Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a day of hope and peace. Soon Al will be heading to Men’s group, and I will be baking, going down for donuts and later Bible Study and running errands.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  A question we may ask ourselves daily, “Do I want to be transformed into the image of Christ?” Do I want to become more like Him with a willingness to change in the ways He reveals to me? It may seem scary to many of us, but it is good to remember that the Lord sees deep within us and knows when we are ready to take the leap and allow Him to do His work in us as we yield to the transformation process. If we think about it, we are only giving up something that is not good, to receive what is best for our souls and health!  Although it may be hard and painful at the time it says in Heb.12:11 that “later on it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” The Message translation says, “At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”

  Sometimes we may start out well on the way to transformation and then we seem to slow down and plateau or maybe get stuck. It can help to share with another believer how we are struggling and have them pray for us. We may have to renew our desire for transformation over and over again and tell the Lord we want to receive all that He has for us. He will answer and will begin to open our eyes and help us note what is happening on the inside of us. For the first time, we may become aware of patterns of our behavior and habits that distract us from His presence. We can ask Him to help us pursue Him and see things from His perspective. Of course, the next important step is to be willing to act on what He shows us and take steps of action in the right direction. I know for myself, there is often a time lapse from when He shows me and when I willingly take action. But sometimes I just pray for the will to be willing to take action. It helps to remember that He will not force us to change but simply invites us. Authors Gem and Alan Fadling write how we need to remember that God is inviting us into continual relationship because He desires our presence rather than thinking of it as a duty and a to-do list. Then it seems like we are working together in it and change seems to just happen as a result.

  Our transformation doesn’t happen overnight and it should be ongoing until the day we leave this earth.  I’m so glad he doesn’t show us everything at once, or we might be overwhelmed. We will have successes and times when we need to start again but let us begin right now to choose to respond to His invitation.
  Challenge for today: Take a small step of action in the direction God is leading you and ask Him to help you keep moving with an openness to change.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy