Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2, NIV

True faith is not intended to be an add-on to our lives. It’s not supposed to be  “me-plus-Jesus.” It’s supposed to be Jesus, consuming me–less of me, and more of Him. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).

This doesn’t sound like a Sunday-only mindset, does it? It doesn’t leave room for what we want or will for our lives–God asks for our total surrender of every part of us: soul, mind, and strength.

This makes sense when we think of Jesus modeled in the Bible as our bridegroom: the Bible describes marriage as two becoming one. When you pledge your love in a marriage vow, you are merging every aspect of yourself and your life with that other person. It shouldn’t be surprising then, when we say, “Yes, Lord” to Jesus as our Savior, the same expectation of total oneness exists.

Faith, then, should not be something we do or have; it should be who we are. At church, at home, and at work, we should be the same Christ-follower wherever we go. In faith, we are miraculously transformed as it states in 2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” And, we are commanded to turn away from the things of the world and our flesh (Rom. 12:2). God’s will for us is that we would become ever more Christ-like, day by day. As we live out our days in this world, we should think differently, and be different. We should be transformed and renewed by the living Word of God.

Are you holding anything back? If so, give it to God, the lover of your soul. He already gave everything for us–give everything back to Him and watch yourself be transformed for the better from the inside out.

Lord, thank you for the transformative power of Your spirit in my life. I pray that You would indwell me with Your Spirit day by day. Empty me of myself and fill me with Yourself. When others see me, may they see You first and foremost. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi.

Rhapsody is a member and high school English teacher from North Carolina. She is passionate about helping struggling teachers strike a balance between success and sanity at her blog, tightropeteaching.com.