(*This article appears in the “VerseONE E-Newsletter” – a campus ministry resource at the Art Institute of Charlotte, in Charlotte, NC – http://verse1.wordpress.com )

Most of us get tired of making the same mistakes, falling into the same WRONG relationships, repeating the same harmful habits…over and over and over again.  If you’ve given your life to Christ, you have access to a source of supernatural power that can turn your life upside down (or really, “rightside-up” ).  I’m not talking about “super powers”, like flying, or freezing people, or shooting rays out of your eyes (though, I have to admit that would be pretty cool : )  I’m talking about something far more incredible – the power to literally change your life.

Jesus said he came to give us life…life abundant.  He also said it was only possible through Him, that is, through an ongoing-every day relationship with Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Christ-followers in Colosse:  “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”   (Colossians 2:6-7, TNIV)

Continue to live in Him.  In another translation it says “continue to walk with him”.  When I describe myself to other people, I prefer to call myself a “Christ-follower”, instead of “Christian”.  Following describes motion.  If we are actively following Jesus, we are walking behind Him, and with Him, learning from Him as we go.  It’s active, it’s daily, and it’s constant.  The older I get the more I realize I absolutely need Jesus every moment of my day.

The next several posts will look at “habits” (or “disciplines”) we can form in our life to help us be faithful followers of Jesus – whose lives are truly transformed by Him.

Today, let me leave you with the first important place to start – getting your gaze on Jesus. There are so many things that battle for our mental energy and our mental purity.  In Romans 12 it says:  “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2, NLT)

I think this starts by constantly bringing Jesus into our thoughts.  Literally, ask Him in your heart – “Jesus, what do YOU think about this?” or “How do YOU want me respond to that insult, Jesus?”, etc.  This can be difficult, I realize, because we have so much constant noise in our lives that distracts us.  We’ll talk about this in more detail next time –

Really, if you truly want to live a transformed life that revolves around Jesus (and this is the ONLY way to live a transformed life), the best place to start is simply expressing this to God.  Just tell Him, “Jesus, I want to truly follow you, I’m tired of always messing up.  I want you to change me”.  God never turns down an honest prayer like that : )  Don’t get me wrong, it’ll involve some changes on your part, and some sacrifice, but if you truly want to live differently, God is ready to meet you there.

So, until next time – let’s all get our gaze on Jesus.