Welcome Friends
Thank you for joining me on my journey and my walk with the Lord
Ephesians 4:22-24 says
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
–shed the old and embrace the new.
Looking back on my life, I never really realized how much of a “worldly” attitude I had.
My life was so rooted in-
needing to be right, chasing after approval, self-reliance, prideful, judgmental
refusing to apologize, playing the victim, refusing to change
I can go on and on and fill up many pages
I never really got rid of my old life and embrace my new life
Proverbs 26:12-
“Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”
In this verse, King Solomon describes two types of people:
A fool and someone wise in their own eyes -arrogant and self-righteous.
He says there’s more hope for a fool because a fool might recognize their ignorance and learn
while the wise remain unteachable and closed off to correction, advise or even God’s guidance
blocking their own growth-pride blocks growth.
Ephesians 5:8-“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
I completely missed the mark for most of my life
When I accepted the Lord as my Savior, I became a child of God.
He gave me the power to walk as His child — to walk, talk, and live like it.
Yet…I was still stubborn, clinging to my own ways and the world’s ways
I never fully got rid of my old self and put on my new self …..to be transformed.
I was still looking at my life through the world’s prospective and not setting my mind
to the things above and honoring Jesus
Colossians 3:2 teaches: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
God has rightful ownership of our lives and a purpose for each of us.
He not only created us but also bought and paid for us through Christ’s sacrifice.
As Colossians 1:13 says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”
We belong to Him.
What does this mean to each and every one of us?
It means that our life matters and if we would go do what God has told us to do,
He will do more with our life than what you can do with it.
His plans for us are bigger, His goal for us is bigger and the payoff is incredible better
What are God’s goals and plans for me?
What are God’s goals and plans for you?
Paul encourages the believers in the city of Colossae, in Colossians 1:9-10
to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.
God purpose for them is also His purpose for us
to live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way by bearing good fruit in all we do
and ……… continually growing in our knowledge of God.
God wants us to know His will, He wants us to know His desires for us
so that knowledge would produce a worthy walk.
God wants your life to count.
He wants it to produce something worthy so our life will have an impact
In order to have an impact with our life, we need to get stubborn
yes, you heard me correctly
Colossians 1:11 teaches that God wants us to grow to a place of steadfastness
A kind of “Holy” stubbornness — where we are determined to do what is right, no matter what.
Staying strong and firm in doing what’s right, even when it’s hard.
Get Stubborn !!
When I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, I became a child of God.
But instead of growing and maturing, I stayed stuck as an immature believer.
I accepted salvation but I never truly allowed it to change me.
I was still holding onto my old ways instead of letting go of that control.
I resisted the growth that leads to transformation.
If I want my life to make a lasting impact for God’s Kingdom here on earth,
it’s going to require discipline
Something I lacked because I wasn’t growing in knowledge and wisdom because
I never committed to reading and studying the entire Bible, only bits and pieces in 40 years
of my adult life, leaving me with an incomplete understanding of God’s truth.
Moses couldn’t just come to earth, hop into a car, and start driving.
He’d needs to open the glove compartment, pull out the owner’s manual, and start learning how the car actually works.
He wouldn’t get far by stubbornly saying,
“I can figure this out on my own — I don’t need a manual.”
God had to shake me, wake me up and get my attention
I needed to get my priorities straightened out and I needed to start disciplining myself
It was time for me to get…….. “Holy” stubborn
It was time for me to take action and start disciplining myself and get stubborn and do what is right
Will you join me on this journey?
Let’s be stubborn together-stubborn to do what’s right,
Holy Stubbornness
Knowledge to understand God’s will more deeply. Wisdom to apply it to our life,
Discipline to keep going when it’s hard
And stubbornness — the Holy kind — to stand firm in doing what’s right, no matter what.
Heaven Father
John 15:7 says,
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Psalm 37:4 says,
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
My desire is to know You better.
My desire is to grow and mature in knowledge and understanding.
My desire is to live a life that reflects Your goodness and brings glory to Your name.
You have been faithful to Your word and thank you for answering my prayers.
Thank you for giving me a new transformed heart that desires to align with Your will
Give me the strength to be steadfast — stubborn in doing what is right — even when it’s hard.
Help me to seek You first and to trust that You will provide everything I truly need.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
I invite you to join me on this journey
Let’s allow God to transform our hearts.
True change starts from within, and when He changes us, we can better impact the world around us
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