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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

God Wants to Make the Bitter in My Life Better

In review of Romans 8:28 it says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV).

Today’s verse is Romans 8:28. In it I’m reminded that I know that God causes everything to work together for my good because I love Him and have responded to his calling for his purpose for me.

I see and have come to accept that God works in "everything", not just isolated incidents, for my good. This does not mean that all that happens to me is good. Evil is prevalent in this fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for my long-range good. God is not working to make me happy, but rather to fulfill his purpose through me. I can claim this because I love and have heard and responded to the calling from God. Because of my relationship, I'm able to have a new perspective, a new mind-set. I'm learning to trust in God, not in life's treasures, for my security will be in heaven and not here on earth. My faith is being strengthened each day. I learn to not waver in pain and persecution, as I know that God is with me.

I’m a broken person, imperfect. Sometimes I hurt others intentionally or unintentionally. Life isn’t fair. Innocent people suffer. Everyone has experienced unfair or prejudicial treatment in some way.

How I respond to it matters. If I start dwelling on it, stew, spew, and worry, my soul takes a hit. Grudges over what others have done to me will hurt my soul, impairing my thoughts, emotions, and decisions. Resentment, bitterness, retaliation, and revenge will damage me.

His Word tells me that He is going to even the score. Judgment is coming one day. People who were mistreated, misjudged, or treated unfairly will receive justice. But meanwhile it's not my job to avenge myself: “Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it” (Romans 12:19 TLB).

Unaddressed grudges blind me to how much good God has done in my life. I become blind to the truth. I become blind to the needs of people around me. My soul will not be restored until I let it go. That’s what Jesus wants to help me do. God wants to restore my soul, taking the bitter things in my life and turn them into better things.

Romans 8:28 says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV).

Of course, not everything that happens to me is good. But can God take the bad things people do to me and use them for good? God will take my sins and mistakes and bring good out of them. God can take my own weaknesses and my damaged will and work good even then. Anybody can bring good out of good, but God specializes in bringing good out of bad.

God turns my hurts into holiness. He turns my wounds into wisdom. He uses offenses to remove my pretenses.

When I believe that God can bring good things out of very bad things, he will begin to rebuild my soul, my broken thoughts, my broken emotions, and my broken will.

Bottom Line:
If we love God and live for his purposes, he will work everything that happens for our good.

What this means to me:
Because I love God and live for his purposes, he will take the things in my life that are bad and work them out for my good.

I thank you God for the reminder that you will use what happens in my life to build me for your purposes. I just need to be aware that you have a purpose for me and that I should be looking for where you want me to be and what you want me to do. I need to quiet my mind enough to hear your voice speaking and guiding me. This morning I pray that I notice you working and your promptings on what you want me to do, my purpose. I also ask again today for your wisdom and guidance in how I handle the work tasks and responsibilities I have, for leading my team and for how I interact with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen!

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