Day 18 – The Incredible Gift You Won’t Accept
Read
Reflect
God invites us all to be healed by him. To have our life changed in transformational ways. He offers us all forgiveness. Spiritual healing greater than even what Naaman received. A new life!
So often, however, I want God to change me on my own terms. I want forgiveness and I want to repent (turn to life with Jesus), but in the ways I control.
Spiritually, like Naaman, we want God to heal us but…
…we want to bring God our good deeds as payment for healing, rather than look in the mirror and focus on repenting in the areas where we need to change. (denial)
…we want Him to deal with the issues we are willing to confront, not the uncomfortable areas He wants us to confront. (pride)
…we want to be challenged in the ways that are easy or exciting, not in the ways that force us to make uncomfortable changes to things like our time, finances, or friends. (selfishness)
If God made us and knows what’s best for us, the best choice we can make is to surrender to the work He wants to do in our lives, but that means doing it on His terms.
Respond
Belong – Because you can belong before you believe
The great news is that God offers the gifts of redemption, forgiveness, and transformation to everyone. He’s not exclusive in His gifts. If you began a relationship with God, what’s an area of your life you wish God would change?
Believe – Because those who belong often start to believe
Choosing to believe in Jesus starts an incredible journey of life change. God doesn’t want to leave you the same person, but He wants to continually transform you into something new. As you consider a choice to believe in Jesus and rely on Him for forgiveness and transformation, ask Him to show you where He wants to heal you.
Become – Because everyone who believes can become someone new
One of the common hindrances to spiritual growth is an inability to or an unwillingness to examine your own heart, look in the mirror in search of the areas of your life where God wants to work. Sit in silence for 10 minutes today and ask God to search your heart and show you where He wants to work. Chances are you may already know.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Amen
– by Jeff Brodie