Becoming More Like Jesus: Stop Trying, Start Trainingنموونە

"You earn what you get, and you get what you earn" is a common philosophy often thrown around in our hustle-and-grind culture. If allowed to shape our thinking, this mentality leads to a life of constant striving, characterized by trying really hard, often under our own willpower.

But what happens when life doesn't go according to plan? What happens when, despite all of our striving, we still end up in a season of struggle and adversity? In this place, the messages of our current culture sound something like this. If you want to overcome adversity, you need to "rise to the occasion," "take matters into your own hands," and "don't wait for things to happen; make them happen."

However, throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to stop trying to become more like Jesus in our own strength and to start training in godliness by the power of the Holy Spirit. In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes, "Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (See 1 Timothy 4:7-8) And again, in 2 Timothy 3:16, we read that "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

But practically speaking, what does it look like to shift our thinking from trying really hard to training in godliness? What might it look like for us to allow the Holy Spirit to train our mind, body, and spirit so that we might become more like Jesus?

Trying really hard under our own willpower is often done in isolation under the umbrella of guilt and shame, afraid that others will judge the current condition of our lives.

Training to become more like Jesus happens out in the open, under the umbrella of grace and love, within a community of other apprentices of Jesus who have gathered together to seek the presence of God.

In this reading plan, we will explore four ways that the Holy Spirit is calling us to stop trying and start training as we journey with Christ through this life:

• The movement from willpower to Holy Spirit power.
• The movement from isolation to community.
• The principle of indirection.
• A Multi-generational approach to training in godliness.

Friend, as you go, is there one or more areas of your life where you feel stuck? Areas where, again and again, you have tried to become more like Jesus but failed due to your own lack of willpower. Please know that you are not a failure. Please know that change is possible. Come away with Jesus into the quiet place where you can learn what it looks like to stop trying and start training.