Christians, when we think about all that God can do for us, what He has promised us, and what His word says for our lives, we often are looking for the promises that would make us happy. The problem is God does not want to make you happy, God wants to make you better: in the likeness of Jesus. Now don’t get me wrong, God wants you to BE happy, for sure. He wants us to be very happy, doing His will for our lives.
We most often run into problems because for God to get us to a usable state, He has to take us through some test and trials. We have to be molded, shaped, reduced in the flesh, increased in the spirit. It is a process that makes us very uncomfortable, very frustrated at times, wondering if God loves us, or if He even likes us? I found myself many times during my trials so unhappy with the physical state I was in and wondering where I was going.
At that time, I did not have this revelation, but looking back, I was being made better, shaped into the likeness of Christ. I was being transformed by the renewing of my mind. I would love to be able to tell this revelation to my former self, but I know that it would not have been the same experience. I grew a lot, matured a lot, I saw what WAS important to God, what He did do, where He put value. I also found myself seeing what WAS NOT important to God, what did not move Him to act, what did not move Him to end circumstances.
Some of the biggest revelations I received about myself and about God were tied to watching when He did absolutely nothing. An opportunity or event would come up that could change something in my life. I thought the timing would be perfect, but He did nothing. It would have made me so happy to have something happen, but that was not His purpose. The event would come and go, I may have been disappointed for a bit, but then I saw how unimportant it was to Him. I have also seen the other side where something seems inopportune for me, the wrong timing, the wrong scenario, but God did something monumental, created time, an event, a memory, and it was times like those I will cherish all my life.
Christians, if you can learn this lesson early and on this side of eternity, it will change the rest of your earthly life. It will also impact your eternal life. He is not out to make you happy, He is driven, focused and purposed toward making you better, like Jesus. So just like Jesus you can be rewarded magnificently, have a profound impact on the Kingdom, and be close to Him forevermore, in Jesus name, Amen.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-3 (NIV)
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. I John 2:6 (NLT)
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:9-10 (NLT)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6 (NASB)
And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Romans 8:17 (NLT)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2016
roadcrew 40|3 