Feeling broken makes you uncomfortably vulnerable. But it could transform your entire life. As difficult as it is to accept, you are blessed in the brokenness you feel.
Is there something in your life that you can’t seem to get past?
It’s a thorn in your side that continually prods you. Maybe you’re mourning the death of someone you love, which paralyzes your heart from moving forward. Perhaps your struggle is internal, and you continually become your own worst enemy.
You go through a barrage of coping from anger to anguish. You are set on autopilot and pace through your everyday duties, but your heart is hollow. Your passion is gone, and you don’t know your purpose. You believe in God, but question His belief in you. You can’t feel His strength. Faith becomes hidden behind your fear that it will never change.
In life, something will always break you. That something will not honor your timing but operate on its own. The hardest part about your brokenness is accepting it as an opportunity, and trusting God through it.
Do you feel most in need of God when things are going right … or wrong?
If you’re like me, you are on your face praying when things have gone so wrong all you can do is weep. I thank God every day for His blessings in my life. There was a time when I wasn’t so sure of God. I didn’t feel worthy of Jesus because of my terrible mistakes. But, I remember the moments I’ve been crushed even more because they sparked a change that may have never occurred otherwise.
Get alone with Him
Even if you question God’s motives, and are so mad at Him it’s hard to breathe, tell Him. Get alone with Him. When it’s just you and Him, there’s no hiding, no running, no lying … just facing Him and the truth. Confront the raw truth of how you feel about your life. At that moment, you are humbled in a way you don’t expect. Your faith emerges behind the fear you’ve been living with, by merely asking Him why. God knows when you exercise your faith, and most of the time it’s not Him that needs to see it, it’s yourself.
I came across a passage when listening to a Bible study and couldn’t pass it up. God has that exciting way of taking you somewhere you didn’t expect, but needed to experience. The journey led me to a woman in the bible named Hannah. You may know the story but I didn’t, and I want to share it with you. It’s in 1 Samuel chapter 1, NKJV.
The Shattered Woman
Hannah was the wife of a man named Elkanah. He had another wife named Peninnah as well. (I don’t really know how to pronounce them either, so no worries). Peninnah had children with Elkanah, but Hannah couldn’t have children. Every year Elkanah made an offering to the Lord according to the Jewish faith. This offering involved animal sacrifice. When he would give portions of his offering for his family, he would always double Hannah’s amount. He was madly in love with her.
Being that Penninah was also Elkanah’s wife, she was in constant competition with Hannah. Not only did she share in the life of her husband, but she was also able to give him children. Peninnah provoked Hannah, trying to hurt her emotionally 1 Sam 1:6, NKJV. She was a constant threat to her, harassing her year after year. Peninnah was most likely jealous of Hannah because of the love Elkanah had for her. His offering for Hannah was always more than for Penninah. He loved her and blessed her, even in her brokenness.
Hannah felt hopeless
Year after year, she endured the aggravation from Peninnah. The rivalry between them really affected her. Despite her situation, Elkanah loved her, and it didn’t matter to him that she couldn’t have children. But it mattered to Hannah. She wouldn’t eat, but only wept 1 Sam 1:7. Hannah became bitter out of the overwhelming grief she experienced.
Have you ever felt that way?
Tightness in your chest, clenching your jaw, and putting on a fake smile. You feel forced to isolate and unable to move past the negativity. You don’t trust anyone. You’ve been so involved in the cycle of your own despair that you can’t see the way out. Frustration soon turns to apathy.
Bitterness is like a chisel to your spirit. It slowly breaks away the love in your heart until there’s nothing left. Your spirit becomes broken. It’s in desperate need of repair, but there is only One who can truly make you like new.
Hannah’s brokenness brought her to the point of no return.
She finally had enough. She decided to go to the altar during the yearly sacrifice and cry out to God. While there, she wept profusely to Him. She spoke to Him with her heart, not her voice. She prayed so hard the priest Eli thought she was drunk! Her lips moved but no words came out.
“O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” 1 Sam 1:11. Hannah called to her Lord. She was pleading with Him to hear her and not forget her. Desperation turned to devotion to God.
She let it go
Hannah “poured out her soul” to Him 1 Sam 1:15. Once she placed all her grief on the Lord, she left it behind. She left her grief at that altar. Her faith in God overpowered any doubt from the life she was in the habit of living. Her spirit connected with Him through her suffering. She surrendered her sorrow to Him and never looked back. She finally ate again and felt restored! Many were blessed from her brokenness.
What changed in Hannah?
Her faith overpowered her fear
God honored her faith. She conceived a son and named him Samuel. When he was weaned from her but still a young boy, she fulfilled her promise to God. Hannah wanted him to live a life with God. She hoped for him to be blessed and covered by God’s grace. They traveled to the altar where she made the promise to God. After all her despair, she still followed through on her promise to devote Samuel to a life with God.
God kept His promise, and so did she
“As long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord” 1 Sam 1:28 Hannah promised. The faith in her heart prevailed over the misery of her situation. God blessed her, and she praised Him by offering Samuel to Him.
God protected Samuel, and he continued to live a holy life as one of God’s chosen. He ministered and judged all of Israel with righteousness. God blessed Hannah and Samuel very much. It all started with Hannah deciding to take up her cross, step out in faith, and give her sorrow to God. She was given a great blessing, but she may not have seen it without her brokenness.
In this world, we always have a choice. We live with the result of our choices, whether they are good or bad. Sometimes you have sorrows that push your faith into a dark place in your heart. You get used to it being there and start trusting things in the world. You may not notice your faith sinking deeper, especially if you aren’t turning to God with your needs. But without a relationship with Him, you become lukewarm in your faith.
Lukewarm is a dangerous territory
When you’re lukewarm, you’re not invigorated by God. You’re not broken by the world, you’re right in the middle. You go through the motions, but you’re neither cold or hot. You may go to church, but just because it’s part of your routine. There’s no craving for God. You keep trying to handle your life on your own without Him. “So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” Rev 3:16 .
God wants you to be filled with the Holy Spirit and make an effort for Him. When you feel you don’t need Him, you are on the road to destruction. The worst part is, you may not even notice. This happens more with people who are doing well in their life, believe it or not.
You are blessed in your brokenness
When you come to the point of sheer exhaustion from doing things your own way, your eyes start to see the truth. You face a choice between yourself and God. On your knees, blinded by your own tears, you face a moment of transformation. You are completely vulnerable, which breaks even the most prideful heart. That moment is when you have the opportunity to let God help you. You are not lukewarm, but instead burning with desire for Him because you realize you can’t do it on your own.
He will make a purpose where you didn’t know one existed
Hannah was barren, and she longed for a son. If she wasn’t utterly crushed in her spirit, she might not have prayed so hard to God. Her overwhelming desire for Him shattered her grief. She chose to give it to God instead of carrying her burden any longer. When God answered her prayer and gave her a son, it demonstrated the purpose of her anguish.
Let it go
I hope you feel encouraged to choose as Hannah did. Whatever is breaking your spirit right now, you do not have to handle it alone. Jesus is standing at your door and knocking. You can give it to Him. Let it go. He has a great purpose for your life. In every moment, both joy and despair, there is a purpose. Trials produce patience and help you grow in your spirit. The more you rely on Him, the more you will trust. You won’t go wrong in your faith when you take a chance on Him. You’re blessed in your brokenness because it brings you to a point of surrender. Call on God
What holds you back?
It’s hard to trust, especially when you’ve been burned. You’ve been hurt and you don’t trust anyone. Especially when you take a chance on someone only to find they’ve hurt you just like the others. God isn’t like that. He already chose you because He loves you. His intent is to help you, not hurt you. You can be confident He hears you when you call out to Him.
Here are a few reasons to help you confide in God:
1. Trusting Him is different
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” Psalms 118:8, God says to trust in Him. He isn’t like the people who’ve hurt you. He loves you and already accepted you through His Son Jesus. You only need to believe.
2. He hears you
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles” Psalms 34:17,. You know that He is listening to your cry. When you are alone in your room and reaching out for Him, He hears you. If you don’t get the answer you expect, that doesn’t mean He isn’t listening. We are slaves of instant gratification. We always want things right now. God doesn’t work according to our will, we work according to His, in His time. He hears you, so keep reaching out in faith. He will help you.
