Romans 8: 17...."we share in His sufferings"....
Life will bring many of us through crushing and pressing. Nothing good comes easy. Just like a nice fine wine. Picking the finest grapes, and then crushing them to make a fine wine.
The scripture clearly states, that if we are His children, then we will share in His sufferings. But the best part is we also share in His glory. All for Him. All to build His kingdom. To share with others where our hope comes from.
I know that I have prayed fervently for God to please change something's in my life. But rather than Him changing them, He was changing me. This made me understand the scripture, 2 Corinthians 12: 8-9 so much more. Paul never had his prayer answered the way he expected either. He even pleaded with God. But through God's grace, His power was being made perfect in Paul's weakness. I mean it truly is amazing how this happens, but it does. You praise and love on God no matter what you're going through, and He shows you just how strong HE IS!
It's easy to want to give up, get mad at God, fall off the path He's got you on because you just don't understand it. But, like Paul's thorn, God is using it for His glory, and we get to share in that. What ever you're thorn may be, don't give up. God is breaking new ground. He's going to bring new wine out of the crushing. And where there is new wine, there is new POWER!
Ephesians 3:16 ...."out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with POWER through His Spirit in your INNER being"...2 Corinthians 5: 16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet INWARDLY we are being renewed day by day....so we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal." I love that!!
One more great promise of God's spoken word in Philippians 3: 20-21, "But our citizenship is in heaven....the Lord Jesus Christ....will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body." Oh that glorious day!!!!
So while I'm still here, like the lyrics say: "God I came here with nothing, but all you have given me. Jesus make new wine out of me. I lay down my old flames to carry Your new fire today." Be a light to this dark world like Jesus was.
Much love
Kim
Beautiful song & post Kim..I pray in the name of Jesus this for our beloved mom..God fill her completely with your love & peace...She belongs to you...You are her strength, comfort, and peace..You are all we need, in Jesus name Amen.. We love you mom��
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