Day 18 - Ellie Lee
Is there a specific Bible passage or verse that comes to mind in the context of “Less of Me and More of Him”?
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
This verse helps me remember that God will still be exalted and glorified, even when I am still; He is the one in control, and He is the one I need to be sensitive to. Sometimes, when we feel lost or unworthy, all we need to do is be still and let God be sovereign over our lives. When I don’t understand or when life is chaotic, it encourages me and comforts me to know that, in the quiet and the stillness, my Father will be with me.
Briefly explain which areas of your life you find most difficult to surrender to Christ.
Definitely music. Music can easily influence what I am feeling or thinking, even when it’s playing in the background. Surrendering secular music has proven to be difficult for me. Secular music can shift my focus from Christ to the temptations of this world and influence my heart to think selfishly and sinfully. I hope to constantly have a heart of worship so that I may “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, [and] give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Share the areas of your life that have shifted from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness.
One big area is my future. Sometimes, when life seems meaningless, I remember what Christ has done on the cross and personally in my life, and then I can’t deny how precious life can be. Living a purpose-driven life with Christ at the center is something that I strive to fight for every day. “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus” is a saying I try to be mindful of as I start my day to remember whom I am living for. Now, when I think of the future, I think of my time with Jesus in heaven forever.
Also, to have more of God in my life, I am trying to control more of my speech. I pray that Christ would be the center of my speech and that I may be “quick to hear, slow to speak, [and] slow to anger” (James 1:19). If God is in every word I speak, He can use me to proclaim His word and minister to His people, that it may not be what I want to say, but what He wants to say.
What are some practical ways you can display Christ to those around you?
The fruit of the spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) is a practical way for me to display Christ. The only way I could bear this fruit is through God. A big one for me right now is joy. No matter what life looks like, I want to rejoice because my Father is always with me. Even when it seems I have nothing to rejoice for, I want people to know I will still rejoice because of God.