Full of the Lord's instruction and discipline.
It is grace in my life that God reveals my sin. He does not allow me to linger there long.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves. Hebrews 12:6
Well, as David Crowder says, "Oh how he loves me."
He disciplines [me] for [my] good, that [I] may share his holiness. Hebrews 12:10
Think about that. To share in the holiness of Christ. To bear his image.
Why in the world would he want that for me? For you?
Because he loves us. Astounding.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11
This week has brought moments of pain. Seeing my imperfection is painful. Ugly. Discouraging.
But I cling to this truth...that later I will reap the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Thank you, Jesus.
Recently I have been remodeling a few things around my house. And as silly as it sounds, with each change, I see the parallel of my heart.
Laugh if you will, but my prayer for both my kitchen and my soul are very similar.
Lord, allow Light to shine. Renovate. Change. Refresh. Make all things new.
At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Wash me Lord and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7
Sing to the Lord a new song. Psalm 96:1
People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others. Matthew 5:14-16
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22,23
Lord, thank you for renovating my heart. Thank you for your discipline, as hard as it may be. Thank you for shining Light on my sin and refining me. I desire growth. Change. I pray that I would walk this life as an image bearer of Christ. Bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Being light to this world, Lord. Let this be the cry of our hearts today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
P.S. An enormous thanks to Lissa for all of her decorating advice. You bless me.
I'm getting a heart renovation myself! It is such a blessing to read your perspective while on my journey! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love when God shows us examples of what He is doing in us! What a vivid picture of the refreshing work He's doing!
ReplyDeleteI've been inspired by Lissa too to work on my kitchen, and have made quite a few changes. Your kitchen looks lovely! It us strange, isnt it that God often combines inward and outward change and "improvements"! Maybe he knows that we need something visual, a marker of "this was the time when....". For me getting my kitchen better was part of turning my heart back more to home and family.
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