S-l-o-u-g-h: to shed dead skin. 2. To get rid of something undesirable or no longer required. (Powered by Oxford, Lexico.com 2021. Web 27 February 2021)

Everything good and fruitful comes from our connection with God. I truly believe in the depths of my soul that every problem can be solved by sitting at the feet of Jesus. That is why he is I AM. I AM everything you need. I AM who you need me to be in the moment. I AM your source. I AM your healer. I AM your life.

Jesus died to make a way to the Father. Jesus died so sin is no longer an issue. Jesus died, because God saw us as worth the price. The moment Jesus gave up his spirit, the temple vale, which symbolized separation between God and man, was torn from top to bottom. God was saying, “I did this for you. Come boldly before me into my throne of grace. You are made accepted and loved.”

So if that is true, if the very God who made the universe wants a relationship with us, why not take full advantage of it? Who cares about Netflix and Facebook and a million other time-sucking distractions when the answer to everything you need lives inside of you?

Make time for him. Not just Bible study once a week and a daily devotional but rearrange things until he is the center of your world. Learn to be intentionally aware of his presence moment by moment. Converse with him throughout the day. Pray, speak scriptures over yourself and situations. Read his word, ask him questions and journal the answers you hear in your quiet time with him. Cultivate a heart of gratitude and start thanking him for all the things you are grateful for when you are tempted to grumble.

The Bible says, “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NAS). As we discipline our minds to focus on God and the things of the Spirit, we begin to transform. Our hearts begin to become attuned to the spiritual realm and to soften to God. Whatever you focus on and make time for, your heart becomes softened to and becomes magnified in your life. Do you want to focus on worry, offense, self image, distractions that don’t matter, etc.? Well then frankly, life is gonna suck. However, if we turn our focus to the goodness of God, gratitude, his promises, dying to self, his love for us and others…we begin to transform. The things of this world that used to seem so important begin to seem insignificant. You start seeing through the eyes of truth and love.

That is what Jesus meant by daily bread. His time with the Father is what fed him. He was not counting on nourishment from yesterday’s meal. Every day, every moment, he was intentional to listen for the words that God was speaking over him.

My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work (John 4:34 NIV).

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself, but Him who sent me (John 5:30).

It is the same with us. John 15:4 says Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (ESV).

As you spend time with him, the things that are not you begin to slough off. As you make room for him in your heart, your heart becomes more free. As you allow him to speak his truth over you, broken pieces begin to heal. Things you thought that you could never believe, begin to become believable. You start to see through his eyes. That’s the beauty of becoming one with someone so much greater than yourself. The closer you get to him, the more the best version of you, who you were truly created to be, shines through.

A branch does not struggle to produce fruit; it just abides in the vine and fruit produces naturally. It takes time, but fruit happens. So if you struggle with anxiety spend time with the Prince of Peace. If you have physical healing that needs to manifest, spend time with the Healer. If you are living in lack, spend time with the Provider. If you struggle with addiction, know that he sets the captives free. If rejection or never measuring up has been your prison, spend time with the lover of your soul. Get to know him as your I Am. As you spend time with him and cry out to him in truth, the good fruit in your life will come.

A Part of Renewing Your Mind:

• Set aside quiet time every day to spend with God. That can look like journaling, meditating on scriptures, listening to worship music, thanking him or just sitting and listening, etc.
• When going about your day, be intentionally aware that he is right there. Share your thoughts with him and submit your attitudes to him.
• Align your thoughts to his and replace any lies with his truth.