For to me to live is Christ…Philippians 1:21

What is the biggest obstacle we face in living for God, overcoming our difficulties and reaching our destiny in life? It is self; our propensity to follow and gratify our own sinful nature. All sin springs from selfishness and selfishness is an underlying  principle that governs our world.

This tendency towards selfishness can be traced back to the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve immediate developed a sense of self after eating fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, “The LORD called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ The man said, ‘I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself’”, Genesis 3:9-10.

But the good news for us who have been redeemed from sin and its penalty through faith in Christ is that we no longer have to live according to the dictates of our sinful nature. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:24, “Those who belong to Christ have crucified (put to death) the flesh with its passions and lusts”. Thus, we believers have the potential to live Christ centered lives, lives the reflect the character and the anointing of the Lord Jesus, rather than self-centered lives that conform to the ways of the secular world.

What then are some practical ways we can transform our lives from being focused on and dependent on self to living for and being dependent on Christ?

1. Abandon our own agenda and accept the agenda of Christ

Step outside and look around and you see people passing by. Each one has their own agenda, their own list of things they want to see accomplished in their lives. But who is the one who is seeking to fulfill the agenda of Christ in their lives, in the families and in their communities? We each have our own plans and ideas, yet these wishes and dreams may be based in our own selfish wants and needs or on our own fears. We have to give up our agendas, those things we care about.

…casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7.

If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

And in place of these cares we accept the agenda of Christ: his ideas, purposes and methods. It is the difference from doing something in one’s own name or in the name of Christ. If we are seeking to accomplish a task that we decided to do or do something noble in our own way, we are acting in our own name and not the Lord’s. And we are working in our strength and not his. But if we are acting out of obedience to what the Lord has told us to do, i.e., following his agenda, then we are doing the task in his name and thus we can expect him to support and guide us in that endeavor.

And what is Jesus’ agenda? Look at Matthew 6:33: “But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness;” Living for and according to his kingdom, that is Christ’s agenda.

How then can we fully carry out Christ agenda in our lives? Follow the steps outlined in points 2 – 4.

2. Make spending time with Christ and his word our first priority for each day

So if we want to accomplish the agenda of Christ in our lives each day it will be necessary to spend time with the Lord Jesus at the beginning of each day. We need to make this a daily practice, before we get involved in other tasks. Just like the Lord, we need to get up early and spend time with him, just like he awoke early to spend time with this father,”Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there,”  Mark 1:35. And it not just a time to make our requests, but it is a time for fellowship:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

It is also a time to listen to what he has to say to us:

I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. Habakkuk 2:1

The LORD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. Isaiah 50:4

And it is a time to mediate on the word of God. To repeat it to ourselves and let it speak to our hearts. Thus, over time, we are able to order our lives according the God’s word and learn to make it our final authority.

Every day is full of potential. Victories and breakthroughs await us. There could be potential setbacks and failures too. How can we be ready? How can we make the most of each opportunity.? We can be ready by meeting with the Lord each morning, receiving his instructions, wisdom and empowerment. Then we can expect to ready the handle whatever comes our way.

3. Learn to be sensitive to the voice of God

Jesus told us, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” John 10:27. And we need to keep listening for his voice throughout our day. He has instruction to give us and things to remind us. Jesus always maintained his contact with his father. He said in John 8:27-29:

When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.

We need to strive to be like Jesus that we do not anything of ourselves, but only that which he has taught us to do.

4. Stay alert for opportunities to bear fruit.

Our purpose as believers is to bear fruit unto God (Romans 7:4, John 15:8). Thus we need to be open to God’s Spirit as he show us opportunities to carry out self-less acts of love that help others and bring glory to God.

So why stay forced on self and living according to the world and its futile ways. Break out from the selfishness of the world and discover what it is like to live a Christ centered life.