3. You can ask Him for help
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14. When you are in a broken state it’s cathartic to let it out. Cry, yell, scream … do whatever you have to do to let it go and give it to God. He hears you and wants to help you. Ask Him for what you need. Maybe you don’t know what you truly need, and that’s ok. Ask Him to help you follow His will and submit. You may be surprised at what happens.
4. He will get you through it
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears” Psalms 34:4, NKJV. Faith is not just believing He hears you, but that He can do something about your situation. The more you grow in your faith by trusting Him each day, you will start to see with your heart. You will notice how He helps you in ways that prove only possible by God. Putting your faith in Him frees you of the burden of fear. The fear of rejection, failure, and pain no longer hovers over you because in Jesus you are completely accepted and loved.
Being afraid of things you can’t control in the world don’t plague you once you give it to Him. Truly letting go and watching Him work is a glorious experience. You heal in ways you don’t expect. He knows your heart because you are His child. You will never go wrong turning to God for help.
I hope you trust in God in whatever is troubling you. I pray you hear His voice and find peace. You can be confident in Him. He loves you and accepts you for who you are through His Son Jesus Christ.
We are experiencing a global pandemic. This event is showing the world its own vulnerability. We aren’t invincible. Everything you care about can change in an instant. Yesterday you were worried about having enough time to get to work. Today you don’t have a job because your workplace is not considered an “essential” business.
An invisible virus has impacted everyone. It silently travels and spreads from person to person, no discrimination whatsoever. Cunning and calculated, attacking in just the right conditions. But sometimes it doesn’t, then travels onward. No rhyme or reason, which overwhelms you with fear.
Your thoughts are stuttering. Your hands are clammy. Constant worry is scrambling in your mind. You weren’t expecting it… Your heart starts racing. I’m crazy, but am I? What if I can’t handle this? I have no control. I’m not strong enough. What about my family? How am I going to protect them? Too many questions and not enough answers.
Does that sound familiar to you?
Any time in your life that you feel this way, it brings your world to a screeching halt. It doesn’t necessarily take a pandemic, sometimes it doesn’t take anything. The clever ways of anxiety don’t need a catalyst. It’s an enemy that silently attacks and makes you think it’s all your fault. Its root is fear and it conquers you.
The prince of the power of the air is the one who facilitates these enemies. Fear and anxiety lead to doubt because a spirit of fear is not from God. Any doubt placed in your mind is like a festering mold. It continues to grow slowly and infect.
Uncertainty keeps you broken. You’re in limbo, not understanding the promises God has made for you. It causes aimless wandering in your life, leading to desperate searching. Your vulnerability is a perfect situation for you to be attacked again … and again.
God is your protection
Jesus Christ defeated those enemies the moment He gave up His Spirit on the cross, died, and rose again. He fought your battle. He has already mastered your struggle right now with fear. Even He was tempted by Satan, who used scripture to try and make Jesus doubt God. It didn’t work because Jesus is the living Word of God. He is your Savior, who defeated sin and death.
Satan has no power over Him.
When you are covered with the blood of Jesus Christ by confessing He is the Son of God who paid your sin debt in full, Satan has no power over you either. These silent enemies have no weight in your life. You can overcome it in Jesus Christ. No matter what kind of fiery arrow is launched your way, the armor of God is your protection.
How do you overcome your fear?
Trust in God
Rely on Jesus
Submit to God
Let go of your fear
Each of these will guarantee strength. Just because they are simple answers doesn’t mean they are easy. You will have to fight yourself because you will want to take the path of least resistance. That’s where you are the most vulnerable. But when you do each of those things, it’s no longer your fight. You’ve given it up to God. And His power is insurmountable.
It doesn’t take away the merit of why you are afraid or diminish the reason to fear. Fear is real and so is the anxiety you feel.
But so is God.
His power surpasses all understanding. He has given us power through His Son Jesus Christ. Once you have Jesus within you, you no longer are fighting alone.
Your spirit and flesh battle each other constantly in this world. When you let go and let Jesus step in for you, He will do amazing things. You are not tagging in an equal. You are choosing a superior, One who has defeated what you are going through right now. Your power comes through Him.
Whenever you are afraid, His peace overcomes it.
He gives you comfort and joy even in the terrifying times of your life.
You have to trust Him.
You have to let go.
Stop trying to deal with everything on your own.
You don’t have the strength to battle without the armor of God.
