blog 23: the choice is yours
The beautiful thing about following Jesus in this world is that nothing is for nothing. Everything we go through or experience is for a purpose. Every situation as a follower of Jesus is for growth , endurance and a testing of our faith.
Yes testing’s…
James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Now the question is do you pass the test? Or do you fall into the same ol’ same ol’ person? I’ve failed many tests that God has given me and I’m left empty , frustrated and kicking myself. But Thank you Jesus for his mercy that allows us to start again.
To get it right again, again and again.
I’ve fallen to my knees in failure many many times asking Jesus to forgive me for my actions and my tongue. Just to hear Him say “yes I forgive you”
Jesus is so good that He won’t leave us the same. He continues to grow us day by day, month by month , year by year. The Bible says we go from Glory to Glory. If we are stuck in the same place we were at a 5 years ago or even a years ago. My question would be…Why?
Maybe there have been times in life where you didn’t understand why things were happening. This is what the word of God says:
Hebrews 12:5 My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spiritsand live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
As I read this a few situations come to mind. Could those be God disciplining me in my life? Could those be the testing’s?
God is loving and gracious but He wants us to be made whole in His likeness. Becoming more and more like Him.
I remember when I did ballet , I was at practice and there was about 4 girls in the class with me. As we were practicing on the bar my teacher kept coming up to me. Fixing my leg, fixing my arm, telling me to stand straighter, point out my toe. I noticed she was only correcting me and no one else. I started to feel embarrassed and tears welled up, so I walked out of the room. I sat in the little room outside the classroom and started to cry. She followed me out and asked me what was wrong. I told her I must not be good because she is only correcting me and no one else.
Then she said something that has stuck with me ever since.
She said “I’m correcting you because I see potential in you, don’t worry when I fix you, start to worry when I don’t because when I don’t you’re a loss cause.”
Hmmm…as life goes on I think about that. I think about that when hard times come my way. Instead of seeing it as , I must not be good enough, this sucks, or God must not be in this. I start to see it as Gods calling me to more, calling me for greater. He sees potential in me!
Same for you! If you’re in a season of struggle or hardship don’t see it as “this sucks! Or Gods upset with you! No! He sees greatness in you! He’s bringing you through the fire to be refined! Refined for a purpose bigger than yourself. Jesus wants His people to walk in the fullness of God. In freedom! But the choice is ours. It’s our choice to give into the lies or go to Gods word. It’s our choice to go off our emotions or go to what we know is true. It’s our choice to throw a pity party when things don’t go our way or see it as an opportunity to become more like Him. The choice is ours.
So friends, Stay the course! Stay filled with the Holy Spirit so that you can bear the fruit people so desperately need.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
When hard times come your way be excited to see what God will do. Yes it’s hard in the moment, but the more trials I’ve gone through, passed the test, and seen the glory of God on the other side. The more I’m understanding His disciplining, I’m understanding the purpose, again doesn’t make it any easier, but well worth it! It’s all for a purpose bigger. He wants to use ordinary people like you and me to be the hands and feet of Jesus in good times AND the bad times, during the mountain tops AND the valleys but the choice is ours to allow Him to or not.
love you friends ONE LOVE
