Desiring all from Christ - First Step: Shift in thinking

A few days ago I received an email from my nice. As I read it I was moved by the obvious activity of God's grace in His children. My niece, Belen, is a bright College student. Before going to College she decided that attending church and a weekly Bible study will be priority in her life.
Belen has been faithful attending church on Sunday and a weekly Bible study "Breakaway" for Christian Aggie students.

We know that attending church, Bible studies, going on retreats, reading Christian books... is essential to grow in knowledge of God's ways, however, to put God's Word to work we need to let His Word affect our mind and heart.

The following is an illustration of someone being affected by God's Word, as a result shift in thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions are happening!!

My niece writes - "Tonight I and my friends went to 'Breakaway', it was amazing! We learned about 'idols' and the need to pray to God to remove them from our lives and replace them with something beautiful - His Word and promisses. It was fabulous!

I and my friends identified that our 'idol' is the desire to have a boyfriend to share our lives with. At the same time we realized that what we need more is to make God our priority, our first love. We decided to start a girl's Bible study. We want to prepare ourselves for the man that He has for us. Pray for us and help us find a book, devotional, or materials to begin our study."

Imagine the impact that all of us believers would make in our spheres of influence if we were truly affected by God's Word and His love! If we would filter everything we say and do through biblical thinking!

No wonder Paul tells us - "Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it... " Romans 12:1-2 (The Message).

I pray that by His grace we may fix our attention on Him and desire Him with all our heart.

"Pride and self have the all of man, until man has his all from Christ" Andrew Murray.

Insights from A. Murray's book "Humility"- Chapter 2

Humility: The Secret of Redemption

It is sobering to think that because Adam and Eve chose to believe Satan rather than God, the poison of Satan's pride enter the human soul. Only when I understand that pride and unbelief damage the very core of human personality, I can understand man's need to be redeemed from pride and unbelief (delivered from self).

Murray writes "Pride has its root and strength in a terrible spiritual power, outside of us as well as within us. We must confess it, deplore it, and be aware of its satanic origin...Pride and humility are the two master powers - the two kingdoms at war for eternal possesion of man... Pride and self have the all of man, until man has his all from Christ".

It is clear that I can't have my all from Christ without shifting my natural focus of attention and energy. I can't imitate Christ's humility without being passionate about Him or without allowing Him to impact (change) my thoughts, desires, motives, expectations... I must use His grace, available at any moment, to enter in the habit of ongoing shifting (ongoing repentance).

As I write I am aware of self-centered desires, priorities, and expectations that need to be shifted within me today in order to have my all from Christ and affect the life of those around me, starting with the person closest to me ( my husband). What would you have to shift within you to receive His grace, humility, love, peace, joy... and impact those around you?

Because of Redemption we don't have to despair! We can see clearly that "pride creeps in almost everywhere", yet by His grace we can, moment by moment, take off our old self with its practices and put on the new self made new in Christ (Col. 3:9-10). A work of grace, pure grace, as we purpose in our hearts to have our all from Christ.

Andrew Murray's summarizes chapter two with an appeal to believers -

"Dear believer, study the humility of Jesus. This is the secret, the hidden root of your redemption. Sink down into it more deeply day by day. Believe with your whole heart that Christ, whom God has given us, will work in us, making us what the Father wants us to be."

It is a glorious comfort to know that the Lord does the work in us so we can imitate His humble character. Our part is to draw daily on His grace to die to self.

(Before I write insights on A. Murray's "Humility" chapter 3, I will share an exciting example of how the Lord works in the life of a young lady who desires her all from Him).