Posted by Dena on April 6, 2003, at 13:25:02
In reply to Re: Dena, posted by Miller on April 5, 2003, at 17:09:14
Dear Miller -
Praise God for answers to prayers! I'm so glad to hear you've found someone to turn to with the "ugly", & I'm SO proud of you that you were able to let him know you were contemplating hurting yourself. I pray that you'll feel more & more secure about sharing the deepest hurts & fears with him. And how wonderful to hear that your marriage is improving - especially that your husband is attending church with you. May God draw each of you to Himself, as as you draw near, you & your husband will draw closer to each other as well! I'll continue to pray. Keep me updated, because as I hear how God is answering my prayers for you, my faith is built up as well.
You wrote:
>>The most important way for me to change the hurt in this world is to change myself. I can't make people love. But I can be honest and keep trying to change myself until I am able to give to otherrs the things (emotions) I really want.
Be careful not to overwhelm yourself with your attempts to change yourself. It's really God's job. God sent Jesus not just to show us how to live & love, but to be the bridge that reconciles us back to God (because sin caused a division between us & God). He paid the price of our sin (which is eternal death), so that we could be made new spiritual creatures. If we accept His sacrifice on our behalf & ask Him to actually live inside of us, then He goes to work changing us. He transforms us from the inside out, as long as we're faithful to love & obey Him.
As He shows you the areas in which change is needed, it's not to condemn you (the condemning voice would be the devil); He reveals your sins in His mercy because He wants you to confess them so that He can forgive & heal you. The transformation is a natural (or supernatural) fruit that comes from knowing Him as savior. He already sees & loves you as the precious, transformed, free & beautiful creature He created you to be! He wants you to rest in your relationship with Him, & to trust Him to do what only He can do in you.
If you don't yet know Him as your savior, just ask Him to show Himself to you that way.
I love you, Miller. You are a joy to know.
Shalom, Dena
poster:Dena
thread:215857
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/216688.html