There is different ways of becoming:
 

1. Passive way-the story of Amnon
2. Human Effort-to study, exercise, put forth effort, discipline ourselves-which without character will lead us to manipulate and politic or even bow to witchcraft and control.

 
We cannot mistake human effort for character.
 
Many people have succeeded in the world and became someone they did not like.
 
Matthew 16:26 (KJV) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
 
This reminds me of something God spoke through the prophet Isaiah:
 
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10 NKJV
 
I would have loved it if God had rephrased some of this. “I have tested you in the sauna of the spa experience,” for example, would have been nice.
 
In the book of Esther, we read: “Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments” (2:12 NIV). I have told my husband he would have an Esther too if I could go through a year’s worth of beauty treatments. But alas, just like Esther, we are not defined by who we are in the spa. We are defined by who we are in the fire.
 
When the fire in our lives gets turned up we are getting tuned up.  Embrace the flames. The other side of the fire awaits you.
 

How many of you have seen the Rocky movies? There is a part in one of them where Rocky tells Pauley, “You hang-out in a place you become part of that place.”  We have to watch where we go. Most of us focus on what we are to do and not do, but what about where we go?  My mother use to say, “Hang out long enough on the river bank and one day you’ll slide in.” There is a chance that the environment will change us rather than us changing our environment.  So what can we do when we find ourselves in a less than desirable culture, job, family setting, etc.?

We have to consider the right things. Hebrews 12:3 says, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

Daniel was in an evil environment but he did not let that environment get in him. See that’s the pressure! If he had conformed and became part of that environment he would never have had the opportunity to share his God with Nebuchadnezzar.

If Joseph would have become like his environment her would never have had the opportunity to influence Pharaoh. We have to hold on to what God wants us to become not give into the world, the culture, the devil, the generational iniquities that have been passed down in our own families.

The weapon of the devil is to pre-occupy us to keep our eyes on the present work load rather than our future.
​
Let us determine to keep our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We can make a difference and be the Joseph’s and Daniel’s or our day.

Becoming is a process. Many times we have no idea we are in the process of becoming someone or something else. Just because we don’t realize it is happening does not mean change is not transpiring.  We mentioned that Joseph’s brothers were so full of hate for him that they became treacherous and sold their brother and then lied to their Father and told him an animal killed him. They even dipped Joseph’s multi-colored coat in blood and ripped it up to show their father.  If you would have asked them if they would ever stoop to that level they would have shouted a hardy, “No!” 

We eat one thing extra a day and we end up 20 lbs. overweight or even more in a short year or less. We watch one questionable TV program and we become culturally lukewarm one hour at a time.  In the same way one hour at the gym a day, one good choice over the bad, fatty food a day, one hour in the word instead of in front of the TV and we may not notice the difference but others will. We look at ourselves every day.  But when someone hasn’t seen us for a while they will see a different person. Every day we have an opportunity to become better. Sure we will make mistakes but learn from them and move on.

The pressure comes when the world tried to press us into conforming to the world’s image.  This is a battle we have to resist. If Daniel had conformed and became part of his environment he would never have had the opportunity to share his God with Nebuchadnezzar.

If Joseph would have become like his environment he would never have had the opportunity to influence Pharaoh.

Today is the day of influence. You and I are the influencers. We are the light and our calling is to dispel darkness.  We are salt and we must cause the world to thirst after righteousness.

Matthew 5:13 (NIV) “"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

You no longer need to be a slave to fear you are a child of God. You are surrounded by the arms of God.  These are words to a song sung by Bethel Music. When I hear it I get set free. I’ve posted it at the bottom for your soaking time.  I pray this Blog finds you becoming freer with each passing day.

Becoming is a process of change good or bad. It happens one day at a time. As we’ve mentioned the last few blogs the things that are inside of our heart manifest in our life. If we lust then it will manifest. If we love it will manifest in our life.  That is why the Word of God tells us to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it (out of our heart) flow the issues of life.

We all have issues.  The young Prophet had an Orphan Spirit. He needed affirmation and acceptance from the older Prophet more than his desire to obey God.  Gehazi had the need or desire for materialism more than he did the desire to obey Elisha and to tell the truth. 
​
Today ask yourself, “What do I love, want, desire, think I need more than my desire to obey God and be true to His word?”  Your answer to that question will tell you where the devil is working to trip you up and destroy your destiny. Do some soul searching and ask the Lord to reveal to you why that desire or need is greater than your desire to do right?  He will answer you. He is a good God and desires only good for you and I.  You don’t have to be a slave to your desires, wounds and past hurts. He is the Healer. He is your Savior. 

When God wants to take us through a process He will place several tests along the journey.  The tests are not to set us up to fail but to allow us to see where we need improvement.  No worries if we fail to pass the test God is a God of second chances, he wants us to pass.  God wants to give you a promotion.  Let me give you some Biblical examples.

Joseph passed the test “Seduction and Enticement”.  He ran from sexual enticement.  He honored God and honored his leadership. He refused to do anything against His God and His Master.  Bingo! He passed the test. Promotion came.  Remember this when you are promoted you will take people with you and you will leave people behind. 

