Adopting a godly lifestyle:
A godly lifestyle is choosing to live the way God wants you to live and according to how God wants you to think, act towards anything, and anyone.
adopting 1 John 2:6:
Walk like Jesus walked. Jesus talks about abiding in Him because He’s the vine and we are the branches. The branches can’t produce fruit without being connected to the vine. Ensure that you’re constantly being connected to God and being in constant communion with God so that your life will be slowly/rapidly grasping and adopting the proper habits that will show others that you’re different because you’ll no longer be living in a state of reckless living but your life will shout about your faith, your transformation in God and loads of peace and self-control. Adopting a godly lifestyle is not easy but it’s possible because with God all things are truly possible.
godliness 1 Timothy 4:8:
Godliness profits for the life to come. Being Christian means receiving the fact that you’re being prepared to be with God for eternity. It was never about being in the world but stepping out of the world in order to shine your light for others to come to a knowledge of the truth. As the church and with a huge responsibility of the GREAT COMMISSION means that we no longer live according to what we want but according to God’s will and purposes for our lives.
1 Timothy 6:6 speaks about godliness and contentment being of great gain. Be content where God has you right now and when it’s time to go, take that step to go because you’re releasing and letting Him (GOD) work. That’s part of the godly lifestyle. Allowing God to direct your every step and letting scriptures back you up.
lifestyle 1 Corinthians 6:20:
Since you don’t belong to yourself anymore. I have some news for you, you can’t live according to how you want to live. But according to how God wants you to live. God does speak through preachers. But you need to understand that it’s not just going to church and listening to preachings. It’s actually incorporating a genuine lifestyle that pleases God. Don’t worry, when you seek God…genuinely…God will reveal to you what needs to go and what needs to stay in your character and your lifestyle choices. If it happened to me, it’ll happen to you. It’s called walking by faith and letting God take control. Even when you don’t know where to start. Trust God to keep His word and continue the work He has done in you. He who started a good work in you will bring it to fruition. Don’t leave God when your character is being tested. Trust God’s wisdom and apply it to every situation that comes your way.
starts with accepting who you were created to be Genesis 5:2:
You were created to be who God created you to be and a lot of that has to do with what your calling is and what you’re passionate about. There are no coincidences in what you like. Is it writing, is it performing on stages, is it photography, is it music, is it playing an instrument. I haven’t named everything but please use those talents to glorify God and exalt God with clean content. We need content that shouts: I rather glorify God than make someone else stumble away from purity and truth. Let’s be the generation that decides to step out of the box and step into the way God wants us to be and think.
sanctification process continually 2 Timothy 2:21, John 17:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:13:
Do you want to be used by God or do you want to be used by the devil? I rather you be used by God. That shouldn’t even be a question to have to ponder on. Don’t give your life to destructive patterns. You either serve God with your life or you don’t. God wants you to live. Not fearing any evil. But constantly entrusting yourself, and your life to Him. He wants you to be prepared for every good work, sanctified, and living in holiness. God changes you and sanctifies you through His Holy Word: The Bible. God chose you from the beginning to be saved, sanctified through His Spirit, and believing in the truth. God chose you to believe in His truth. Sanctify yourself according to his truth.
purification process continually 2 Corinthians 7:1:
Don’t feed yourself things that can contaminate you. Don’t watch things and waste time watching those things that purge away your time to spend with God.
Don’t try so hard to please people and try to fit in that it causes you to not walk in purification.
Learn that purification is a constant work and God wants to purify your soul from the things that don’t please Him.
We’re made up of body, soul, and spirit. May our spirits be connected to God so we can be in communion with God and for God to glorify Himself in us.
Purify yourself from anything that doesn’t help your spiritual growth and surrender your life to God.
consecration unto the Lord Romans 6:13:
You’re spiritually alive from the dead. Therefore, you can’t use your body, mind, and emotions as a drive to sin. You have to use every instrument (not speaking of actual instruments) but everything God gave you for His GLORY. God doesn’t want you walking in ignorance and lacking knowledge of what He actually wants you to do and having wrongful thinking patterns that don’t please Him at all. Part of consecration is giving yourself fully to His will and His ways. There’s no more need to do animal sacrifices but Jesus is the Sacrifice that resurrected from the grave to help you live a holy life for GOD. Consecration is far more than attending church, edifying others, reading, and applying the word of God.
habitual lifestyle choices:
For your spiritual lifestyle:
-Incorporating secret place time.
