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I'm a work in progress!

Don't you love it when God reminds us we are a work in progress? Sometimes it seems like life is just moving along and we think everything is going smooth.  We may even think we have 'arrived' and have this Christian life all figured out.  Then WHAM!!! something unexpected happens! 

Someone or something absolutely pulls the rug out from under us and we realize we still have soooo far to go!  I had a week like that... and I had to make a decision.  Would I allow myself to embrace the change and let God show me what He was trying to teach me?

Recently I read that forgiveness means letting go of the right to be offended.  Oh ouch!  It is so much more natural to hold on to offense and fight for our rights.  In my Sunday school class, we are studying Lisa Bevere's book "Out of Control and Loving It."  This week we were discussing the things we have learned so far and one of my ladies said "It is so hard because it goes against my nature not to fight back."  Another wise lady responded "It is against your nature... your sin nature!"  Ouch but wow!

The truth is that no matter how hard I fight I have no control of the actions of another person.  I have to keep myself in line with Christ and let Him worry about others.  When we humble ourselves and let Him be our defender, we are simply recognizing that we are not in control. If someone wants to believe bad of you, no matter what you say or how many times you say it, they will still believe the bad.  Our witness and character should be our best defense.  What a great opportunity to reflect on what witness we have created!  So instead of that being a negative thing, we have a Father who loves us enough to allow these things in our life to grow us into His image!  It sure is enough to keep us humble and on our knees; which is exactly where we are strongest!

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