1. Humble yourselves before the Lord

How do we humble ourselves before the Lord? The word humble has to do with our attitude. We adjust our attitude, making ourselves less proud. We lower ourselves and admit to Him, our human flaws, our weaknesses, our sins, our mistakes, while asking for forgiveness and help to be more like Christ. I love how the amplified Bible breaks down James 4:10

Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].

2. Give Him your heart and delight in His ways

Give him your whole heart-all of it-the broken pieces too-every single shard. He wants it all. Jesus wants all of you and He wants you to revel in His ways.

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, -Proverbs 23:26

3. Love the Lord your God with all your heart

We don’t just love Him when we feel like it, or when our lives are looking up. This is isn’t a part-time, conditional love. No. We pour our heart, mind and soul into loving Him, all the time, with every ounce of our being.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. -Deuteronomy 6:5 (AMP)

4. Live by faith

No longer living for ourselves, we have been crucified, so dying to ourselves, we give Him every part of our life. And if we’re struggling with turning some of it over, we ask for the willingness to surrender each area to Him, until we can fully surrender our life and our desires, then we let Him fill us with His desires. And we live by faith, believing without seeing, and trusting in Jesus-always trusting in Him.

I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. -Galations 2:20 (AMP)

5. Be doers of the Word

Yes, reading the Word is important, but are we doing what the Word is telling us? We must be doers of the Word, not just readers of the Word. To “do”, is to act. It involves truly listening and then taking the obedient steps to follow what it says.

But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. -James 1:22 (AMP)

6. Keep His commandments

Keeping His commandments is love in action. By following His law, we are submitting to His ways.

If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. -John 14:15 (AMP)

7. Take his yoke upon you, and learn from Him

Come to Him, letting Him teach and refine you, because Jesus is a gentle teacher. Come to Him, for His way is lighter and less cumbersome than our ways.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. -Matthew 11:29 (AMP)

8. Seek first the Kingdom of God

When we seek Him and His kingdom first, all else falls into place. So, we seek and put Jesus above all else, and we become. Then, we watch it all happen just as it’s supposed to. And we watch ourselves become who we were meant to be all along.

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. -Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

9. Trust in the Lord with all your heart

We don’t just trust Him a little, we trust Him with our WHOLE hearts. We trust Him with every piece of our lives. Everything we hold near and dear to us, we hand over to His care. Everything that is important to us, we put in His hands. Every decision we must make, we take to Him first. When we can’t see, we trust that He does and that He has our best interests at heart. And when we don’t understand His ways, we still trust and rely on Him.

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. -Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)

10. Crucify the flesh

When we put to death our fleshly desires and temptations, we begin to live in the Spirit. This is when the fruits of the Spirit are given room to grow and blossom.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. -Galations 5:24

11. Walk by the Spirit

By letting the Spirit direct our thoughts, our words, our attitudes, and our actions, we are surrendering our ways, while letting Him lead us and empower us to walk in righteousness.

If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. -Galations 5:25 (AMP)

12. Repent and produce fruit

We repent. Making a concerted effort to not sin by practicing new ways of living, we work with Jesus, while allowing Him to change our hearts so we can produce fruit.

So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; -Matthew 3:8 (AMP)

13. Let not your hearts be troubled

Be brave in Him, and not afraid. Have courage and know that He is God- the God Almighty, who overcame the world. He is a BIG, BIG God, who is in the business of helping His believers. So, be fearless, be bold-and take heart in Him, my friends.

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. -John 14:1 (AMP)

14. Do not fear

We remember that we are not to be afraid of anything because there is nothing we should fear, and He is our God-our Defender and Protector. This is a tough one for those of us who struggle with fear due to anxiety. I once heard though, that we can either have faith or live in fear, but we can’t do both at the same time. It is one or the other. Will we walk towards faith or in fear today?

Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ -Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)

15. Submit to God and draw near to Him, resisting the devil

To submit, means to yield. So, we yield to Him and draw close, burying ourselves in His Word and taking it to heart by walking in His ways. We stand firmly before Jesus, not letting satan get his hold on us.

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. -James 4:7-8 9 (AMP)