-Prayer to feed your relationship with God.
-Fasting.
-Studying God’s Word.
Physical lifestyle: abstaining from things that destroy your health, don’t help your mental health, and don’t protect your emotions. Proverbs 4:23 GUARD YOUR HEART. All things may be allowed but not all things edify. The Bible speaks about that too.
overcoming sin James 4:7 & James 1:14:
Flee lust. Flee the desires and passions that lead you away from God’s will for your life. Sometimes you may think something pleases God but in reality, it doesn’t. Tell me if you go to that place, what will your actions reap: spiritual death or spiritual renewal? What will happen if you say those words: will you be speaking facts or trying to destroy someone’s image and reputation? What happened to love your neighbor enough to control the tongue? Flee the thoughts and the voices that aren’t yours telling you to do sinful things. Even if you feel like you want that, don’t. Look away and save your soul from corruption. It’s worth it. You’ll feel like you actually won the battle: like yes! I got this. God got me. I’m blessed. Confidence in God comes along with overcoming sin. Remember that repentance is key.
living in freedom of his Holy Spirit John 8:36:
Whom the son sets free is free indeed. When you’re free, all you have to do is live in His Spirit. Say no to the offers, even professional offers that lead you away from walking alongside Jesus. I’m saying that in figurative speech but also trying to be real with you. It’s better to obey God rather than to submit to people who are just trying to make a profit out of your skills, talents, and don’t want to lead you toward the truth. Give yourself to God and let God use the gifts that He freely gave to you. Freedom in the Holy Spirit indeed feels great! Don’t believe the lies of the enemy. You’re free in Jesus Christ. The enemy just wants you to think otherwise. You’ll grow and you’ll develop in God because that’s God’s will for your life. You just need to keep pressing in.
You can do all things through Christ. You can incorporate these scriptures into your life and watch your life change. Continue practicing these principles and let God see that you are determined to change your ways. It’s not about being religious but about religiously practicing what we’ve been taught by God through His word in order to ensure that we continue in His will for our lives. It’s not about being legalistic. But about being passion-driven and spirit filled to the brim so that when others ask us about our faith and why we practice what we practice, we’ll be able to answer them the right way. Either through a transformational testimony or just showing them our transformed life. That’s how it should be because we live to bring GLORY TO GOD ALONE.
Scriptures To Grasp & Meditate On In Your Personal Time:
- Phil 1:21
- Gal 2:20
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Living for God in your youth:
Living for God in your youth is deciding to not waste time getting to know the living God and actually preparing to serve Him or actually walking into your serving season after your preparation season.
stages of LIFE:
Jeremiah 1:5 (talks about God creating you, forming you in your mother’s womb).
You were formed in your mother’s womb no matter your mother’s story. You were created by God and for God.
You eventually grew up in your own childhood story, then went on to your own teenage story that eventually lead you to be a young adult or mid-age adult.
Congrats, this is for you.
Despite the things you went through, the trials you’ve had to go through, and everything meant to destroy you, you’re still here being strong and being the most fearful and wonderful creation God created you to be.
Your story can help out someone else once you overcome the struggles you’ve had to go through. Even if it keeps going, overcome it. You have the power in God to do so.
you grew up:
You learned from your mistakes, and you’re doing better than you were before but you still feel like there must be something more than just LIVING and being YOUNG. You’re right, there is. It’s called YOUR CREATOR GOD calling you, ministering to you, and letting you know that HE WANTS TO START A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. It doesn’t matter if you’re really young in your teenage years, really younger than that, or just a young adult with so many dreams, ambitions, and goals in life but are too afraid to pursue them because you feel inadequate. You feel like nobody will care to hear you out. Not true. God cares. God wants to use you for His Glory, Honor, and Purposes. As an adult (if you’re an adult) you had to grasp the fact of reality. That despite you knowing that God is there for you, there were some things trying to destroy you and you kept standing. Habits that used to draw you away from God, all of a sudden needed to go. You learned that you needed to have self-control and that you needed to become a better person and love yourself because if you don’t love yourself, how are you supposed to love others. But first, it starts with loving God first. Let’s go into the points that you can incorporate in your youthful years.
conduct:
Your behavior towards God, yourself, and others will truly dictate if you believe in God or not. The way you treat others will show the love you have for God. Based on my conduct I’ve had someone see that I really love God. When people are being hard-headed, are you still going to show the LOVE of GOD towards them? When people say all kinds of evil against you, will you still show them, LOVE? When you’re having a bad day, are you still going to show them, love? In every season LOVE OTHERS. LOVE IS NOT JUST A WORD BUT AN ACTION.
