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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)”

We seek God’s kingdom and righteousness:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)”

Don’t believe those who say you can be righteous without doing what is right. Don’t believe those who say you can do what’s right by self-effort/ Doing what is right can be a sign of righteousness, but all righteousness does what’s right. Christ in you can do what’s right, but you don’t have the ability. Only by His power working in you can you do what’s right.

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. (1 John 3:7)”

Do what God is telling you to do by the power of His grace. Be led by the Spirit and faith will come leading to grace that has the power to do what’s right as you yield yourself to His grace.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)”

God gives the gift of righteousness through faith. Faith comes by hearing. Faith gives us access into God’s grace. God’s grace does the righteousness through us as we yield ourselves to it.

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile. (Romans 3:22)”

God just keeps pounding this point home in Scripture. Righteousness and goodness aren’t things we can somehow conjure up within ourselves. They come as gifts from God based on faith. Faith comes when we listen to God’s leading. The Greek word is rhema. It means a statement or utterance. It means the leading, teaching, or correcting voice of God. That’s where faith comes from:

“And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:9)”

Ask God to answer these questions.

1. What does it mean to offer your body as a living sacrifice?
2. What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind?
3. How do you know God’s will?
4. What does it mean to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness?
5. How do you listen to God’s voice and follow it?

Bonus questions:

1. How do you receive the gift of righteousness?
2. What is the pattern of the world?
3. Who renews your mind?
4. What’s the importance of doing what God is leading you to do?
5. How does faith give you access to God’s grace?
6. What role does yielding to God’s grace play in your righteousness?
7. Why can’t you conjure up righteousness yourself?

1. Pray for the Lord to protect you and keep you in His presence and His presence only.
2. Direct your mind toward the Lord only.
3. Ask God what He want’s to talk about.
4. You can ask God any questions. In all of this, be led by the Holy Spirit. God promises that He will answer you if you ask Him.
5. Do not edit or change what God says even if you don’t understand it.
6. Reject the lies and receive the truth.
7. Take notes.
8. Transfer your notes to your journal without editing what God said to you.

Keep in mind that God doesn’t want you to ever disconnect from Him. He wants to flow through you constantly in knowledge, wisdom, and love.

Fishbone (Cause and Effect) Diagram Exercise

Draw a cause and effect diagram that makes sense for this unit. You can read more about cause and effect diagrams in (Fishbone Diagram Info). This simple tool can help you understand how to make things work, why things aren’t working, or why things are happening in a certain way. Review the article and find the most important effect you want to look at and put that in the box on the left end of a line. From the center line, draw one branch for each cause. Think of the branches as streams feeding into the main river that leads to the effect.

Let the Holy Spirit lead you in this. (Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.) Take what you learned, your notes or what you produced and videotape yourself. Be a kid influencer for Christ with your own social media platform by uploading your video as God leads.