S.H.A.P.E. (5)

Tuesday 8th November 2022

'Then you will learn to know God's will for you.' Romans 12:2 NLT

The letter E stands for experience. How can you know God's will for your life? Paul answers, 'Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you' (Romans 12:2 NLT). The word 'transform' means 'to change in shape'. How is a diamond formed? It's the result of unrelenting pressure over a long period of time. Your life's experiences will point you towards your life's purpose. God never wastes a pain! The psalmist said, 'I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word....my suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees' (Psalm 119:67, 71 NLT).

How do we learn to do what's right? By experiencing the pain of doing what's wrong. You say, 'But others have mistreated me. Is that God's will for my life?' It could be. Paul writes, 'I want you to know this... Everything that has happened to me here has been a great boost in getting out the Good News concerning Christ' (Philippians 1:12 TLB). Then he adds: 'For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better' (Philippians 1:20-21 NLT).

The reverse side of a tapestry looks like a tangled mess of threads. But that's what it takes to produce a picture of beauty, order and value. Getting the idea? Re-examine your life's experiences.

FROM RECOVERY BIBLE :

Psalm 119-71-72 We should be thankful when God disciplines us for our sins. Painful as it may be, discipline drives us back to his truth, which is far more valuable than all the riches of this world. God wants only what is best for us. We would be wise to learn from God's discipline rather than fight it. It is giving for our betterment, not our destruction.