First step in making the Adjustment

This a continuation of a previous post titled “Making the Adjustment”.

The first adjustment is that we have to secure is our relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to take the time to explain. According to Paul, he taught in Romans the importance of believing and confession with your mouth leading to salvation. The word believe can be defined as trusts in, clings to, and relies on. Confess can be defined as declaring openly and to speak out freely about one’s faith.
Salvation that comes from trusting Christ, which is the message we preach, is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:8–10, NLT
Your faith in God’s Word is expressed with your heart (believe) and with your mouth (confess). If you truly believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, there is no reason you should not be willing to confess him as Lord. The moment you believe in your heart upon Jesus and confess him as your Lord and Savior, you are born again.
It is God’s ability and our willingness and having faith that we receive this born again experience. It is not obtained by our own work as many have taught, concerning earning your way into heaven. It has to come through God’s power and his grace. We are unable to accomplish these things by our own work.
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] Ephesians 2:8–9, AMP
We could have never been saved had it not been for the grace of God. Man is certainly undeserving according to his own merits. It is God’s power working through what Jesus has done on the cross and by his Spirit that brings about the new birth. Yet, without an attitude of repentance and faith, God’s power will not work in a man’s heart. Man’s will must be obedient to God’s will before he can receive God’s blessings.
When we are born again, we become brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us new life, where we are no longer the same. We are recreated living in union with Christ.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT
The new birth makes you a brand new person. You are created after the image of Jesus Christ and now our actions must be evident within our life decisions. This means that within your heart, you are made to be like Christ.
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10, NLT
We must feed our minds with the Word of God so that we are renewed in our thinking, as well as continuing learning more about Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by doing what the Word of God teaches us.
Pray this to ensure your relationship with Jesus Christ:
“God I recognize that I have not lived for you up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need you in my life; I want you in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of your son Jesus Christ in giving his life for me on the cross of Calvary, and I long to receive forgiveness you made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin or the desire to please myself, but I will follow you all the days of my life. Those days are in your hands. I ask this in Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.”
Now we can begin to know and do the will of God and begin to adjust our lives to what God wants us to do. By having our spiritual life in place gives a greater opportunity to have true success.
The road map to a successful life is found in the word of God. “This Book of Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that it written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success” (Joshua 1:8, AMP).