Respect: showing respect for others is not just being courteous. You have to show them respect in the way you behave when they tell you bad news or try to be rude to you. You have to show respect to those older than you and younger alike. It doesn’t mean fear them. But no, show them respect. Especially your leaders in the church. Never talk badly of them but lift them up in PRAYER.
acts of a youth:
Instead: Spend time with family (but don’t let family influence you to disobey God).
Go to church. Get involved in your church community.
Be like-minded with other believers that share the same faith as you.
Listen to sermons and preachings that will edify you.
Get discipleship.
Walk in accordance with God’s Word. Study the word of God. Meditate on God’s Word.
Worship God.
Take care of yourself (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually).
Have goals. But many plans can be in a person’s heart but it is the Lord’s will that will come to pass.
speech:
Ephesians 4:29. Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth but what can edify and help out others. Be wise. I recommend reading Proverbs book because it’s filled with so much wisdom that can be applied today.
When I was extremely younger than now, I would read proverbs (around 12 years old or 13) I would read proverbs a lot because that book would speak to me and thanks to that book, I’ve avoided a lot of mistakes in my life that I would want you to avoid too.
Please incorporate proverbs as you go to the book for wisdom. It’s filled with so much truth. There’s power in your tongue. The things you say can impact others and help them heal or they can hurt them and really not help them so please be very careful with your words. Don’t flatter anyone. Be respectful. Talking too much is not good. It can lead to pointless chatter. Guard your tongue against gossip and just don’t speak ill of anyone but don’t say the things they say that are wrong. Be the bigger person and example to imitate.
THOUGHTS:
Romans 8:5-6, Psalms 19:14 , Matthew 5:28
Philippians 4:8, 2 Timothy 3:16
2 Corinthians 10:5, Isaiah 26:3
Hebrews 4:12
Romans 12:1-2
your thoughts matter:
When you’re walking in this world, you’re going to see things that you wouldn’t want to see because of the mistakes of others. Don’t judge them. Pray for them and keep being you. You God created you to be. You, God thought you out to be. Not who you think you should be but what God declares about you in His word. Not what the devil wants you to be nor people who don’t want anything good for you but to hurt you. Sadly this is the truth. Be grateful for the people that love you and don’t try to take vengeance on your own vengeance belongs to God. Be an example wherever you go. Be careful with the things you consume, whether in books or films. A lot of things can influence you in a negative way instead of helping you. Watch things that help you and not things that will hinder your sleep and thought process. You can learn about many things but make sure your intention is not to hurt God but to honor God. Reject what’s bad and all appearances of evil and hold on to what is good and every appearance of what’s right. Stand for justice and God. Stand for what’s real and not made up. It starts with your thought pattern.
what to Incorporate in your youthful years:
-Read the Bible.
-Pray with family. Study the bible with family.
-Read the bible with friends.
-Share scriptures with the lost on your social media accounts.
-Be loving towards God and others.
-Do what you’re passionate about and don’t let your surroundings tell you others.
-Please don’t practice anything that can harm you physically nor spiritually nor emotionally nor mentally.
-If you’re a female: expand. If you’re a guy: expand. I’m not stereotyping.
what not to incorporate in your YOUTHFUL years:
-Doing whatever you want with your body.
-Wasting time.
-Wrong company.
-Negative thoughts.
-Negative actions.
-Rebelliousness against authorities.
-Fear.
-Excessive suffering due to your own consequences.
listening to the WISDOM of those older than you:
-Pastoral Leaders
-General church leaders
-Youth leaders
-Parents
-Grandparents
-Teachers (even if they’re not Christian)
-Professors
-Teachers of God’s word in your bible study class or any class, etc.
