Dear Ones,
Hope you have a transforming day!! I have Women’s Bible study this morning and also hope to make Finnish pasty which will make Al happy too.Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Why do we so often choose to live life on our own rather than trust the very One who made us and gave Himself for us? I suppose we can blame Adam and Eve for their mistrust of God when they listened to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and ever since man has had to deal with shame and guilt and fear and pain. But we are also like them as we live divided lives and often mistrust the goodness of God. When things go wrong one of the first things people say, is Why is God doing this to me? The truth is “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. (Rom 3:23)

We may try to create a false image of ourselves to look more presentable to others, but it is not who we really are. This false self influences how we think, feel, choose and behave but it alienates us from God and we don’t relate in truth to others. It leaves us feeling distant from God and we can change only if we own our false image and surrender ourselves to trust Him to do what we can’t do by ourselves.

Transformation comes from God’s loving presence and also as He sends others into our lives to help with this process. It could be a pastor, close friend, teacher or mate etc. and gradually we change internally by the loving trusting presence of another through the Spirit. We are helped to sense Christ’s presence and we begin to share His life as we become the Body of Christ and have fellowship with Him and one another. We have what is called Koinonia, as we participate with others who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and live in harmony and communion with one another. As wonderful as that is, it also means we have to die to our false self and live to what is true. Let us daily surrender all to Him.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you areas of your life where the false self still reigns and surrender in trust to the Lord.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy