Created Me–I am Yours

Apr8


A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139: 13-14)

O Lord, my Lord, you saw me before you created me. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. You ordained all of my days before one of them came to be. You know my heart, O God. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely. Lord, replace my words with your words. Speak through me. I am your instrument of love. Play me as a harp making sweet, pleasing melodies. I am your megaphone. Let me magnify your name, praising you before all nations. Let the words that flow from my lips be a fragrant offering to you, my Lord. May all who hear me, respond in praise to you.

I delight myself in you, my King. I am fearfully and wonderfully made in your image. You live in me and mold me into your likeness day after day. You have refined me like silver and tested me like gold. I belong to you, O Lord. I will glorify your name and lift your name high above the earth. I raise my hands to the heavens in honor of you. You have adopted me as your own. You are my God and Father, my Creator and Sustainer, my Rock and Redeemer. You rule and reign over heaven and earth. Please rule and reign in me, my King. My heart is yours; my tongue is yours; my will is yours. I surrender myself to you. Use me for your glory today and every day. I love you with all my heart.

My child, I saw you before I created the world. I designed you and formed you in your mother’s womb. I laid out your days before you were born. I know your heart and mind. I am familiar with your ways and know the words on your tongue before they are uttered. I will use you to glorify my name in all the earth. You have surrendered yourself to me. You are like putty in my hands. I am the potter; you are the clay. I will mold you and make you after my will. Daily give yourself into my hands, and I will lead you on the path I have marked out for you. Honor me in all you do and say.

Your heart is safe with me. I will guard it against all evil. Be true to me and remain in me, and I will remain in you. I am your God and Father, your Creator and Sustainer, your Rock and Redeemer. I have freed you from your prison. I rebuilt you and refined you to carry out my plans. I am with you always. Be strong and courageous. I go with you wherever I send you. I shadow you in the wings of my protection. You are mine. Nothing will take you over on my watch. I never sleep, nor slumber. You are always on my mind and in my heart, as surely as I live in yours. You are my darling daughter. I love you beyond your comprehension.

Sparkle Like Snow

Apr7


A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)

Beloved one, when you accept me as your Savior, I wash away all your iniquity and cleanse you from your sin. You are a new creation–the old has passed away, the new is here. Do not return to the old way of living, when I have forgiven you and made you a righteous child of God. Call on my Spirit within you to help you overcome your temptations. The Spirit is willing to help you when your flesh is weak. You have access to the same power that raised me from the dead. Death could not keep me in the grave. I am alive, and my Spirit lives in you. Listen to my voice within and draw on my strength and wisdom. I will purify your heart and renew a right spirit within you. Maintain your integrity, and live a life set apart for me.  Do not conform to this world, but allow my Spirit to transform you into my likeness. Your body is my temple. Remain pure and holy as I have made my dwelling in you. You are my beloved child. You bear my good name. Honor me in all you do and say. Be a testament to my goodness. Sparkle like snow.