Being A Trendsetter In Living For Jesus - Instead Of A Follower Who Lives Like The World

Dear faithful readers, today I would like to talk about "Being a Trendsetter in Living For Jesus - Instead Of a Follower Who Lives Like the World"!

From the book of Romans 12:2, it says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you are trapped in your old habits, all your dirty things you've been doing, it's never too late to get back on track with the Lord! It's time to step up for your Creator of Life!

Since it is easier for me to relate to guys, here's an example of a conversation between 2 friends whom we can learn alot from!
Daniel: "Finish this sentence, 'it's springtime, and that means...' "
Joseph: "Cute girls wearing short skirts."
Daniel: "Wow, that was quick. I thought you might say 'baseball' or 'allergies' or 'warm weather.'"
Joseph: "I figured you wanted me to be honest."
Daniel: "Well, OK... So, the girls, huh? That's it? That's what you think of?"
Joseph: "Oh, don't act like you haven't noticed! How could a guy not think of girls this time of year? Almost all of them have been going to tanning booths. Dieting. Exercising. Getting ready for bikini season. Now, here it is - the first bit of warm weather and boom! They're everywhere. Short shorts. Tube tops. Everywhere I look there's a cute girl showing skin!"
Daniel: "Yeah, it is kind of hard to look away. And the clothes seem to get skimpier every year."
Joseph: "Tell me about it!"
Daniel: "Which is why, in my book, it's a good idea to try taming the old imagination, if you get my drift."
Joseph: "Yeah, well, that't easier said than done. At least for me."
Daniel: "Are you struggling?"
Joseph: "(Embarassed) Well... yeah! Doesn't every guy?"
Daniel: "I would say it affects all guys some of the time, and some guys all of the time."
Joseph: "Yeah, well. I'm in the second category."

Now, what we can learn from here is that Joseph has fallen into lust and is trapped in it. You can say that he has X-Ray Vision which is lust!

However, here is a new view that we all should keep in mind! It's flat-out wrong the way some women dress! And it doesn't help when some Christian girls follow suit! But the fashion industry probably isn't about to change for the better anytime soon! All we can do is try, with God's help, to control our thoughts!

Here are some reminders to help you:
(a) Appreciating a beautiful girl isn't wrong. God made us to respond to beauty.
(b) Lust is the problem - undressing women with your mind, viewing them as sexual objects instead of priceless creatures made in the image of God.
(c) Your mind can be disciplined (Romans 12:2 already states it). Tempting thoughts can be turned away, certain mental habits can be changed, and certain positive images can be summoned to replace negative ones.
(d) Remember, behind that gorgeous female body is a person with fears, dreams, hopes and goals! She's somebody's daughter, somebody's sister and somebody's future bride! That's why it's important to treat her the way you want other men to treat the woman you'll eventually marry! (That gives you a whole new perspective, doesn't it?)

Let me share with you about dedicating your body to God!

Remember back in the Old Testament when people offered sacrifices regularly to the Lord? Sometimes they sacrificed bulls and sometimes they sacrificed sheep: whatever the sacrifice was, it had to be a pure and spotless animal - the very best a person had to offer! Nothing less than perfect was acceptable to God! So, if you're going to make yourself a "living sacrifice" to God, you need to make sure that your offering is as pure and spotless as you can make it! That means allowing yourself to be transformed by God's mercy and avoiding the things that pollute your body and mind and damage your devotion to God!

If you know people who are caught in the trap of living to please themselves, make it a goal to pray for them regularly. Ask God to help them recognize how empty their lives are without Jesus, and ask Him to use you in demonstrating to your friends exactly what God has to offer!

Well, I encourage you to be a trendsetter in living for Jesus instead of a follower who lives like the world! Don't follow the crowd =)