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When you discover who you are in Christ, you begin to measure your life and ministry by Jesus' model. You begin to want what He wants for the same reason He wants it. One religious mindset that many Christians can be guilty of -- we are trying to change our old nature (old man) and improve ourselves. We fail to realize that Jesus never came to do that. Jesus crucified the old man so that by faith, we can walk in the new man who is already created in righteousness and holiness. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 Plead God's relationship to us. We are God's children, and we have the right to appeal to Him on that basis. AFFIRMATIONS: Jesus calls me to a higher love, to embrace the burning and passionate heart of God. I am renewed in the spirit of my mind: and I put on the new man, which after God has created in righteousness and true holiness. Since God rules in my heart and Jesus is Lord of my life, the Kingdom of God continually flows out of me and takes control over the things coming against me. It is imperative that we all take a strong stand. We must make up our minds to not continue to stumble about in the confusion that seems to gridlock today's culture. Rather, we must walk with God-given goals and aims anddiscerning His divine PURPOSE for our life. We're not to be vague, thoughtless, and distracted during these days. We can and must discover great guidance and guidelines for living day by day, advancing in the knowledge of His CALLING on our life, possessing the wisdom that God is offering to us. Paul, in Ephesians 5:15-17, offers the Church a most severe warning: "Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is" (AMP). Come to Him with your defenses down, ready to be blessed and filled with His Presence. Relax, and feel the relief of being totally open and authentic with Him. You have nothing to hide and nothing to disclose because He knows everything about you already. You can have no other relationship like this one. Take time to savor its richness, basking in His golden Light. One of the worst consequences of the Fall is the elaborate barriers people erect between themselves and others. Facades abound in the world, even in His Body, the church. Sometimes, church is the last place where people feel free to be themselves. They cover up with Sunday clothes and Sunday smiles. They feel relief when they leave because of the strain of false fellowship. The best antidote to this artificial atmosphere is practicing His Presence at church. Let your primary focus be communing with Him, worshiping Him, glorifying Him. Then you will be able to smile at others with My Joy and love them with His Love. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him, there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." - 1 John 1:5–7 "The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'” - Exodus 33:14 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable…think about such things…" - Philippians 4:8 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY