Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must
clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience.
—Colossians 3:12 NLT
Lord, you are everything that I alone am not. You are merciful
and compassionate. You are kind and forgiving. You are filled with gentleness
that responds to my deepest need. You are patient and long-suffering—waiting
for me to learn your lesson so I will not have to learn it again. In all these
things, you are humble in heart. You choose to love me with the most unselfish
love. You give yourself to me over and over again. And the gift of this humble heart
you offer—the gift of your life for my sin—spurs me to make these qualities of
your life my own. To live and love as you live and love me.
“Put on your new nature, created to be like
God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:27 NLT). I read this verse, Lord,
and hear you calling me to clothe myself with the changes you have wrought in
my life. I decide to live a holy life. I choose to extend mercy and grace when I
am injured or wounded or hurt. When everything human in me cries for justice, Lord,
I will extend mercy as you also continually extend it to me. I shall strive to
be kind when someone offends and takes advantage of me. I will forgive as you
forgive me. I will respond with gentleness when hurt or manipulated or suddenly
challenged—never in anger or harshness. Patience is hard, Lord. I want to see
change immediately in others and in myself. But I will wait patiently as you
change me for your purpose. Keep me humble in heart, Lord, as you humbly lay
down your life for me.
Just as Peter instructed, I shall make
every effort to add to my 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 (2 Peter 1:5-7). All you ask is my surrender of
will—of my right—of my hardened heart, and then you empower each choice that I
make.
It just seems so much sometimes—the change you wish to make
in me. And this is when I realize that I have seen this all wrong. I can’t make
any change. You want me to decide to become that which I am not—to choose you
and what you wish for me. As I choose to live a holy life exhibiting the
qualities that you know can change me, you bring all your power to work within
my heart. I shall become what you wish. This is my hunger. Teach me.
©2017 Lynn
Lacher
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