I want to give up my life for Jesus. I cant do anything anymore. I cant fight the sin of lust. I cant do anything. But I know Jesus can. I am in sorrow and just want Jesus in my life. I want him to be the leader. My works isnt going to get me to heaven, but Jesus will. I pray, and I pray. But nothing is changing. I feel like I am praying to a wall. What must I do? What must I do to have the spirit guide me and live in me. How do I know and have Jesus in my life. Please.
Love, submit, die. These are the steps to deep, rich fellowship with God.
Love.
Matthew 22:36-38
1 John 4:16-19
1 Corinthians 13:1-7
Submit.
James 4:7
Romans 6:13-22
Romans 12:1
1 Peter 5:6
Die.
Matthew 16:24-25
Romans 6:6-11
Galatians 2:20
Galatians 5:25
Colossians 3:3
The order in which I've listed the above is very purposeful. Our relationship with God must begin with love. We must know and be deeply certain of God's awesome love for us. Then, knowing and believing the great love He has for us, we love Him in return. It is this love that motivates us to surrender ourselves to God, moment-by-moment throughout each day, living as "living sacrifices" led at all times by the Spirit of God. (
Romans 8:14) As we love and submit ourselves to God, He leads us into the crucified life of which the apostle Paul so frequently wrote, a life of self-denial, of dying to oneself, that the life of Christ might be made manifest in us. This isn't a life of painful, burdensome self-sacrifice but of joy, of power, and of rest.
In God's kingdom, many things are upended. The Christian finds life in dying, victory in surrender, honor in humility, freedom in captivity, and so on. The spiritual "Promised Land" of life in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 3-4) is ours only as we enter into such an upside-down life.