Knowing who I once was and who I am now, is mind boggling. To be honest, I have been very selfish before my commitment to walk with God and let Him take the reigns. God appealed to my sense of loyalty and responsibility (which he has given to me) and gave me children. Because they are a blessing of God
This walk has been a process and it did not change over night. Having suffered a stroke after giving birth to my youngest child, has been very difficult to handle. But today, I honestly can say that I have seen the mighty Power and Love of my God. Healing me over time and caring for me like a mother, father, husband, beloved, brother would do. There have been so many times when I was just overwhelmed by His provision to us.
For example, I remember one month I could not pay the electric bill. It had been during the heat of the summer. Fearing the worst, I called the electric provider to see what could be done. Only to hear the voice on the other side of the phone telling me that the bill was paid. Wow, it was paid. I have no idea by whom, since I did not tell many about my struggle that time. But God knew and He cared!
This stroke effected my whole body not just one side, especially some of my brain functions. Throughout the years, I experienced healing in stages. As the word says
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8
Some people along the way to healing may have thought, why does He not heal her completely in one time? Not that He couldn't. He could have spoken a word and I would have been changed in an instant. But there is a reason why not, which I started understanding along the way. He was more concerned about my soul and my mind than my body. To heal my mind and soul took some time. All the layers and layers of tragedy, neglect, trauma, rejection and wounds of the heart had to be healed in order for me to be able to change my mind.
To this day, I still experience healing in areas I didn't even know how much damage was done to me. And of course after healing and restoration has come, we are responsible to maintain that by living in His presence, reading the word and surrounding us with good, godly counsel. Which is best done within a local church congregation. He has truly taken my ashes and has turned them into beauty.
And what witness do we have of this change in Christ. Well, ask my children. They had to come along the ride, the adventures, have seen the miracles and have heard me tell them what happened every time God stepped in and cleaned up the mess of life.
Good friends who have been by my side catching me when I was falling. For you, it may have been family. Either way. There has to be a witness of change in our life when we profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. It is inevitable because He causes the change to come. That is the great thing about being a Christian, a follower of Christ. We just have to follow and change our mind (often) to become the manifested redemption of Christ.
Never to compare our life in Christ to another person's life is important. We all have our own pace, directed by God, knowing what we need and how.
My prayer today is for us to never resist change to become more like Christ. To accept the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit and to follow as children, trusting and believing in His Love for us.
So long for now until next time.
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