Deep cleansing or surface polish?

let me explain… there are times in our lives when the Spirit moves deeper inside our hearts than we have experienced before, He is trying to take us into a deeper and more intimate relationship than before, we experience that we once more are challenged to surrender our all to God, to give up everything and let Him have His way in our lives… often are times like this really painful and they drive us to the end of our selves, we find us selves to be tiny little helpless individuals that can’t live up to the standard we know God has and also desire us to live by… we fail, some feels like they are the worst sinner ever, it hurts, and many times it is confusing and frustrating…  because how can God use someone as me, someone that fails to often, someone that doesn’t manage, someone that know what good to do, but still doesn’t do it or manage to do it… how can He love someone like that? how can He desire more of me and especially more time with me?

I have to very active boys, they sometimes get a scratch or ten and we have to clean them, sometimes water is enough, sometimes I have to get the brush out. One time my oldest was thrown to the ground by someone that came on a bicycle in high speed and crashed into him – doctor next and also some cleansing and sewing had to be done. Mom had to hold tight while they cleansed both the deep wounds, brush was needed to get everything out before they could sew it together… if he was crying?
oh yes! Did it hurt? Like crazy! Did we have to do it? yes! Did he tell us to stop and just put a bandage over and said that would do? oh yes he did! But we didn’t, we had to take all needed steps, it had to be cleansed thoroughly… if not a infection could come and make bigger «damages»…

when the Spirit starts to move inside of us to go deeper, to be transformed, to turn around from ungodly things in our lives – it can hurt really bad, it can be so tough that we don’t see how we will manage more of this and we cry out – please God, take this pain away, I’ll change one of the things you mention, I will read the Bible 5 minutes more every day, I will say an extra prayer, and
that will have to do… Many forget that the pain and sorrow we feel inside can be what we read about in the Bible as «Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…» (2.Cor.7.10a) The Spirit is moving… He want to transform us into greater likeness of Christ, but to renew our inwardly, there are times where Godly sorrow is needed. Many get caught up in the pain, they want it to end fastest possible – but what they forget then is that they by doing so will stop the Spirit from finishing what’s started, they kind of say: I won’t allow you to finish your work inside of me, because it hurt to much, I don’t want all this pain, I want to feel happy… if we read a little more from the chapter in 2.Cor we will see what this Godly sorrow produces in our lives if we allow the Spirit to finish the work He has started; «See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done… (7.11a)

My kids are taught that we sometimes have to go through painful things, but only because it will bring something better later- because it is for our best. Like getting a deep cleansing instead of surface polish, like have to go through surgery instead of 4-5 antibiotic-treatments each year…

Allow God to do His work inside of you, and if He is turning everything upside down for awhile, allow Him- He does it because He loves you, He KNOWS what’s best, and in all things He act out of love.

«…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.» (Phil.1.6)

«Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.» (psalm 40.5)

«Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.» (Gal.6.9)

«Therefore, my dear friends…. continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life… (Phil.2.12 -16a, not whole verse 12 just so it is said)

«I can do everything through him who gives me strength. » (Phil.4.13)

this is just very short some of what’s been working inside me last weeks, I apologize if there are misspellings and wrong words, but haven’t time or strength to check every word and went for what felt right…

Wishing all a wonderful day! Take good care and remember, God is there with you and He is able in and through all things and times!
Blessings, prayers and (((((BiiiiiGHuuuuGs))))) ~ Cecilie ~

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God. (Phil.1.9-11)