Changing with Christ: Removing the Old Self to Embrace the New

By Paola Andrea Morales

This is the first of many stories that we will be able to tell in the following editions. Let's fall in love with the Bible, that marvelous book that shows us how to handle daily realities with wisdom. I am sure that the teachings of Jesus Christ will lead us to strengthen our spiritual side, and we will never be the same again. Reading this text with love and discipline will make us grow in our desire to learn more and put into practice the law of God. Thanks to all readers and blessings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662495762

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Changing with Christ

Removing the Old Self to Embrace the New

Paola Andrea Morales

Copyright © 2023 Paola Andrea Morales

Front cover: Benhur Damians Correales Ibarra

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

Translated by Isabel Posada Silva

Freelance translator

All the biblical quotes mentioned in this text were extracted from the King James Version.

ISBN 978-1-6624-9565-6 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-9582-3 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-9576-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Tabla de contenido

Expressions of Gratitude

Introduction

The Gospels

Saint Matthew, Saint John, Saint Mark, and Saint Luke

Matthew

Matthew 5, 17–18

Matthew 7, 21

Matthew 16, 19

Matthew 6, 5

Matthew 7, 1–2

Matthew 6, 34

Matthew 22, 34–40

Matthew 13, 3–8

Matthew 10, 5–8

Matthew 6, 22–23

Matthew 5, 32

Matthew 21, 12–13

Matthew 9, 14–17

Matthew 21, 22

Matthew 19, 16–20

Matthew 12, 33

Matthew 6, 19–21

Matthew 7, 15–19

Matthew 7, 13–14

Matthew 5, 44–45

Matthew 14, 28–31

Matthew 18, 21–22

Matthew 4, 18–20

John

John 1, 12–13

John 2, 1–10

John 4, 46–50

John 5, 5–9

John 6, 11–12

John 9, 1–3

John 15, 26

John 19, 17–19

John 14, 6

John 4, 5–7

Mark

Mark 13, 5–6

Mark 11, 24–26

Mark 2, 1–12

Mark 3, 13–14

Mark 12, 30–31

Luke

Luke 21, 1–4

Luke 9, 46–48

Luke 8, 41–56

Luke 18, 16

Luke 10, 17–20

Luke 10, 2–3

Luke 9, 57–62

Luke 9, 49–50

Luke 10, 38–42

From the Old Testament

Proverbs

Proverbs 31, 10

Proverbs 14, 1

Proverbs 26, 11

Proverbs 10, 22

Proverbs 23, 19–21

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 10, 12–13

Deuteronomy 20, 19–20

Deuteronomy 7, 9

Genesis

Genesis 6, 5–8

Genesis 12, 1–3

Genesis 1, 1–4

Genesis 2, 18

Isaiah

Isaiah 55, 1

Isaiah 45, 1–3

Isaiah 64, 8

Isaiah 33, 15–16

Isaiah 5, 11–12

Kings

1 Kings 9, 3

2 Kings 4, 1–7

Job

Job 5, 17–18

Job 2, 1–13

Hosea

Hosea 4, 6

Joshua

Joshua, 1, 7–9

Exodus

Exodus 20, 12

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1, 4–8

Psalms

Psalm 40, 1–4

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 22, 29

Jonah

Jonah 1, 1–17

Jonah 2, 1–10

Jonah 3, 1–10

Jonah 4, 1–11

From the New Testament

James

James 1, 5–6

James 1, 19–22

James 2, 19

Peter

1 Peter 2, 1–3

1 Peter 2, 4–5

Timothy

2 Timothy 3, 16–17

Corinthians

1 Corinthians 12, 12–13

1 Corinthians 1, 18–19

Ephesians

Ephesians 4, 28

About the Author

Expressions of Gratitude

To graduate as a historian, during my university studies, I had the opportunity to read many authors. But it had never crossed my mind to read that wonderful book called the Bible, and after hearing God's call, I had the need to have a true communion with Him. I asked Him to give me an incentive to be able to fall in love with His teachings and understand them. In this way, it was given to me the opportunity to share His Word through a radio program entitled Changing with Christ, which is the result of this writing: This is how our Father speaks to us. This book presents a series of chapters that include texts from the four gospels, written by the prophets who relate the facts and teachings of Jesus Christ. The purpose is for our faith to grow so that we can believe we will have eternal life. We will also find others—such as the book of Kings, Proverbs, Exodus, and many more—accompanied by explanations supported by events in our daily lives, processes that we have had to go through, difficult moments that we face on daily basis where our families are protagonists. We will discuss problems in different contexts—at home, with children, between couples, with friends, at work—which, in turn, lead to illnesses such as anguish, sadness, depression, and the desire of not living anymore. In spite of everything, the Word of God is the only one that can cleanse, purify, and renew us to start again, allowing us to recognize where we have failed and reminding us at the same time that we have a Father who is in heaven who certainly loves us.

