Become a New and Better Version of Yourself
“A Person Attracts Success by the Person They Become.” – Jim Rohn
Becoming a better version of yourself is a necessity for true success. I’m not talking about the world’s definition of success. I’m talking about a life that has purpose and meaning. There is no easy and quick formula to becoming your best; it takes knowledge, practice, and time. The commitment is your responsibility; no one else can do it for you. There are principles, techniques, and attitudes that you can adopt that will make some difference; that is called self-improvement or personal development. However, if you want a real change and to become a new person, it will take more than self-effort or things you can do. Therefore, the first thing any person must accept is that they do not have the power to change themselves dramatically; then, they are ready to embark on a new way of living with a new attitude about life. That is why I start with the number one and only way to reach your goal to “Become a New and Better Version of Yourself.” The emphasis is on “New.”
Start a relationship with God
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). According to an 85-year study from Harvard researchers, forget money, a successful career or exercise: The No. 1 key to happiness comes down to positive relationships.” Harvard was established to train preachers, but I doubt that liberal Harvard would include this: “At the very top of relationships is knowing God, enabling a person to develop stronger relationships with others.
Contrary to what some might think, trying to keep a list of dos and don’ts does not measure up to a real relationship with God. So, what are we to do? The answer to that question does not include what we can do but what Jesus Christ has already done: “He was in the world, and he made the world, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:10-13). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God sent Jesus Christ, his Son, to suffer and die on a rugged cross to pay the penalty for sin and its consequential spiritual, physical death, and eternal separation from God. We can experience eternal life and a relationship with God by Trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.
Paul summarizes this good news this way: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6&8 KJV). It is by God’s unique gift of grace through our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, that we can have a relationship with Him; once again, the Apostle Paul points this out: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God’s grace is extended to anyone who calls upon Him: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:10-13).
Jesus is inviting you today to come to Him: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
If you have believed in your heart, according to the verses above, below is a simple prayer to express it to God:
“God, I desire more than anything else to have a relationship with you. I realize that I have sinned against you, and I believe Jesus lived, died, and rose from the grave to forgive my sins, conquer death, and give me a new life eternal and a new hope. I’m tired and I’ve come to the end of myself and want to turn from my sinful life and follow you. I place my trust in Jesus; please forgive me and come into my heart. Thank you for saving me. Amen.”
For more information on knowing God and for the next step, please click on the following URL: http://jimmieburroughs.com/2023/02/how-to-know-god/.
Commit to God’s plan of Making You a New Person
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3, KJV)
We can generally expect God to bless our work when we commit ourselves to His ways and trust in and depend upon Him. However, this does not exempt us from troubles coming into our lives, like losing a job or having trouble at the workplace. Nevertheless, through it all, we can depend on God to fulfill His promise in Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” When you commit yourself to God and His plan, you can trust God, in the end, to use all your experiences to make you the new person He wants you to be.
The proverb above is similar in context to Psalm 1:1–3:
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.”
When we commit our work and ways unto the Lord, according to His perfect will, He will bless it beyond anything we can imagine. God’s plan requires us to cooperate with Him. We should always do our best and then leave the outcome to the Lord. Although there will still be times of difficulty, we can trust in our hearts that God has in mind His ultimate good—as well as ours—through our efforts to please Him in all we do.
Live to please God and Walk in the Newness of Life
When someone is baptized, these words are often spoken: “We are buried with Him in baptism…raised to walk in newness of life;” this is a saying based on Romans 6:4-8: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe we shall live with him” (Romans 6:4-8).
When Paul uses the phrase, “walk in newness of life,” it refers to living a life that honors God. Scriptures emphasize walking in a new way, which includes your ethics and actions: “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception by human tradition, by the elementary principles of the world, rather than by Christ. 9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority” Colossians 2:6-10).
In Galatians 5:22-25, the Apostle Paul describes the attributes and benefits of walking in the power of the Holy Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Fill Your Mind with Positivity
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
The two Bible verses above center on how we think, speak and behave, all essential to developing a strong positive attitude. What is positivity, why is it important, and how can we improve with it? Here is a good definition: Positivity is the practice of thinking in positive ways, having positive emotions, behaving positively, and, for example, being kind, compassionate, and generous. Positivity is essential because it contributes to a better you, a better way of living, and improved mental health. The following are ways we can grow in positivity:
- Develop Positive thoughts: Transforming negative thoughts into positive thoughts: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22 KJV).
- Noticing positive aspects of a situation: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 KJV).
- Challenging pessimistic thoughts: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV).
