Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt
If you looked back over the last 12 months of your life, would you say that you have stayed the same, changed for the worse or changed for the better? I ask that because God would always have you change for the better—even in the most difficult of times. Most people who have made it through difficult times with a good outlook would tell you that it was a real test of their character and that they learned the good, the bad, and the ugly about themselves. They also usually comment that those times made them a stronger and better person for various reasons.
A life in Jesus is all about transformation. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, that God wants to transform your life, help you become more conformed to the image of Christ, and develop godly character within you. That will happen because you prayerfully press into and respond to the instruction of His Word in the good times. It will also happen because you respond to His Word and believe in the promise of His help in the tough times. Both will mature you and develop godly character in you! This is how transformation happens!
Upon accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, God immediately gives you gifts and promises. You are given the gift of the forgiveness of your sins, the gift of Heaven, and the promise and gift of the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. From the moment you accept Jesus, the Spirit of God takes residence within your heart and a miracle of transformation begins. You begin to see life through God’s eyes. The scriptures begin to speak to you as though they were just given a voice. Your entire perspective of life begins to change which means you begin to see life differently. You are literally becoming a new person. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
The words of this verse carry the meaning of being re-manufactured, or remade as a brand new creation. You are a new creature and you are continuing to become that transformed person. There will be a day when people talk about you and say, He/she is a completely different person from when I used to know him/her.
There will be times where you struggle and feel like you are going backwards. Difficulty and discouragement is a device of Satan to rob your faith and try to drive you backwards in circumstances and character. It’s the time to fight back and reach for more of God within you! It’s a time to remember the words in Micah 7:8 NLT “Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord himself will be my light.”
The Holy Spirit within you is the power of God to change you and He will help you. Faith and patience is the key. Just say the words God is working in me and I am changing more and more into the image of Christ. Then say what Philippians NLT 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
Published by Pastor Tim Burt
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