Thank God, I have changed. I once had to make myself study God’s Word and pray. Now when necessary I have to make myself do those other things. My interests have changed. My desires have changed. Why? Because I started paying more attention to Him and living my life for Him. I began to do everything that I felt God wanted me to do. He has taught me about following after my spirit, indwelt by His Spirit, and it has changed my life.
What did Jesus say? “If any man intends to come after Me, let him deny himself.” I do not mean that I have arrived. I am just getting started, but I am started.
You know, this is a growing process. Growing spiritually is like growing physically. When you were born physically, your mother did not expect you to begin to talk the second day after you were born. But she would have been disappointed if you were still not talking at 5 years of age.
Spiritual things are the same way. You have to walk with God one day at a time, starting where you are today. You cannot start where someone else is. You must start where you are. But you have to start.
You will never grow if you do not give God your time. If you do not spend time in the Word and in prayer, if you do not listen to your spirit, you will never grow. You have to do certain things to grow.
All God asks of you is that you begin where you are today. If you do not know God, the first thing you need to do is get born again. Just make Jesus the Lord of your life and say, “I’m starting today.” (There’s a prayer of salvation at the end of this book to help.) Then start. Keep moving and don’t ever stop!
In John 12 we find more of Jesus teaching the disciples:
The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour (John 12:23-26).
This is how you get the full blessing of God in your life—serve Jesus and the Father will honor you.
Jesus says in verse 27 in The Amplified Bible, “Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it].”
Notice that He did not say, “Father save Me from this hour.” He chose instead, “[Rather, I will say,] Father, glorify—honor and extol—Your own name!” (verse 28).
Just like Jesus, this is the place you and I must reach in our own lives. We, too, must say, “Father, glorify Your Name in my life. I give You my life. I give You my heart. I give You the rest of my days on the earth.”
Jesus was putting this into the hearts of the disciples. Because we are also His disciples, we must have it too. “So then, whoever of you does not forsake—renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say goodbye to—all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33, The Amplified Bible). These were strong words, but Jesus said them. He was training His men, and He trained them well.
According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, a disciple is a “learner, one who follows one’s teaching.” To paraphrase Matthew 10:24-25, Jesus said, “The disciple will not be greater than his master; he will be like his master.”
God has great things for those who will be obedient to Him and love Him with their whole hearts.