Another example is the young Prophet found in 1 Kings Chapter 13.  The young prophet was anointed by God and instructed by God.  When God tells us what to do, then only God can change the plan. In this story we find that an older Prophet lied to the younger Prophet.  The younger Prophet listened to the older Prophet.   The younger Prophet failed the test and it cost him his life.  What caused him to fail the test? His need for affirmation and acceptance from either a father figure or someone further along in the ministry caused him to lose his focus.  Once the young Prophets focus was lost—he lost his way and lost his life.

What can we learn from this? When someone gets our ear it can take us off course. We have to guard our gates. In this case our ear gate. Another test will be the mouth gate.

Visit RPMDaily.net tomorrow for more on this subject where we will look at the story of Jephthah whose name means ‘he opens’; Jephthah has a fatal habit of speaking without thinking. He made a rash vow and it would have been better if he had remained silent. (Judges 11) 

Until then—guard your gates and keep your focus.

Yesterday I began sharing with you about the topic “Becoming”.  We looked at 2 Samuel 13 where Amnon’s focus was Tamar. His lust for her caused him to rape her, lie to David and then hate Tamar with a greater hate than the degree with which he loved her.  We are capable of horrible things when we allow negative emotions to rule us.  Another example is the Patriarchs.  The hated their brother Joseph. They hated Joseph so much because their father favored Joseph. Remember Joseph was the son of Racheal whom Jacob loved dearly. Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors and that further the brothers hate for Joseph. Their wrong focuses caused them to sale their brother into slavery and lie to their father and tell him Joseph was killed by a wild animal.  However, our sins find us out.

Numbers 32:23 (KJV) “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Without any interruptions the Patriarchs became more vile and corrupt because they compared themselves with their brother. Compared themselves with how their father treated him differently. They focused on Joseph rather than focusing on themselves, what they were called to do, what God wanted of them.  What we look at determines what we become.
​
Also who we hang out with determines our character. Amnon hung out with Jonadab who was Shimei’s son. If you remember Shimei was a spy that David spoke of on his death bed. David said he must die. Jonadab encouraged Amnon to lie. We have to watch out for the Jonadab’s in our life.  They can cause us to miss our destiny, hurt others and cause us to bring a curse on our family.

Exodus 34:7 (KJV)  “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].”

'Becoming is defined as causing someone to look attractive, having a flattering or attractive effect, suitable or appropriate for a particular person or in a certain situation according to Merriam Webster.  I recently had the opportunity to share on this subject at a women’s conference. I want to share for several days on what I’ve studied. 

The scripture I started with is 2 Samuel 13.  This is the story of Amnon and the rape of his sister.  The scripture tells us that he loved his sister Tamar so much it was making him become thinner and thinner.  He had a friend named Jonadab who was a friend of Shinmei. This friend told Amnon to lie down and lie and say he was sick and wanted David to send Tamar in to feed him.  That’s what David did. He sent Tamar in to feed Amnon and when he did Amnon raped her.  

Looking at Tamar and focusing on her caused Amnon to become a different man. Without an interruption Amnon became a murderer. 

What we look at can change us.  We have to be careful what we focus on because we follow what we focus on.
​
Today ask yourself whose got you ear and what’s got your eye.  

Galatians 5:22 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Day six of our look at Galatians 5:22 we are going to look at “Love” then tomorrow “Faithfulness” then our series will end.  I pray you have enjoyed our journey together. 

I had a wonderful couple of weeks ministering to ladies at conferences and have been inspired to do our next Series on “Becoming” so pass the word and Rev-up your mornings by getting them started here at RPMDaily.net where we begin with God. 

Let’s start there-beginning with God. In the beginning He (God)  created us because He wanted to fellowship with us. Then we know from the Word of God that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son Jesus to die in our place because of the wrong choices man made in the garden. From the very beginning God has done all things to have a loving relationship with us and we have failed Him over and over. Perhaps we are not clear on the kind of love God loves us with. God love puts others before self. 

John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

There are several words translated love in the Bible. Here is a partial list of the Greek word and what it means:
Agapeo-this is God love
Philo-this is brotherly love
Eros-this is exotic love
Storgy-this is motherly love
Mania-this is manic love or lust

The most common word for God’s love for us is Agape (I John, John 3:16) and the love we are commanded to have for one another (Matt. 5:44, I Cor. 13).

Today’s challenge is to read the above scriptures and evaluate your relationships and to honestly ask yourself, “Am I loving with the Fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22?”

John 13:35 (NIV) “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 Galatians 5:22 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Day five of our look at Galatians 5:22 we are going to look at “Joy”.  Most think of happiness when I say the word, “Joy”. In all actuality happiness is when all the happenings around us are good and pleasant. Joy is what we can have on the inside of us when everything is going wrong.

When my house was burning down in 1995 due to an electrical wiring problem inside of me was a joy knowing that everything was going to be okay. The world, my world as I knew it was in ashes. Everything we owned and all of my photos and journals were to the best of my knowledge in ashes. It was only days later I realized that they had been preserved from both water and fire because coats had fallen off the hangers onto the Milk Crates and kept them safe.  God had let me know in the middle of the fire He was there and everything was going to be alright. 

Daniel 3:25 (NIV) “He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Just as Daniel came through the fire so did my photos and journals and even a book I had been writing. I had joy in the midst of the fire. 

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) “Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

In the midst of hard work, ridicule, and disappointment Nehemiah encouraged the people to remember the Lord for He was there strength.
​
Today and from this day forward when you want to quit and settle in to self-pity remember the Lord for He is your strength in the time of trouble and a very present help. (Psalm 46:1)