You may find relief for a short time in medication, hobbies, or other substitutes that pass the time. But there is no replacement for Jesus. He is the prince of peace. He is the only One that defeated death and rose again, vanquishing the sin of the world and all that comes with it.
I pray you will find His peace in this difficult time. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, I pray that you open the door when He knocks. He will not give up on you. You do not have to be afraid, He is always with you.
The state of emergency to stop the spread of the coronavirus prompted the evaluation of places to be “essential” and “non-essential.” I understand this concept well as a nurse because it’s similar to the triage of what’s important and urgent against what is non-urgent. But how are you supposed to grasp that a place where you’ve come to know God, joyfully worship Him, and fellowship with His children is non-essential?
You may feel like a wandering sheep looking for your shepherd now that many churches have closed. It’s disheartening to think of you and your fellow Christians to be without a place to meet God.
The moment you set foot in the building, you know you are in a special place. You immediately feel at home. You know there are people you can trust all around you and feel invigorated by the Holy Spirit. It’s a time to sing praise and have fellowship in the good news of Jesus Christ. Your kids are safe and happy when learning in the daycare during the service. It’s a place you can truly be filled with joy.
But church isn’t the building, it’s the people.
You are part of the church led by Jesus Christ. He is the High Priest and King of Kings. He said where two or more are gathered, I am there (Matt 18:20, NKJV). There’s no instruction saying you have to go to a building to worship Him. The most important part of being a Christian is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s an intimate, daily walk with Him. Submissive and humble to His instruction in your life. The Holy Spirit comes into your life as a gift when you receive Jesus as your Savior, not because you entered a specific building. Your body is your temple.
The relationship you have with Jesus Christ is an unbreakable bond that no man can destroy. It doesn’t matter what is going on in your life, your connection with Him is entirely yours. You don’t need a church building to foster it. You just need to give Him the time.
We are all part of His church. We are essential.
In America, we see mega-churches becoming a popular trend. When I see thousands of people gathering to celebrate Jesus it absolutely warms my heart. All those people reaching out to Him is glorious! But sometimes the church is more simple than that.
It’s you with your friend who desperately needs to talk. Your friend is going through a difficult time and needs to be encouraged by your faith and comfort. She needs you to pray for her, so hold her hand and pray together.
Jesus is there.
Those moments won’t always occur in the church, but rather in your everyday life. Your heart needs to be centered on Jesus, so you can be ready to provide the faith gift He needs you to use to minister to His people. We are all part of His church. There is no shortage of people who need the encouragement that you can provide through your faith and love in Him.
3 essential attributes of the church
1. God-Centered
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matt 7:15, NKJV). The truth is God’s word. False teachings that involve self-centered concepts are rampant throughout the world. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who came to earth, fully man and fully God, to sacrifice Himself for the salvation of the world. He died and rose again after He defeated death. This is the truth from the word of God. You know the truth when you test the spirits and whether they confess Jesus is the Son of God. “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God” (1 John 4:2-3, NKJV).
God’s word has to be the center of the church, or it’s not of God. Jesus is His living Word, who became flesh (John 1:14, NKJV). Wolves in sheep’s clothing are those that twist and turn God’s word to be for their own benefit. When Satan tried to tempt Jesus, He used God’s word but manipulated it to try and make Him falter. These ways, whether intentional or not, are not of God and have serious repercussions.
2. Relationship with Jesus
The way you meet Him and learn with Him does not have to be within a church building. You can meet Him every morning in your room when praying. You can be part of mission trips that reach out to people desperately(new word) in need of Him. Maybe on your way to work, you listen to a bible study or podcast. Or even late at night when everyone in your house is asleep, you like to read and pray. The way you spend time with Jesus is between you and Him. Therefore, the most important thing is that it occurs.
3. The People
One of the best parts of the church is the fellowship. Fellowship with other people who have a love for Jesus like you is indescribable. It gives you hope. You see other people trying to live a life just like you. They struggle, they’re not perfect, and they don’t judge you for your mistakes. A church of people filled with humility is truly sharing the mission of Jesus. You can find comfort in their grace. You celebrate the life of Jesus together in a way that fosters the purpose in your heart for God. These people help you in your difficult times and celebrate your joyous moments.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
People thirsty for the truth, but can’t find it, are like wandering sheep. They need a shepherd to care for them and lead them. The shepherd nurtures the sheep and does whatever it takes to make sure they are safe. Anyone who doesn’t care for the sheep leaves them to face the wolves alone. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd knows His sheep, and they know Him. They hear His voice and see the way. “I am the good shepherd and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10: 14-15, NKJV).
