Father, bend me, shape me, mold me
transform me from the inside out!
Focus of the month: “A Beautiful Reflection”
Do you walk the walk? Or do you just talk the talk? Oh, how I despise being on the receiving end of this statement. Yet, I have. Maybe you have also. You have tried to line up what you say with what you do, but something just keeps getting in your way…most likely it’s YOU. Please don’t take offense to what I am saying. I am not giving my advice here, I am sharing the stubborn, pride-full, “I want it my way” experience of allowing Jesus to transform me from the inside – out.
Receiving the gift of Jesus as my Lord and Savior, is the single most important decision I have ever made—EVER. Jesus loves me, He pursues me, He died for me and He gave me a new life, a new heart. But as I walked into this new relationship, I had no idea the depth of what I was embarking upon.
I began reading the bible and soaking in scripture. I fell more and more in love with the writer. God is so much more than I had ever dreamed He’d be. He led me to examine my actions, my words, my thoughts and my attitude. I found a woman with an exterior that appeared in “like new condition” and an interior that resembled a jumbled up ball of messy yarn. If you have ever tried to unravel a ball of yarn that is twisted from beginning to end, you have some idea of the job Jesus had when my life met His. Confessing and repenting seemed to be taking place daily. Will I ever learn? Will I submit to His truth? How long will this take!!
Change. Adjust. Re-align. Refine. No matter how you say it, it is never an easy process to walk through.
Scripture says it this way in Luke 9:23-25 (NLT):
“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”
Read that scripture again. Read it until it becomes part of your innermost being. To follow Jesus we must give up our own way. Not appear to give them up but really do it. We must let the fleshy desires that consume us evaporate so we can make room for the better portion. Giving up our own way is the only way to follow Jesus.
Scripture says we can do anything but not everything is beneficial. The things of this world whether they are pleasures or treasures will never amount to the glory that awaits us in Heaven. As Christ refines you, you will deny your earthly desires and no longer yearn for the acceptance of people. You will conquer those things that wage war on your soul and you will fully surrender your life to Him.
Are you willing to follow Him? If it means losing a friendship, a job, your reputation, a habit, or your life? Jesus doesn’t say these things will happen but are you willing? When I chose Jesus, I chose Him over the comforts of the world and over my own desires. And while walking out my faith has been costly; the riches of Heaven and eternal life with Christ is priceless.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: John 14:6; Luke 9:23-25; 1 Corinthians 10:23
