Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,but he keeps his distance from the proud. Psalm 138:6
My first lesson as I seek the Lord to transform me is to be humbled. Just as Psalm 138:6 says, if I am not humble He will keep his distance. Pride is a sin and the great God we serve can not draw close to sin. If I want to be closer to God I must rid myself of my sin. I can only do that through Jesus and his cleansing power. My heart is full of sin- but for today I know the Lord is drawing me to look at my sin of pride-fullness. I look forward to seeing how he plans to transform me from being proud to being humble- like Him.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Transformation
Until we get to heaven we are all in the process of a transformation. For some reason that word has been standing out to me lately....transformation. The dictionary defines the word transform: a. to change in composition or structure b : to change the outward form or appearance of c : to change in character or condition
That last part "c:" is what I want to see in my life. A change in my character and condition. The condition of my heart, my attitude, and my character. When we are Seeking God first in all things we will automatically be transformed. Our hearts and minds will be transformed, but I also bet that our outside appearance will change as well just as "b:" says. Joy will radiate in our faces and and something about us will just "look" different.
I want to be continually transformed. I am asking God today to help me be transformed into more of His likeness. I am not even sure what areas he wants to transform and so I take a risk in even asking him that! But I want it no matter what it takes. I want to seek Him first in all things and allow His holy Spirit to change me as he sees fit. The goal is to change me....no one else. To see my own sin.....no one else's. To be humbly transformed by the only one who really matters. My Lord and my Savior.
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are transformed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18
That last part "c:" is what I want to see in my life. A change in my character and condition. The condition of my heart, my attitude, and my character. When we are Seeking God first in all things we will automatically be transformed. Our hearts and minds will be transformed, but I also bet that our outside appearance will change as well just as "b:" says. Joy will radiate in our faces and and something about us will just "look" different.
I want to be continually transformed. I am asking God today to help me be transformed into more of His likeness. I am not even sure what areas he wants to transform and so I take a risk in even asking him that! But I want it no matter what it takes. I want to seek Him first in all things and allow His holy Spirit to change me as he sees fit. The goal is to change me....no one else. To see my own sin.....no one else's. To be humbly transformed by the only one who really matters. My Lord and my Savior.
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are transformed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Dealings with my heart
For my Birthday a sweet friend sent me a new book. Its a little book that at first glance looks like a mini Bible bound in black leather. It's called The Valley of Vision. It's a collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. The Puritans were a group of Christians in the 16 and 1700's that broke away from the church of England and came to America in hopes of dedicating themselves to a life of purity and devotion to God. They believed that every individual must be reformed by God’s grace to fight against sin, and to do what is best for him/her and right before the Lord. Their strength in this came from their practice of prayer and meditation. Many of them who clung to doctrines of grace wrote down a record of God's intimate dealings with their souls, not with an eye to publication, but as a test of their spiritual growth, and to encourage themselves and others in their quest to purity and holiness.
As I am reading this collection of prayers and writings it is a sweet reminder to me of why I started this Blog several years ago. I started it so that I could keep a journal of all the things God was doing my heart and how he was changing me as I sought to Seek Him First in my my family, in my marriage, in my relationships, and in my life as a whole. I did not write it for publication and certainly not with motives of self boasting for if anything it has shown my weakness and my lack of ability to do or write anything that makes a bit of sense outside the grace of God on my finger tips as I peck away on the key board.
I do know though that it does test my spiritual growth and almost helps me to stay accountable to myself as I seek to be learning something new all the time. I notice that during the times in the past that I have been able to write consistently it has made for times of great spiritual growth and inspiration with in myself. If anyone else gets anything out of what I write then that will be another added miracle only possible by the grace of God. My influence on others would only be for encouragement and personal reflection on the lives of those who read it. My prayer would be that they too would join me in a quest for purity and holiness. For if we are still on this earth walking, breathing, and living our lives then it is only by the grace of God so that we can bring Glory to His Great Name and do his good works until the day of Jesus return.
"For me, living means living for Christ....." Philippians 1:21
"for we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." Philippians 3:20
As I am reading this collection of prayers and writings it is a sweet reminder to me of why I started this Blog several years ago. I started it so that I could keep a journal of all the things God was doing my heart and how he was changing me as I sought to Seek Him First in my my family, in my marriage, in my relationships, and in my life as a whole. I did not write it for publication and certainly not with motives of self boasting for if anything it has shown my weakness and my lack of ability to do or write anything that makes a bit of sense outside the grace of God on my finger tips as I peck away on the key board.
I do know though that it does test my spiritual growth and almost helps me to stay accountable to myself as I seek to be learning something new all the time. I notice that during the times in the past that I have been able to write consistently it has made for times of great spiritual growth and inspiration with in myself. If anyone else gets anything out of what I write then that will be another added miracle only possible by the grace of God. My influence on others would only be for encouragement and personal reflection on the lives of those who read it. My prayer would be that they too would join me in a quest for purity and holiness. For if we are still on this earth walking, breathing, and living our lives then it is only by the grace of God so that we can bring Glory to His Great Name and do his good works until the day of Jesus return.
"For me, living means living for Christ....." Philippians 1:21
"for we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." Philippians 3:20
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