"A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!" Those words from the thirty first chapter of Jeremiah in The Message Bible stopped me in my tracks during my morning quiet time of prayer and Bible reading. In context this chapter is talking about the nation of Israel as God's wayward daughter who turns back to Him. Not all of the Bible was written to me. This book is the story of the prophet Jeremiah's life and his prophetic assignment to the nation of Israel at a specific time in history. However, all of God's Word was written for me. His Word is more than just historic fact, it is living and active and meant to speak to me in the present of my everyday life.
As I read these words my first thought was that when I let God transform me, then I readily embrace Him. But as I pondered the words throughout my day I thought of the verse in a different way. I began to see it as cause and effect. I looked at the word will not as in future tense but as in she has made a choice and has set her will to do something. She has chosen to embrace the transforming God and is thus transformed. It brought to my remembrance another verse. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV In other words, each time we come into God's presence, unveiled, with nothing hidden and heart wide open, we become transformed. We become a little bit more like Him. What hope that gave me! It also made me more determined to make sure that my times with Him are not just spent getting through my prayer list and that day's Bible reading. I want to sit and embrace the transforming God with nothing hidden, with my heart wide open, and with complete surrender to His transforming work in me.
Elizabeth, this is such a wonderful reminder for me to not rush my time spent in God's Word. May we bask in the words, letting them soak into our hearts and minds and do the work which needs to be done in our lives. Have a blessed Sunday!
ReplyDeleteThere are those days that I do just mindfully sit and read, but the ones where I study the words better are so much more fulfilling and then I am refreshed throughout the day. I wonder if it because then the Holy Spirit in me is also happy. :) ~hugs~
ReplyDeleteYes! “The Holy Spirit in me is happy”-what a wonderful thought!
Deleteoops...should say mindlessly sit. :)
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