Christ Lives in Me!

“My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one!” — Galatians 2:20 TPT

Galatians 2:20 is more than a declaration of faith—it is a call to surrender. The Christian life is not about improving the old self; it is about allowing the old identity to die so that Christ can live through us.

The only thing that ultimately matters is Jesus revealed and glorified.

He must be our first pursuit, our highest treasure and our ultimate object of worship. Jesus is not simply a part of our lives—He is the essence of our existence. We live to know Him, love Him and make Him known.

This means surrendering our right to dictate what our lives should become. We are clay in the hands of the Potter. He is King, and we don't tell the King what to do. Even our prayer must flow from this understanding. Prayer is not primarily about convincing God to fulfil our plans; it is about knowing His will and surrendering ourselves to it. “Lord, have Your way in me. Shape me. Use me. Make me what pleases You.”

Paul reminds us that grace cannot be peripheral:

“For if keeping the law could release God’s righteousness to us, then Christ would have died for nothing.” — Galatians 2:21 TPT

We don't earn God's love or righteousness through our performance. Christ has already given Himself for us. Our response is to surrender our lives to Him. Jesus also reminds us that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can produce fruit. Until the seed dies, it abides alone.

The same is true of us. Until we die to self—our pride, control, ambitions, recognition and insistence on our own way—we limit what God desires to produce through our lives. The investment of Heaven requires the surrender of the vessel. The seed must die so that it can multiply.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 gives us the conclusion:

“Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ultimately, our lives are not about building our own name, fulfilling our own agenda or seeking our own glory. We must continually fight against the temptation to build a name for ourselves, even when it appears spiritual or is done under the guise of serving God. The desire for recognition, influence or significance can subtly become an idol if Jesus is no longer the centre. Our calling is not to make our name great, but to make His name known. Our lives belong to Jesus.

May our prayer be: “Jesus, have Your way in me. I am Yours. Shape me according to Your will, use me for Your purposes, and let Your life be revealed and glorified through me.”

Less of me. More of Jesus. My life for His glory. His will above mine. Christ in me, Christ through me.