Made Different for Him...

Bible Readings... 
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:7-8
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
​Luke 9:24
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Hello everyone…and a big welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! I am so happy to have you with me today and my prayer for you; is that you will truly find a piece of hope to hold to…through the words that God shares with us today!
 
As we begin our time together, let me ask you some questions. How are you coping with a circumstance?  Are you in a panic…are you crying out and begging God to stop what has been raging within your soul or are you seeing these moments, as a time when God may be using them, to make you better and different for Him?
 
As I look back into the past, I remember many times, when I would cry and cry and cry, while begging God to remove the awful moments of deep…deep heartache from my life. I just couldn’t understand why He wasn’t listening to me…and most of all, I couldn’t understand why He wouldn’t give me relief and walk me out of these awful moments of despair.
 
Through time, I came to see that it wasn’t because God wasn’t listening to me…and it wasn’t because He didn’t want to take me out of what appeared to be…“walking through the pits of hell;” but rather, He had a plan…a plan that would change my life forever…from an old broken down life…to a life that would truly connect me with Him, while allowing Him to stand out in my place.
 
You know… a Christian’s life should never have the same appearance that it once had before accepting Jesus into their life; but instead, a Christian’s life should be one that stands out and appears to be different…and I have come to see that sometimes; this is why God allows moments of affliction to enter our lives; so He can empty the chambers of the heart that once were filled with ourselves; that there may be room for Him to come in and do a great work within us.
 
In my early teens there were two sets of Bible verses that actually became deeply embedded within my heart…which are actually two of our verses for today. (Philippians 3:7-8 and Luke 9:24) Never did I know in my lifetime that those verses would come to life within me later on. As God began to do a deep cleaning of the heart…one by one, the rooms of my heart became empty and prepared for God to move in. I’ll have to tell you something…the “cleaning of the heart” was no easy task and the process seemed never ending at times; but once each chamber of the heart became empty…cleaned and polished up; that is when I began to let God move into those empty rooms, where I had once lived; that He may fill my heart totally with Himself and begin the work that He had planned, since the day He had created me.
 
No matter what you’re facing…and no matter how long these difficult moments have resided within you; just know that God has a reason and a purpose behind everything He allows within your life; otherwise, He would have never allowed it. One thing I’ve truly come to see; is that no matter what takes place in my life…I KNOW that God has the control stick in hand and when He’s finished with the great work He’s doing in my life…He will relieve me from the hurt and pain that I’m experiencing…and just as He does this in my life…He will do the same for you; so never give up on God or ever feel that He has walked away and forsaken you. Instead of begging God over and over again for help; why not open yourself up to what He longs for you to be a part of…something that can strengthen you and make you different for Him!
Blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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