by Jacene Hoskins
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
My husband Caleb and I feel that God providentially brought us to Niles. It’s been just over three years since He took the Worship Pastor position at the church and God has been working in our careers, in our marriage, and in our church. But we didn’t always see this as clearly as we do now.
When we graduated from Bethel College in 2006 we had been together for two years. Marriage hadn’t really been talked about before then. But when I moved back home he followed shortly after and we both began working. We knew we loved each other, but Caleb wanted to have everything figured out—a pattern of this world—before he popped the question. But God wanted him to put his trust in Him. You see, Caleb wasn’t happy with his work and had been wrestling a call to ministry for quite some time. After much prayer and godly counsel, he took the step of faith and proposed, even without the rest of his future figured out. Amazingly, the very next month God confirmed his call to ministry and the position at First Missionary opened up, as if God had just been waiting for him to step out in faith.
Take a look into your life. Are there areas where you have conformed to the world’s pattern? God wants to transform that! And when He does, His plans for you are good; they are pleasing; they are maybe even perfect.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live a life where You constantly transform me. Show me today how I can be renewed and how I can serve Your perfect will.
It is such a relief to me that GOD is the One doing this transforming work in my mind - through the power of His Word and His indwelling Holy Spirit!!
ReplyDeleteYet I'm required to present myself as a living sacrifice for this work to be done. Truth is, some days I'd rather not. I've learned (thru trial and much error) to ask Him for the 'want to' of giving myself over for His renewing.
Best decision I ever made--aside from accepting Christ. Better late than never, right Jacene?
ReplyDeleteTRANFORMATION = CHANGE. I'm not very good with the process of change, but once transformation occurs I think "What took me so long to let God work His will in my life?" Lord, help me to see transformation as an exciting opportunity to venture deeper into your excellent plan for my life.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, helps remind me to step out in faith more than I do now.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded to spend more of my day in contact with God, so that my decisions of the day may be more about what He wants me to be, and not what I want to be. As I live through my daily activities, I am more blessed, the more I allow Him in.
ReplyDeleteWell there you have it...marry a good woman and get a good job...what else could you want...besides maybe a cat! Oh yeah, I forgot...Caleb has a good cat too.
ReplyDeleteAnd just so you all know...this devotional by Miss Jacene is not what I was refering to in the message on Sunday when I said, "God loves you and has a terrible plan for your wife"
Thanks for clearing that last little bit up Dan...I'm sure people were wondering!
ReplyDelete