Weekend Worship — A Year of Intimacy: Jesus in Us
March 28, 2014
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever- increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. — 2 Corinthians 3:18
Earlier in the year I shared that Abba has spoken to my heart that this would be a year of intimacy. I was excited and the prospect and expectantly prepared my pen to write down lots of warm fuzzies.
Well, there have been quite a few of those but there have been painful times too as Abba has revealed some lies still laying around and walked me through a deeper examination of my faith at times.
Abba doesn't do these things to punish us but to bring healing in places we've not dealt with and to grow us, transform us. And I know you've heard this before, like a rose bush, in order for it to grow fuller and bloom more, it must be pruned.
I know this. I'm thinking you know this, but Abba shed another light upon it for me. We don't hold the pruning sheers.
As much as I'd like to be in control of this time of pruning, that's not the way God designed it to be done. Let me quote from Chasing God by Angie Smith (page 88):
"And what gives me hope is the simple fact that eluded me for such a long time.
He isn't saying He will try to help.
He's promising He will transform us.
It is a process. We will have to give up our own agenda and trust His, over and over again. We can't see the end result, but He can, and He is everyday urging us one step closer to it."
This not only gave me a sense of release and hope for myself (oh yes, Abba still has much to transform in me), but helped me to see this is true of God's pursuit of my prebeliever and my daughters own faith journeys, that Abba in His great love for all of us promises to transform us.
It's not easy to let go, trust me, I know. I want to make a plan and make sense of it all. But in those moments of struggle I remember that verse that tells me to not lean on my own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6). I grow still, wait and listen, and then finally hear Abba's loving voice speak.
Trust Me.
I trust You, Oh Lord, because You are my God. You are our might Abba, Savior Jesus, and the Spirit that lives in us and transforms us. Help us to be still before You in the moments that tend to fill our minds and hearts with chaos so we can hear You say, trust Me. In Your Name, Jesus, amen.
Love and hugs to you, dear friends!
Dineen