Let us fall in love with the Bible, with that book that shows us exactly how to handle everyday realities wisely, jealously waiting to be touched by the Spirit of God.

When we experience God's love and realize that it is true, that it can turn pain into joy in an instant, that He offers to love us without expecting anything in return and gives us the opportunity to feel useful by helping others, it is then that we understand that we cannot do anything without His consent, that we really have to anchor ourselves to avoid falling, that life is more beautiful when we feel that nothing and no one can steal the tranquility and peace that only He can give us.

After accepting Jesus in our lives, each chapter, verse, line, passage, or story that we find in the Bible will be the main tool to walk in rectitude. By this I mean that there is a solution for all worries of the world because we are in a society that needs people who make a difference—determined, hardworking, and courageous people who are willing to abandon earthly pleasures to go in search of that spiritual self that we have not developed but undoubtedly is waiting for us. It is time that we begin to become aware of our soul and to understand that the spirit is what feeds all our emotions and that we will only obtain it when we reach a true relationship with God.

Finally, I want to thank the Restoration for the Nations Church, which welcomed me into her arms through people trusting in the will of God, always ready and dedicated to the arduous and beautiful work, such as looking for all the lost sheep, praying constantly, expanding the ministry, hardly working, always insisting on serving others without exception, leading us to that first love, which is the love of Jesus Christ, and with the absolute certainty that my family and my beloved daughter, Alison Andrea, will get that hug from the Father.

Introduction

The true path to reach God is called Jesus; He is the basis of every Word—from the book of Genesis and through all the prophets. This is demonstrated by the following biblical quotation from Isaiah 53, 4–5:

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

This book that you are beginning to read will take you to different passages of the Bible where you will find amazing stories, those instructions that our Father left us. There, love is represented through Jesus Christ, his Son, who was sent for our salvation. These accounts were written under the inspiration of God, as Timothy affirms in his second letter, chapter 3, verses 16–17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Having the certainty that the Word of God is the only one that has managed to change my thoughts and continues to do so to this day, I want to share a little about my experience, why I have decided to go hand in hand with the one who created me regardless of the difficulties that have arisen along the way. Although I always considered myself a believer, I realize now that it was not enough since I spent almost thirty-five years doing my will without recognizing that I was totally dependent on God. However, I had the opportunity to educate myself and attend university and to live real experiences, among them being a mother at the age of only eighteen; you can imagine the many ideas that went through my head trying to assume this with responsibility and lacking any clarity regarding my own future.

But one day, after making many mistakes and despite my disobedience, God turned his gaze toward me, taking care of my life many times; and once, He appeared to me in a dream, showing me everything that was unpleasant in His eyes. At the end of this, He whispered in my ear, Today, I forgive all your sins. From that moment on, a whole journey began, full of steep roads that have not been easy to cross; but I can say with all certainty that we all have a divine calling. We just have to be willing to listen to it because He manifests himself in our lives in different ways, but He