Let The Redeemed of The Lord Say So!

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story" (Psalm 107:1-2)...

The past six years have been a transformation to adoration for me! I have this burning desire to make the name of Jesus famous and encourage others to experience a relationship with the only One that can truly fill you with unspeakable joy. 

My husband, Andrew, and I have been on a journey of falling in love with our Creator. What fueled this journey from simply going through the motions to an all out pursuit of His love? I believe it began with our 4 and a half year battle with infertility. In this time, I couldn't do it on my own. I wasn't in control, and I had to fully rely and depend on Him. Trusting that whatever the outcome, His plan was perfect. He would work everything for good, and He had a hope and a future for me. This temporary trial turned into 3 blessings, and I saw the Lord's faithfulness. 

Before this time, I was a fan of Jesus. I went to church on Sunday and checked all the “Christian” boxes. I believed Jesus was God’s son and knew He died for me, but I never spent time getting to know Him. I rarely read my Bible or prayed. I was obsessed with meeting the world's standard of perfect. It hadn’t really hit me that being a Christian, wasn’t about being perfect, it was about being forgiven. All this time my precious Savior was pursuing me, and I was living for myself and for the approval of others. He was not my number one. While I professed to be a Christian, I put Christ on the back burner and lived a lukewarm life. I didn’t walk with the Spirit. I’m not even sure I knew who the Holy Spirit really was. I was living a life of religion and not relationship. My selfishness and sin separated me from God. Psalm 107:2 says that God hates sin for the simple reason that it separates us from Him. I wasn’t allowing the Holy Spirit to work in my heart. How I wasted so many years, not realizing the abundant life God really had in store for me.

I look back at our infertility struggle with joy. I know that He used it to refine my heart. I know as I go through life, trials will come, and they might not always end the way I want them to. But I will put my hope and trust in my Savior, clinging to the truths in His word. He knows what is best for me. He will work everything for good. And most importantly that this is not the end. "What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later." Romans 8:18

I have so much in my heart that I want to share. God has truly been working in our lives. In January, my husband and I committed to reading through the Bible together this year. Being in the word every day has blessed us beyond measure. It has not only strengthened our relationship with God, but it has also renewed our marriage. God is equipping us with wisdom, and we are experiencing the Holy Spirit like never before. A few months ago, Andrew and I had the opportunity to go on a Lamplighter's retreat. This genuinely helped light a fire in my walk with Jesus. He revealed His love for me in so many ways throughout this retreat.

I shared all of this to spread hope and encouragement. You can have this too! We are so loved. He is good and He is for you. His mercies are new every morning. You already have His love no matter what you have done. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. What an enormous testimony of His love for us! "If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation: the old has gone and the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) He makes all things new! We live in a fallen world and are human with a sinful nature. There was only One that was perfect. The Bible tells us that His perfection can shine through our weakness and that He gives us The Spirit to help us in our imperfection! Seek the only Perfect One. He will guide your steps and direct you to live a life that brings glory to the Father. Make Him your top priority and watch the blessings flow! Put God first in your life and experience Him work in mighty ways and your cup will overflow. No sin is too great for Him to help you overcome. Nothing you can do will make him love you more and nothing you can do can make him love you less. Love Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

So the question remains...why am I going through this transformation to adoration? From a mediocre Christian to all in? From a fan to a follower? From simply sitting on the sidelines to playing in the game? Why am I praying that He becomes greater, and I become less? This is why...

"He became sin, who knew no sin. So that we might be called His righteousness." He purifies me from my unrighteousness! Friends this is real love. "Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:40

My prayer for you is that you will join me in this transformation to adoration. Romans 8:1 tells us that if we live close to him and absorb His word, the Holy Spirit will guide and correct us as needed. "There is no condemnation for those who belong to me." Take heart friends! His love reaches to the heavens and His faithfulness stretches to the skies. Don’t settle for less. Fall in love with Jesus. He died for you, and He has overcome the world!