That doesn’t contradict your faith walk. It will benefit you in the long run.
Trust God in this journey:
1 Timothy 4:12.
You can Proverbs 3:5-6 and Phil.4:13. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Share your faith in your social media accounts. It’s better to live for God and suffer reproach than to not live for God and get corrected by Him for the Lord corrects those whom He loves. He not only corrects you by letting you know but by placing people in your life to let you know when you’re not acting the right way nor saying the right things. That’s how God shows His love for you. By blessing you with parents or church leaders or anyone that He has blessed you with to let you know how valuable and cherished you are and that you deserve to be disciplined in the right way in order to mature into being a fellow leader in your home, your community, at your church, and in your area of expertise. Use your talents and skills for God’s Glory. Whether it’s singing, dancing, acting, public speaking, playing sports. Do it all for the GLORY OF GOD.
To Dwell On & Reflect On In Your Personal Time:
Ecclesiastes 11:9 Proverbs 23:26
Eccleasiastes 12:1 Romans 12:1-2
Psalms 119:9 Psalms 144:12
1 Corinthians 10:13 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
2 Timothy 2:22 Psalm 139:17
Ephesians 6:1-4
Living for God (any age):
I wanted to add that I relax while preparing material. I put on worship music or I put on instrumental tunes to calm my soul down from the cares of this world. Since sometimes we tend to be in such a rush…We don’t stop to just take it slow, take the day in and just breathe and release all the tension, and being around others so much, we need that time to cool off. I don’t know who needed to hear this but take time to just be silent. You deserve that much. You don’t have to lash out at others when they try to disrupt your peace. Just walk away and get alone with God.
I don’t believe that ministry material consists of just speech but it consists of actions. That’s why I share snippets of my lifestyle choices because everything I do, down to taking care of myself to work to eating to socializing and sharing the word of God is meant to bring God GLORY.
My life has to be a living testimony of His peace, His grace, His love, etc. How else would people know right from wrong? They look at me and what I do and if I don’t act the proper way when I’m heated and I feel burned out, I apologize because I may be right to want alone time but at the end of the day. I must love my neighbor as myself and sometimes that requires ignoring what they are saying, or just simply walking away or establishing boundaries of when to communicate and where, and the list goes on.
Get to know God of the Old Testament. Not just Him as Jesus The Man/The Messiah/The Living Word. But the Ultimate Higher Being: God. God who was before the earth ever came to be:
Get to know God from the beginning of Genesis to Malaqui.
Get to know Jesus from the beginning of Matthew to Revelation.
1 Corinthians 8:6. Get to know God for what the scriptures (the bible) say He is:
How I got to know God was through family, and other believers. Getting to be around them, I got to see the love of God and how God works. I got to experience being among other believers and it edified me so much.
Testimony:
Habitually, I’ve been clinging to the Word of God and it’s been a great journey. I get the peace I need every-day. I get revelations for my ministry too. Someone serving God without the word of God is like not possible.
Look at what job said in Job 31:5-6. Intellectual thoughts:
If we read Job 31. We can see Job’s righteous thinking. He saw things the way God would want us to see things. A wise person is not one that can speak with so much wisdom alone. A wise person is one that observes the times and applies them to scripture. The church’s history can never be forgotten. Despite the evil that rises against it. Despite those that were martyred for bearing Jesus on their hearts and walks. They are such an inspiration to imitate because their fearless deeds lead many to victory from sin, sinful lifestyle choices, and from despair. We gain all these accomplishments, we gain so much but yet we tend to forget about those that have less. I had a season where I felt like I knew there was so much need in the world and I would cry out to God to help people in Africa. The children suffering from hunger hurt my heart and I would cry out to God in tears because I was young. I wasn’t working. My parents were providing for me. But even at that age, I have faith that God heard my cry for help and He moved people’s hearts to give. Even if I don’t know their names. But there’s still so much work and I pray God touches hearts to give to those that lack need. What if you were in their shoes?
2 Peter 2:19. Be careful with this false perception of liberty that will ruin you:
Walk in the truest form of freedom only found through Jesus Christ. It’s a call to change your lifestyle so that others can be blessed through your ministry as a believer, disciple, and follower of the Truth.
