Jesus loves us and He has made us with all our idiosyncrasies.  His Word and Spirit instruct us in Christlike behavior.  When we surrender to Him, He continues to mold us and make us more like Him. That’s the goal, but it takes a lifetime of our submission and His divine transformation!

2 Cor 3:18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. NLT

From the journal . . . . May 1999

Jesus, I want to be light at my school.  Help me to be.  Lord, I’m afraid something in my personality puts people off.  I don’t want that, but You have created me, and You are my Lord and Master.  You are the potter, and I am the clay.  Change me and mold me. 

Isaiah 45:9-11“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
    Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
    ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
    ‘How clumsy can you be?’
¹⁰ How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
    ‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
    ‘Why did you make me this way?’”

¹¹ This is what the Lord says—
    the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
“Do you question what I do for my children?
    Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

Lord, please work on me so that I will be more useful to You.  I surrender.   If there is anything that I can do to be more totally Yours, please show me.  

And I Believe God Said:

Don’t worry about being liked.  Love others.  Look for good in others.  Don’t speak evil of anyone.  If you can’t say anything nice, don’t speak.  Truth is good but be aware of your own opinion and bias.  You don’t know Odessa.  Your intuition is leery of her.  Don’t speak evil and don’t make judgements.  Respond in love but be sure of My word and the things I have taught you.  Stand firm.

John 15:12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
Psalm 34:13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!.
Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. ² For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

Phil 4:9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Thank You, Lord.  You are good to me, and I love how You speak but I feel like I don’t share Your words much.  Is there more I should do?

Be alert to opportunities.

Thank You, Lord.

I remember Odessa.  I think she was a speech specialist and not at my school full time.  I remember her saying something about the Lord early on so I assumed we would have a common bond, but she did not want that.  I continued to try to be friendly but one day the secretary said, “Odessa asked me if you didn’t know that she doesn’t like you.”   This came as no surprise because she made it pretty clear how she felt, but I believe we should give people the benefit of the doubt. She never did warm up to me but, by the grace of God, I was able to treat her with kindness and respect. 

To not worry about being liked is easier said than done but focusing on loving others is always a good direction. 

Jesus Others Yourself spells JOY!