- Develop Positive behaviors: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Perern 3:9 ESV)
- Practicing acts of kindness: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 – KJV)
- Building strong relationships: (“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:2-3 – KJV)
- Living a healthy Lifestyle: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2 KJV)
- Doing well in your communication with others: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16 – KJV)
The result of positive emotions:
- Love: (“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG).
- Joy: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13 KJV).
- Peace: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV).
- Enthusiasm: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23 KJV).
- Contentment: “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6-19 KJV).
- Happiness: “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her” (Proverbs 3:13-18).
Associate with Those Who Share Your same standards
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33)
The quote from the Bible verse above is a warning about associating with bad people. Whether we like it or not, we become the composite of our five best friends. It is known that we are influenced by the company we keep, and they can harm our judgment, morality, decision-making, and attitude. The Bible verse below gives further advice on a company to be avoided: “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, [Including Drug Addicts] or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11, KJV).
Love Yourself
“And he [Jesus] answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” – Luke 10:27
Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God, and the second greatest was to your neighbor as you love yourself. Therefore, according to the Bible, loving yourself is proper, even necessary to a reasonable degree if you are to love God and others. This type of love includes respecting yourself, caring for yourself, and having a sense of self-worth. The Bible says, “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). There is a rightful place for loving self that does not include selfishness, egotism, or narcissism (an inflated opinion of one’s self). Jesus indicates that if you love God, you will also love your neighbor and yourself; this is love in balance. The Apostle John said, “If a man says, I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20).
Jesus set the example by showing His love by caring for the needs of others and giving his own life so that they might be forgiven of their sin (Matthew 20:28). Jesus also showed good love and concern for himself; He took time to rest, eat, and enjoy association with potential followers and his disciples (Mark 6:31; Luke 5:29; John 2;1 and 12:2).
Health and happiness result from always following the Bible’s wise advice: “Let each one keep seeking, not his advantage, but that of the other person” (1 Corinthians 10:24).
Dress for success
“You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.” – Edith Head, Academy Award winner.
Look around the next time you go anywhere: church, grocery shopping, restaurant, or airport. Dress standards have become so low today that even pastors of churches who once were always well dressed often dress very casually. The dress standard today screams overwhelming mediocrity. The reason for it sometimes is that people want to look just like everyone else. For example, that is the only reason people wear jeans with holes in them or always go around with their shirt tail out.
I realize that some will disagree on this section of the article, and you have a perfect right to do so since it is based on my opinion, for I could be wrong, though I don’t think I am. I believe dressing well is a form of good manners. To me, it’s a show of respect for ones-self to try to put on your best face and look as good as possible. Today it seems that any clothes or any or style are acceptable anywhere you plan to go; some today would even wear their underwear to the mall or pajamas on an airplane. This casual attitude has carried over even in the church, where many look as if they just got off from a hard day’s work and came as there are.
“Studies have long demonstrated that people judge based on their first impression of you within the first seven seconds of interaction and largely on how you look. Newer research shows this time frame may be shrinking—along with our attention spans—to a mere five seconds!” [1]
There is no dress code in the Scriptures except for women dressing modestly and the tabernacle priests wearing specific clothing and ornaments. I believe God does expect us to dress appropriately; it is up to each person to use their initiative to do the right thing. I was raised to believe we should wear our best to church, even if it were our best overalls. My mother dressed me in a suit and tie to go to church before I was ten years old. I guess my idea of dressing for the church is old-fashioned in the view of some. Dress standards have become so low today that wearing a nice suit and tie contrast against a backdrop of overwhelming mediocrity.
People should not be criticized for dressing well to go to church or any place else any more than if they dress casually with good taste, and I emphasize “with good taste.” The Bible is not against wearing expensive clothing or looking neat, nor is there anything about dressing casually. However, the move to dress casually in the church has led to younger girls and women wearing shorts, short dresses, or immoral clothing. As much as we can, our clothing should be decent, appropriate, and acceptable. An excellent example of improperness is wearing a t-shirt, Jamaka shorts, and flip-flops to church; that is just me; I could be wrong. Nevertheless, it is up to each of us to decide what is right since there are no specific dress codes to follow in church or most other places. However, if you have being a success on your mind, you might want to consider the advantages of dressing well.
“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slave of the ordinary.” — Cecil Beaton
[1] 7 Seconds to Judge a person by Dave Thomas | AUTHOR Dave Thomas Films/Bella Vision Limited, PRODUCER | WRITER | DIRECTOR | ENTREPRENEUR February 22, 2017 7 Seconds to Judge a person