CWW Week 18 - Day 4 - A Work In Progress
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Scripture.
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Devotional.
This verse emphasises that we as believers, are created by God for a purpose, specifically to do good works that He has planned for us. It highlights the idea that our lives have a divine purpose and that God has prepared a path for us to follow.
How does it feel to even begin to contemplate that God himself may have a purpose for your life? I have seen this in so many since we started Recovery Road. When we tell new participants that there was a reason they went through the pain of their past, and that was to equip them for God’s purposes now, you can see a light come on.
Think about it. Lets say you are an alcoholic who is desperate to shake off the addiction and live a happy life. Do you seek out a professional with a heap of letters after their name who learned in a university having never had the addiction? Or do you seek someone who is now happy and free having conquered the same addiction for themselves?
I speak with many men who have the same addiction I did. Michelle is sought by many sexual abuse survivors, not because she had a dozen letters after her name but because she lived through it to a happy and contented life.
I have often shared with many who seek support from us, one simple truth I have come to see in the past two decades. “You will never know how long is the line of people who are behind you waiting to see how you overcome your past hurt, hang up or habit.” I have seen many people take on life restoring leadership roles assisting others restore their broken lives in just such a way. And those they support go on to do the same for others.
It’s perfect and it works, and it’s the way God intends us to overcome and restore our relationship with Him.
One work in progress helping another work in progress in God’s amazing plan of mutual benefit. The journey not only heals many but refines character development in a beautiful way for all involved.
James 5: 16 tells us to “confess our sins to God, Ourselves and another human being and pray for each other so that ALL may be healed.” In this we can see that we need to be vulnerable knowing that our strength lays in our vulnerability.
In 2006 I was going to take my own life. God interviewed at the eleventh hour and I can’t believe how much my life has exploded with relevance since His intervention. I have to pinch myself when I read what is coming off my keyboard right now.
God is waiting to use us in ways we had never imagined. He has been redrawing the blueprint of our lives every day around the mistakes we made the day before. That’s how much He loves us and is prepared to go all the way in our restoration. He wants for us to survive our learning experiences to gain the wisdom to trust in Him and show others to do the same.
This is our purpose and in this we know that “God never wastes a hurt.”
Now that you are starting to see why you are a work in progress, take the time to imagine what it is that God himself is fitting you for?
If you trust in Him He will continue the good works in you and He alone will equip you to deal with what ever is thrown at you as you step out in renewal with Him.
Or you could just continue in life as you know it with tiles coming off the roof and rotting timbers as your foundation. How has that worked for you so far?
We are made in His image. God does not make junk and He alone is ready to equip us to restore our destiny as we serve others who are a work in progress just like us, for I know of no one who isn’t.
Questions.
- Have you thought that your life has no real purpose other than to struggle?
- Do the rotting foundations of your life drive others away from you?
- What will you do today to start the restoration project God has waiting for you?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
I have felt without purpose for most of my life. My struggles have self disqualified me from service to others until now. Can I be useful Lord? Can You use me Papa? Oh Lord examine my heart and know my ways and test them and prepare me to bring glory to you in my restoration is my prayer in Jesus Holy name. Amen.
Have a great day with Jesus.
Graham Hood.