The bond of Christ to His church is like the marriage bond between a husband and wife. The wife is submissive to her husband as she is to God. The husband honors and loves his wife. He gives himself for her, and loves her as he loves himself. “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” (Eph 5:29, NKJV).
Christ is the Husband and we are the wife. “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones” (Eph 5:30, NKJV). We submit to Him out of love and He cleanses us through Himself.
Christ wants you to walk in wisdom and understanding. Spend time with Him to realize His will for your life so you can grow in your knowledge. You can trust in Him. He will never separate Himself from you.
In this world, people are driven by their own needs. It is purely human nature. Our flesh is a relentless beast who continuously needs to eat. When it goes hungry, it throws a tantrum to get its way RIGHT NOW! It doesn’t care about anything and anyone else. Its only goal is to eat! The more food it gets, the more it wants. It is never satisfied.
What kind of food do you ask?
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21, NKJV).
… Beware of people who do not have good intentions
Paul explains all the works of the flesh, which are the “food” for the beast. The only person who’s ever walked this earth that is innocent is Jesus Christ. Every single human being has fallen victim to the flesh beast in some way with one of these acts. Not one person is better than the next because we all have this flesh desire within us through the nature of sin. It’s not our place to judge others. However, Jesus wants us to be aware of people who do not have good intentions.
As a Christian person, I know that I am guilty of those sinful ways Paul describes. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, and I rely on His Holy Spirit to guide me. Once I accepted Jesus, it didn’t remove the ways of my flesh from me. I learned the truth about my habits and the grace God gave me. I still struggle with them because I am weak in my flesh.
How many times has that happened to you?
As soon as I have an outburst of anger, or there is dissension in my heart, I’m convicted. I have to continuously step aside and let the Holy Spirit work, so I don’t feed the flesh beast. It’s really hard not to react to certain things in my flesh.
Stressors occur in my life, and no matter how short-lived it puts me in a raw state. I’m running on adrenaline and not thinking as clearly as I would otherwise.
Jesus knows all of this because He searches my heart, just as He searches yours.
We have a pillar of strength in Jesus to help us, convict us, and correct us through His love and salvation.
People who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior don’t have the same outlook. They don’t have the pull of the Holy Spirit within them to guide them with the fruits of the Spirit. When Jesus taught about false prophets, He wanted His disciples (and us) to be aware of people who will try to deceive them, use them, and devour their spirit.
He wanted you to know how to spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They can use kindness to shield their true intentions. They want something and they’ll trick you until they get it. You won’t even know until it seems like it’s too late.
Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?”
Someone can tell you one thing, but you will know their priorities by what they do. Really study how they spend their time and how they treat other people. You will see if they are a sheep or a wolf. We are all sinners; however, people who are far from God will not have the kind of loving fear of Him that you do.
The fruits of the spirit are love, kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, joy, peace, faithfulness, and self-control. Remember this when selecting those whom you spend time. Those who are sharing bad fruit may surprise you. In these situations, it’s essential to remain humble but aware.
You know how to spot the wolf in sheep’s clothing, now what?
Let it go. Don’t try to figure it out or analyze everything until you can’t think anymore. It’s wasted time to try and understand why. It just doesn’t have to do with you. It’s not about you. People like this will choose themselves over you every time.
Jesus warns against this because He wants you to put on the armor of God. He doesn’t want you to be deceived by them and pulled away from His purpose in your life. He is your personal Savior and wants to have a relationship with you. The Holy Spirit will help you have discernment about people around you.
Once you know how to spot the wolf in sheep’s clothing, here are five ways to arm yourself:
1. Pray every day
Building a relationship with Jesus will bring you closer to Him. The closer you are, the more you are filled with the Holy Spirit. You start to live your life for Him and not yourself. You begin to see His purpose for you and have an overwhelming peace
2. Read
Get in the word of God. The farther you are from it, the less you will remember. Know the truth by going right to the source. You may be surprised at how you can read the same verse many times, but on a particular day, it will have a different meaning to you.
