Once in a while, I get to reflect on how far God has brought me over the years. And although I may have already written about it, I am reminded again today about how crucial it was for Him to TRANSFORM the way I think.
There is a little book that was recommended many years ago. I used for a long time but then moved onto other devotionals. It has again been at the top of my stack these past weeks.
Today's entry is precisely the kind of writing and thinking that has helped me. It is full of scriptural references (which the authors include). Which is WHY it has worked to transform my mind. It is the APPLICATION of God's Word to my life, REAL LIFE.
It is written in the form of a prayer, and I truly make these my petitions to God.
Here's today's entry. Enjoy!
Day 18 from Thirty-One Days of Praise (Myers)
Father, I'm so delighted that You are both loving and sovereign, and that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. So I thank You for each disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing, for each problem or hindrance, for each thing that triggers in me anxiety or anger or pain. And I thank You in advance for each disappointment, each demanding duty, each pressure, each interruption that may arise in the coming hours and days.
In spite of what I think or feel when I get my eyes off You, I choose not to resist my trials as intruders, but to welcome them as friends.
Thank you that each difficulty is an opportunity to see You work...that in Your time You will bring me out to a place of abundance. I rejoice that You plan to enrich and beautify me through each problem, each conflict, each struggle...that through them You expose my weaknesses and needs, my hidden sins, my self centeredness (and especially my self-reliance and pride). Thank You that You use trials to humble me and perfect my faith, and produce in me the quality of endurance...that they prepare the soil of my heart for the fresh new growth in godliness that You and I both long to see in me...and that my momentary troubles are producing for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, as I keep my eyes focused on You. I'm grateful that You look beyond my superficial desire for a trouble-free life; instead, You fulfill my deep-down desire to glorify You, enjoy Your warm fellowship, and become more like Your Son.
I thank You for the bitter things
They've been a friend to grace,
They've driven me from the paths of ease
To storm the secret place.
--Florence White Willett
Scripture References (by paragraph)
1. Romans 8:28-29; 1 Peter 1:6-7
2. James 1:2-4 (Phillips)
3. Psalm 68:8-12; 138:7-8; Job 23:10; Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 16-17; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; John 12:27-28
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