A New Morning, A Deeper Desire to Be Like Jesus

Devotionals on Holiness — Part Three
Pastor Calvin Cook | October 21, 2026

Scripture:
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

There is something wonderful about the beginning of a new morning. Before the demands of the day begin to press upon us, before the conversations, decisions, and responsibilities begin to fill our thoughts, there is an opportunity to come quietly into the presence of God.

This morning, my prayer is a simple one: Lord, I want to be more like Jesus today than I was yesterday.

I don’t want this to be just another day of going through the motions, completing responsibilities, and reaching the evening exhausted from everything that needed my attention. I want this day to be different because I have intentionally invited the Holy Spirit to lead me.

I want to recognize His presence, experience His power, and be sensitive to His direction in every step I take.

But I am discovering that becoming more like Jesus requires more than simply wanting to be a better person. It requires surrendering myself to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

There are things within my heart that still need to change. There are attitudes that need to become more Christlike, words that need to be spoken with greater love, and decisions that need to be made with greater dependence upon God.

And perhaps that is where the real desire for holiness begins.

Not with the assumption that I have arrived, but with the realization that God is not finished with me yet.

When Jesus called His disciples, He did not simply invite them to believe certain truths about Him. He invited them to follow Him. To walk where He walked. To learn His ways. To develop His compassion. To trust His Father. To surrender their own desires and become more like Him.

That same invitation comes to us this morning.

I find myself asking: What would happen if I truly allowed the Holy Spirit to direct every step of my day?

Would I be more patient with someone who tests my patience? Would I be quicker to forgive? Would I recognize someone who needs encouragement? Would I stop long enough to pray before making a difficult decision?

Would I be willing to change my plans if the Holy Spirit was leading me in another direction?

These are not always easy questions, because being led by the Spirit means surrendering the control we so often want to maintain.

Yet there is something deeply comforting about knowing that God has not asked us to walk this journey alone.

Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to guide them into truth. The same Spirit who strengthened the early Church, gave boldness to frightened disciples, and empowered ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things is still at work today.

And He is at work within us.

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25 (KJV)

I love that word walk. It reminds me that holiness is not simply about a moment of spiritual excitement or an experience at the altar. It is about the steps we take after we leave that place of prayer.

It is how we live when no one is watching. How we respond when life becomes difficult. How we love when loving is costly. How we remain faithful when the road ahead is uncertain.

This morning, I do not know everything this day will bring. There may be unexpected challenges, difficult conversations, disappointments, or opportunities I have not anticipated.

But I know what I desire.

I want to walk so closely with Jesus that His presence becomes more important than my plans. I want the Holy Spirit to make me aware of the things that need to change within me and give me the grace to respond.

I want the people I encounter today to experience something of the love, compassion, patience, and holiness of Jesus through my life.

And when this day comes to an end, my greatest desire is not simply to have accomplished everything on my schedule.

It is to know that I have walked with Jesus, listened to the Holy Spirit, and become a little more like Him.

A Prayer for This Morning

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of another morning. Thank You for Your mercy that meets me as I begin this day.

Lord Jesus, create within me a deeper desire to be like You. Cleanse my heart of anything that hinders my walk with You.

Holy Spirit, fill me afresh with Your presence and power. Direct my thoughts, guide my conversations, order my steps, and make me sensitive to Your voice.

When I am tempted to rush ahead, teach me to wait. When I am uncertain, give me wisdom. When I become weary, renew my strength. When You reveal something that needs to change, give me the courage and willingness to surrender it.

Let this day be more than another day lived. Let it be another day of becoming more like Jesus.

In His holy name I pray. Amen.

A Thought to Carry Today:

What if, before every decision, every conversation, and every step, I quietly prayed: “Holy Spirit, lead me. Make me more like Jesus”?