3. Trust God to guide you through it
There are always tough times in life. Often at these times, certain people may show up to provide a seemingly effortless way out. Trust God and ask for understanding. He’ll show you the way.
4. Seek Counsel
If there is someone near you that has a strong love for God, seek them out. Jesus says you will “know them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16). You will know the faithful members of Jesus’ church because they will share the truth from God’s word. They are the people who are honest with you when others simply tell you what you want to hear. It may not always be the “leaders” in the church. Remember, know them by their fruits.
5. Obedience
The most important thing you can do is to listen to God. It’s so simple, yet so hard for us to do in our flesh. Listening to God’s voice and not your own when making choices in your life will help you have a greater awareness. The more you submit, the more He will guide you toward people and situations for His purpose. It takes practice every single day.
I hope you feel encouraged by this, and choose to spend time with God to have a good sense of discernment in your life. Please feel free to comment on the struggle to spot the wolves in your own life.
We have parts of ourselves that we wish didn’t exist. It could be a perceived flaw in our character or mistakes we’ve made in the past.
Those mistakes are often the ones we don’t tell anyone about.
We want to silence the regret to make it easier to move forward. Forget about it until it goes away. Sometimes you don’t even realize how much your past affected your choices because it’s buried so deep in your heart. It just burns inside of you until the smoke wakes you up one day and clouds your mind with grief.
Don’t let your regret bind you up any longer.
Trying to start over with a clean slate without facing it doesn’t remove the hurt. Accountability for what you have done helps you confess it to God. You can ask Jesus to forgive you. He’ll set you free.
Jesus is the rock in which you can stand, and no longer be enslaved by guilt. Not one person on this Earth is perfect and every one of us has made sinful mistakes.
Your purpose is not your pain
Your purpose is your heart, rebuilt from that pain through Jesus Christ.
You are the walking testimony of the work in your heart. If your heart is filled with hate or sorrow, you can’t share the goodness that is inside of you. Once you accept Jesus into your life as your personal Savior the Holy Spirit fills you with the fruits of His Spirit. You no longer have to be bonded to your sin because He has already removed it from you.
Letting go of the guilt that binds you is a choice you have.
But it’s not what saves you. Jesus has already paid the price for you. It’s not about you being worthy to accept His gift, it’s about Him being worthy to sacrifice. Take the focus off your sin and focus it on His grace. If you don’t know how to do that start by talking to Him. Ask Him to search your heart and remove the thorns within it.
You are the witness to what God is doing in your life.
You are the tablet He uses to share His love. That time when you were kind to someone for no other reason but because it was “the right thing to do” is a page in that book. The time you showed mercy to someone who’s hurt you or cried with someone who’s needed encouragement is your heart sharing that love with others.
What’s important is moving forward from the mistakes. Once you believe in Jesus as the Son of God you are a new creation.
You can embrace God’s purpose for you once your surrender
That doesn’t mean that you must forget about your past, it just means you don’t let it dictate your future. Many people around you may not see the change inside you or have an opinion about it. Even if that happens that doesn’t mean you aren’t different. Change in any person starts from the inside, with your heart, mind, and your spirit.
You believe but maybe those closest to you don’t. You know that He is the Son of God who chose to die and rise again so you could have eternal life through Him. You are a new creation, but your family remembers what you’ve done. They will be more skeptical than any new person you meet because they witnessed your sins and mistakes. They knew you as the person you once were. Until their heart is filled with the love and acceptance that Christ brings, they won’t be able to accept the change as a true transformation. This brings division into your household.
This is why it’s so important to be humble and kind.
You can impact those very people that question you by witnessing every single day in your life simply being who Christ called you to be. Sharing the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, peace, joy, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, long-suffering, goodness, and self-control.
You are not going to change their heart, only God/Christ can do that. You are the branch; He is the vine that provides you the nourishment you need to share the fruit.
Remember you are not the rule, you’re the exception.
There will be many people you encounter in your life that won’t understand nor want to be a part of the love you have inside for God and Jesus. You can’t change their heart, but you can exhibit the change on your own. You are the vessel for the living word of God inside you. Your heart is His tablet. Your life is His legacy.
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
