“If you abide in Me and My Word abides in you, ask what you will and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7

I believe this is a key verse in fulfilling the will of God in our lives. It is simple, and not complex, but a profound truth to be lived out by all Christ followers, or bond slaves of Christ. The key is to abide, or to remain in an awareness of Him through remaining in His Word on a continuous basis daily. Think about it. Whatever we choose to fill our heart and mind with makes us the person we are. It also ends up defining our life.

In the fall of 1977 I surrendered all to Jesus just before turning 21 years old in November. I am so grateful to God He got to me when He did, or my life would have been totally different. As I devoured His Word, and sought Him with all my heart, He completely transformed me into the woman he desired me to be. One thing I know to be true, there are no limitations with God. All things are possible if we are obeying John 15:7!

Please do not misunderstand and think it meant an easy life without a great deal of pain and rejection and many hardships. Remember Jesus was a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. He was not esteemed or valued by those who were His own. The ones He gave His life to betrayed Him and denied they knew Him in the time He needed them most. He was humiliated before the hostile, angry crowds, yet we know He never sinned and was totally innocent. Ultimately, He humbled Himself in obedience to the point of death fulfilling the perfect will of God for His life. His reward was not on earth but in heaven. He immediately sat down on His throne at the right hand of the Father and is and will always be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

As I reflect over my life of almost 65 years I live with shattered dreams, broken relationships, and disappointments when it involved other people. After years of feeling guilty and responsible I learned I am responsible before God for me and no one else. We cannot allow other’s actions to turn us away from our Heavenly Father. He is our only hope in this life and the life to come. Our faith has to remain in the One who is always faithful and true and never leaves or forsakes us. If we do no one can stop us from fulfilling the will of God for our lives.

God used Joseph’s life to reveal this to me. Joseph’s family members tried to destroy him, but what they meant for harm God used for his good, because He continued to abide in the love of God, and believed the Word He had spoken to Him when he was young no matter what His circumstances were. Read Genesis 39: 2, 20-21. The Lord was with him in the pit his brothers threw him in. He was with him in prison. Was his life easy? No! But God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Joseph ended up saving the ones who betrayed and tried to kill him. God used all the enemy did to destroy Joseph’s purpose for his good and his family’s. It was years before Joseph saw victory over his circumstances, but he remained abiding in His only hope, the one true God.

Perhaps you have been declared the black sheep in your family. I will let you in on a little secret. God revealed to me He made black sheep just like He made white and loves them the same. He created you different for a reason and for a purpose. Go to the true Shepherd of your soul and let Him define your worth to you. Allow Him to cause you to glory in the fact you are different. God the Creator loves individualism. It is not His will you imitate anyone but His Son. Follow Him by abiding in His guide book, the Bible, as you read it prayerfully in His Presence, seeking to love Him with all your heart. Then you may have the promise, “Ask what you will, and it shall be granted to you.” He will fill you with His desires for your life which are so much higher than yours. He will make you what you are not. You will find contentment and peace. Most of all you will find the love we are all in such desperate need of. He is our only hope to attain the life you were created for. It is never too late. He can redeem and restore any situation you allow Him to.
In His love.

“May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will overflow in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

www.masterpiecefitness.com

276-237-6680

God fulfilled His Word to me this week as I became intimately acquainted as never before with Grandfather Mountain. I ran, climbed, and crawled all over his rugged head, nose, chin, mouth, and any other part accessible. God continues to make me so much more than I am as I allow Him too. The rewards are indescribable!