Powerfully Changed in His Presence

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. – Psalm 105:4

I cannot explain to you why, as girl who grew up in the Midwest, I love food from all over the world.  Given a choice between chicken pot pie and Panang Curry, I’ll take the spice every time… and can you make that extra hot, please?

What about you?  Would you take meatloaf over Mexican, or chicken pot over Chinese?  Do your taste buds match where you grew up or, like me, are you surprised by your favorite flavors?  We don’t get to pick how savory or spicy we like our food.  We also don’t get to choose the rate of our metabolism, our height, the length of our fingers, or the size of our feet. (Darn it)

While we can’t change many things about ourselves, there are some we absolutely can. 

Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us.  God uses His Spirit to reshape, mold, and transform us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus.  We are all unique masterpieces in God’s eyes, so He uses many different techniques to change us.  

While studying all the miracles of Jesus, I noticed that He didn’t have only one trick up His sleeve.  He didn’t always rub mud soaked in saliva on everyone who needed healing.  To one paralyzed man Jesus said, “Get up and take your mat,” while with another, He forgave his sins first and then healed his legs.  Jesus told one adulteress to go and get her husband, but to another, He simply said “Go and sin no more.” To transform Zacchaeus’ heart, Jesus simply ate a meal beside him in his home. To transform Peter’s heart, though, Jesus gave him the massive assignment of building and being the “rock” of His church. 

Jesus used different techniques to heal, renew, and transform the people He met.  He does the same with us.  

Jesus may tell you to sell all you have and follow Him, as He did to the rich young ruler in the Book of Mark.  Or, as with the brothers in a boat running the family fishing business, He might reveal to you that it’s time to change careers. Jesus might ask you tough questions like “Do you want to get well?” as He did with the man who had laid by a pool for thirty-eight years.  

The way Jesus prompts, moves, or changes you will be unique to you because He knows you so well and has great plans for you.

The one consistency we can count on is, every healing or transformation you experience will include Jesus’ presence.  

Are you willing to go to Jesus with whatever needs to change in your life?  There is incredible power in Jesus’ presence.  His touch transforms, His words heal wounds, and His closeness changes us. 

The very first action you can take when you want to make a change is draw close to Jesus.  He promises to draw close to you in return (James 4:8). Let your 3pm Wake Up Call remind you to step into Jesus’s presence every day and ask Him for the change you need to happen through His strength.  

There in His presence, hand Him what is broken, hurting, or in desperate need of change.  By seeking His presence, you will ignite a chain of unique events that will cause His touch to be felt, His voice to be heard, and His healing to happen.  And when you know God’s Spirit is at work transforming you into Jesus’ likeness, there is only one response to proclaim: “Thank you LORD!” 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement