I woke up crying. Have you ever done that? It can happen from deep hurt, grief, loss and emotional or mental pain. It’s not my morning of preference. But, life happens. It is in times like this that I think  gaining spiritual maturity seems way over rated. And, though the Bible tells me that in the middle of my grief and trouble, no matter how grievous it is, God is working….I want to default to a thought of…. I just don’t care.

This is where the rubber meets the road in our life pain, and where we can go down a path of flesh and self pity, or rise to meet God at His Word of Truth and find the hope and strength we need for another day.

What about you? What do you do when you are in a bad place? Do you fuss, stew and steam over it? I think we all do some of that. But, after the steam has been let out, what do you do? Do you minimize the power of God’s Word in your life, or do you purposefully embrace the truth?

Today’s Truth: John 17:17, John 6:63 NASB, Pro. 30:5, 2 Timothy 3:16 CEV

“Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth.”

“Every word of God is flawless”

“Everything in Scripture is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.”

The truth transforms us. Spiritual growth is not a quick thing, but happens by the day by day process of replacing lies with truth.  To be conformed into His image we must fill our lives with God’s Word. The Bible is more than a handbook. The Word of God is alive and active, working in us. God’s Word stimulates faith, produces life, and leads us to change. God’s Word is also our food of spiritual nourishment that is needed to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives.

Troubles come in many forms. Many of our troubles and pain come from making choices based on unreliable sources, such as the culture we live in or the traditions we have been brought up in. Rick Warren says there are four things we base our choices on:

1. Culture, everyone is doing it.
2. Tradition, we’ve always done it
3. Reason, it seemed logical
4. Emotion, it just felt right

He goes on to say that all four of these are flawed from the Fall. What we need is a perfect standard that will never lead us in the wrong direction. Only God’s word meets that need. ( Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life)

Where do we go from here?

Well each of us knows how to worry. We are pretty good at it. When we worry we are practicing focused thinking on the negative in our life. Let’s turn that around in our pain and trouble and practice focused thinking on Scripture. Focus on God’s word instead of your problem. What a thought!

Today I have gotten out an index card, and penned in the following verse to focus on:

Psalm 138:8

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Do not abandon the works of your hand.”

Every time I am overcome with the emotion of hurt, trouble or the pain of my current circumstance I am going to focus on this truth. This one single truth gives me hope. It tells me that God is actively working in my life. He will fulfill His plan in my life and He will not abandon me. When focused on this I have hope for the day.

Find a verse for the day, and focus on it.

God’s Word will begin setting you apart in mind and heart to be in constant connection and fellowship with Him today. And, girls That’s Relationship!

Today’s Prayer

Father, I give you my troubles. I give you  my tears. I take now your Truth and ask you to give me your peace, presence and comfort in the middle of my circumstance. Lord, change me.

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I don’t like conflict and I don’t enjoy problems, pain or trouble of any kind. I am pretty sure that you feel the same. I would love for life to float along on a sea of calm waters, sunshine hitting me just right, and wind softly blowing through my hair.  Picture Perfect Life.

But, life is not like that picture. Rather than trying to make our life fit into that frame, it’s a good idea to take a Biblical perspective of the problems and pain we encounter. With a Biblical perspective we can have a new kind of hope that God, in the middle of  pain, is working to shape us, heal us, redeem the broken pieces in us…as he makes us more like Jesus.

How does that work? Scripture tells us that all of our problems produce something in us. We probably don’t typically face a problem with the joy that the Bible encourages  us to have in the presence of pain. Perhaps we think that such a notion is just plain dumb. But, why did he tell us to have joy in our trials? Because he knew, what we need to know…Problems Produce Something in Us!

Today’s Truth: James 1:2

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Perseverance: To be able to persist in a purpose despite obstacles

All of us, as believing women, are called to walk with Christ in a way that would identify us as a Christ Follower.  Consider it pure joy? When was the last time you did that?

Sometimes the obstacles we face just in our daily circumstances or interior worlds leave us wanting to give up trying to walk with God. It would be easier to just do what we want, throw in the faith towel, and realize that maturity is over-rated. But, God has a better plan.

In the middle of your storm, God is calling you closer to him. In the place of trial, He is developing something in you. The perseverance He is developing will be something that will mature you in faith and complete you. It isn’t over-rated, it is a wonderful promise that our pain and problems are producing something.

Today, stop and hand deliver your problem to Jesus. He is waiting to take it, give you strength for the details in the meantime, and change you through the  very thing that seems too hard to bear.

Isn’t it good to know a God who uses everything in our lives?

He has the power to redeem our pain and make it into something beautiful as he changes us from within.

Today’s Prayer

Father, Change me. Change how I view my life, my problems and my pain.

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Conform is an interesting word.

The definition of conform is:

1. To make or become similiar in form or character
2. To act or be in compliance with

How many mornings have you woke up and said to yourself, ” I want to act and live similar to the character of Jesus today?” It’s a nice thought and it would be wonderful if we really had that shift. That particular shift would nudge us to think more of Christ and less of self. Thinking less of my SELF is always WILD, because all of us from young to old are conditioned to think of self more than just about anything else. Sigh….

Jesus didn’t think much about himself. In fact, he was always thinking about the Father’s will and the Father’s business. He also did not assume that He could do things on His own. Rather He was dependent on the Father’s power. And, He didn’t do things for fame or fortune, rather He was all about the Father’s glory.

Jesus lived for:

• The Father’s business
• The Father’s power
• The Father’s glory

To be conformed into the image of one who lived so differently than me sometimes seems impossible.

How does it happen?

We are transformed by life. The pain and troubles of life are the very things that change us. Cry about it all you like, but it is true…Troubles change us.

Once we begin to see our hardships, pain and sufferings in this light, life starts to be manageable because HOPE takes the place of the frustrating cycle of “Why Me?” How WILD would it be to live your life in such a way that every single thing is viewed as a way to know Christ more and every pain a vehicle to conform you into the image of God? Pretty WILD indeed!

Today’s Truth: 2 Cor 4:17

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

What are you current troubles?

I am sure they FEEL heavy and not light, but when compared to the good they are accomplishing beneath the surface, they are considered “light” by God. Oh yes, He understands that to us they are hard, unbearable and a real distraction. But the encouraging word is that HE is working in the middle of the mess and something is being achieved through them.

I grew up an over-achiever, so the idea that God is achieving something in my very soul right this minute is exciting to me.  I realize that sounds, well..sick..but, still think about how great it is that God can take our pain and our troubles and transform us!

What about you?

Identify the area today that you need to find HOPE in.

Today begin to Thank God that He is working to make you more like Jesus through your troubles. This hope is a whole lot better than eating a  whole chocolate cake, going on a drinking binge, yelling at your kids, or downing a bottle of pills. Yeah, I know that all sounds extreme and I am saying it tongue and cheek, but you know what I mean.

Hope in Christ’s work within us, is Life Changing!

Now, Go Out and Have Hope in the Middle of Your Troubles Today.

You are being conformed into His Image!

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I don’t understand it, but I don’t have to. I also don’t like conflict, pain or troubles, but they are part of life. Being they are part of life, help me now to find HOPE in You in the middle of life. Real life is a life being lived out according to your plans for me. Real life has troubles, and in my real troubles you are changing me. Hallelujah!

It is the fire of suffering that brings out the gold of godliness- Madame Guyon

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