Don’t succumb to the perception of man-made freedom that totally forgets God’s perception of freedom. Loads of the time we want to listen to people rather than God and what He has to say because people are flawed just like us while God seems unreachable and imperfect but that’s how it seems. Think about it. Why would God create something He didn’t love? Let’s stop the perception of thinking patterns that contradict God’s commands.
New heart, new beginnings. Despite what circumstances say and what people say:
I have a small testimony of when I had this experience where I just knew inwardly that the more I sought God, the more I would receive answers. I had an experience where I told a Christian female on our way to a church service about the fact that I have this fear of God. Like I don’t want to do the wrong thing and I don’t remember what she said but all I remember was feeling this love that I didn’t want to fail God and God speaks about giving us a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26-27= A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (kjv)
obey God and obey those in authority:
A follower of Jesus declared this: It’s better to obey God rather than people. Acts 5:29.
God at times will ask you to do things that those around you will not understand. God will never tell you to do something that contradicts His massive love towards you. He will never tell you to hurt you. Those thoughts telling you that you’re not worth it, those insecurities, those labels people try to put at you when you were young, release it and put it at The Father’s feet. He loves you. Surrender your filthy garments for new ones.
Obey those in authority in your church community, outside of the church. But always realize that God’s perfect, immovable law comes first. Not the law of men. That’s why there’s so much persecution for Christians because they choose to love God and disobey people for God to accept them but they don’t realize they are accepted (some of them at least). It’s tough to feel not included but it’s better that way and be alone with God than to be around those that don’t want to live for God and want to be in constant rebellion to His will.
Mark 7:20-23. Recognize that there’s no good in you. But in God alone. Admitting that sets you free from constant perfectionism when God just wants you to stop trying to be perfect on your own and let Him perfect you through communion and fellowship with Him.
lean on the Psalms when things get tough. Psalms were an outpouring of a human’s unconditional surrender to God’s love. Read it:
Examples would be Psalms 2, Psalms 27, and Psalms 23, Psalms 121. Apply what is being taught to your brain so you won’t be receiving any other doctrines (teachings) thrown at you and cause you confusion.
apply Proverbial wisdom from the book of proverbs:
Examples would be: Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 31, Proverbs 1, etc.
acts 20:35. It’s better to give than to receive. GIVE. Practice giving but the right way:
Whether it’s knowledge, wisdom, gifts, or talents. Whatever God lays on your heart to give, give. Give expecting nothing in return and your reward will be recompensed. Even if it doesn’t get recompensed, trust God to bless you. Not just materialistically but spiritually.
get to know biblical truth and watch your thoughts, life, and actions change. Romans 12:2 and John 8:32:
Getting to know biblical truth and your thoughts, life & actions will change for the better. Ask every Christian that has changed because their current lifestyle doesn’t compare to their past. Do it for His Glory and stay humble.
1 Corinthians 8:1- Knowledge is but a moment, Love edifies:
It’s good to have all source of knowledge. Even if the knowledge isn’t according to our faith, doesn’t give us the excuse to practice what isn’t according to our faith. We must practice what’s only according to our faith but expose ourselves to every single knowledge out there so we won’t walk in ignorance but in the light of the Gospel and eventually be able to teach others desiring to become like us.
James 4:17- Doing good works, practicing good speech, edifying speech, speech that does not corrupt:
Doing good works, practicing good speech, edifying speech, speech that does not corrupt will have others wondering why you don’t act so reckless and stay so firm in good conduct. It’s going to draw people nearer to want to know why and that gives you a chance to speak about your faith with genuine intentions at heart. God has a reason for why He desires for us to talk properly. It brings Him glory.
3 John 1:2 -Health. Good stewards of your overall health:
It pleases God when we take good care of our health. That’s why it’s important to know what’s going on in your human body system so that you can avoid what isn’t good for your health diet and what is. In order to continue to serve God, we must be in great shape in order to do so. Not just physically, but mentally, and spiritually. If we run out of energy when God wants us to do something, we should question whether we are doing the right thing in order to do so.
Scriptures To Ponder & Meditate On:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Psalm 119:1-5
1 Corinthians 10:31 Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 3:17 Psalm 84:11
1 Corinthians 11:1
Deuteronomy 6:7-9
Psalms 1