"Be Not Conformed..." | A Child of God

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quotation, because it's true. 

We live in a world that is constantly, non-stop, trying to feed us with lies about how we should dress, talk, and act. Whenever something is deemed new and trendy, a majority of the population jumps onto the bandwagon, wanting to fit in with their peers and appear fashionable.

As children of God, we are called not to conform to society's norms. 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1&2)

No matter the outside pressure, and even the ridicule, our purpose is not to fit in with the world and its ways. Because the world promotes ungodliness--we are bombarded daily with material that, if we allow them to, can take us away from a true, sincere commitment to our King.

Movies, music, books, any and all daily habits that are not edifying for the mind and body are things that, even if they might appear to some to be miniscule issues, we must thoroughly examine and consider with caution.

To live a Christian life, we must "present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God"... To be holy is to be dedicated or consecrated to God; sacred, sanctified. The sanctification process does not happen in the snap of a finger. It is that, a process of cleansing and purifying. When you dedicate your life to God's hands, you also have to allow Him to sanctify your heart, mind, habits--everything. This ultimately makes a way for His Spirit to dwell within us.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16&17)

The Lord will not dwell in a temple that is contaminated with unholy things.
It's so important for us to seek Him daily, and ask Him to search our hearts, as written in the Psalms:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23&24)

I just feel so blessed and overwhelmed that He has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell among us and within us. Instead of conforming to the world, we are becoming One with Christ. Abiding in Him, and He abiding in us. That is the true reflection of self... Allowing our God and Creator to shine through us, perfecting us and molding a character that radiates love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22&23). By His grace we can glorify His Name from our hearts to the heavens.

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19&20)

"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. 

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."

(Lamentations 3:40&41)