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not so easy lessons to learn // Friday E-Devotion

Philippians 1:6  (nlt) --- 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.
 
Its an old story that remains true to this day.  God uses our circumstances to teach us about Him and to make us more like Jesus.  Sure you have been there, and so have I.  But some of those lessons I would have chosen to learn in other ways.
 
Looking back over the last 15 plus years of ministry I see some of those lessons that hurt like you-know-what.  Then I get some perspective....
 
Ephesians 1:18  (nlt) --- I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
 
One version of that verse says that Paul prayed that a person's "eyes of their heart" would see as God sees.  That is what we need.  To see as God sees.
 
When we take our situations, the people around and all our circumstances to that place and see from God's perspective things will change.  We will change.  We will see that God is working in huge ways in our lives.
 
Last evening I sat down to rest for a few minutes a heard a person's testimony on a Christian TV station.  Pretty awesome word about how God showed up in strange ways and said some incredible things when their life had fallen apart.  God was at work and still is.
 
Why?  I pray we will see as God see and allow the not so easy lessons to learn sink into our lives.
 
John 15:2,4 (nlt) --- He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  ... Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

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