I attempt to live a good life. I sing, “More of You and less of Me” because I want to reflect God’s light.

I want to be the gloves that people see and feel, but with God’s hands in the gloves directing me. I try so hard to be useful gloves.

It is my desire to exhibit all the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. But the reality is that my first reactions often are more like rotten fruit.

This is the goal I strive for. But, wait. Do I have it backwards? I’ve been talking about me, how I am going to change my life. And the truth is, all my striving will never be enough to attain this goal.

When Jesus taught His disciples—taught us—to pray, He said, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We cannot do any of the things I mentioned above on our own. That is backwards thinking. Here’s a clue:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1, NIV)

I’ve already mentioned that my (our) attempts won’t help me reach the goal of bringing heaven to earth. That’s the wrong direction. I am putting me before God. Earth to heaven. But … I have to remember: Heaven comes first, not earth. The only way I can live a holy life, is if the power comes from heaven. When I sing, “More of You and less of Me,” heaven is mentioned first—not me. It’s not all about me first, but God first.

Heaven comes down to earth. Jesus came down to earth to pay for my (our) sins. The Holy Spirit’s presence in me is where transformation power is released.  Listen to this hymn written by John W. Peterson (1921-2006).

O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.
Chorus
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

We do not live an earth-to-heaven life—pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps to achieve sainthood.
No, we live a heaven-to-earth life: living each moment from God’s goodness, from His love, fromHis gloriousness, from heaven. With heaven (the Holy Spirit) in our soul, we can transform to our goal.

Here are two very different versions of this song: one is bluegrass and the other is the big voice of Kate Smith. Enjoy.