It’s no secret, that time of year has begun to rear its head and the fact is that the future, the new year, is about to look us straight in the eyes. For some of us, it’s a welcomed opportunity to begin fresh and anew, embracing the adventure of new endeavors and the unknown. For many of us, it’s plain scary ~~ knowing that deadlines loom overhead and the fragments of unfinished projects and unfulfilled goals lay at our feet (or in our inbox) and we must address them before the bells toll at midnight. And yet there are some of us who are in a place of uncertainty of bigger proportion ~~ a place of spiritual incompleteness ~~ a place of longing to be whole.
With no one looking, right where you are, Girlfriend, what is your answer to this?
I’ll be the first to tell you that ‘coming clean,’ is not easy ~~ but transparency before God is what is necessary for us to begin the road to real fulfillment ~~ wholeness. And I’ll even go so far as to tell you that it took me years before I fully understood this; even as a Believer in Christ. A true and genuine heart transplant is a spiritual surgery that God performed in me and continues to perform in those who trust in Him ~~ through the workings of The Holy Spirit. And as we continue our Journey, this non-stop transformation causes us to become authentic Followers of Christ (not just Believers).
But I warn you, Girlfriend, it is not for the faint-hearted ~~ spiritual muscle is necessary for the Journey. So if you’re up for it, strengthen your faith while you are able. Eat of the Word, study it, absorb it, drink it ~~ it will give you the life you need to go the distance.
In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and [the Word was God Himself]. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him not even none thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. John 1:1-4 AMP
Jesus is the Word ~~ He is the Transforming Word that takes us, makes us, and brings us back in right relationship to the Father. By the power of the Holy Spirit, unity with Christ (Messiah) starts the Transformation process ~~ tenderizes us, Sister (and sometimes that translates into a bending and molding that we would not have chosen) ~~ prepares us for the heart transplant.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to go to the doctor (for well or sick visits) and wait for results, you’ll know the experience of your anxious heart wanting to know that all is good and well. Sometimes the visit requires laboratory tests, X-rays, scans, etc. However it is conducted, you’ll reckon those times of having to slip into the infamous hospital/examination gowns (those undesirable back-open-won’t-close-freeze-me-til-you-come-see-me things). And beneath the sheath is, well, nothing ~~ you are barren and fully exposed.
And that is precisely how God would have it ~~ just you and Him ~~ fully exposed, barren, with nothing between the two of you. This is exactly what I speak of when it comes to being revealed before your Maker ~~ transparent. You may think you are covered by the sheath of your garment (your accomplishments, talents, status, titles, position in. life) ~~ but God sees all and knows all.
Moreover, I will give you a new heat and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:26-27 AMP
It’s mind-blowing to think that the God of the universe would take such notice of us in this vast and complex galaxy of His ~~ on an individual level, that’s astounding to even begin to comprehend. However, within the same context of personal attention, is also the overwhelming and ecstatic delight that just pours over me when I consider that God wants a personal and intimate relationship with me! Looking back over the messes I’ve made (and that’s using the word liberally) throughout my lifetime, I don’t know that I could look into the mirror and say that of me.
Here’s the Good News, Sister, no matter how messy your life or my life has been (or presently is), we can still be a candidate for a heart transplant and allow God to create the most unbelievable and amazing beauty from the ashes. There is absolutely nothing that He cannot transform ~~ but He does ask us to be willing to be revealed ~~ in our nakedness, in His examination room.
If you’re in a place where even looking into a 360-degree mirror is frightening (can I get an ‘amen’ on this?), take heart, Girlfriend ~~ those folks whom you think are ‘looking’ at your imperfections and flaws, God made them, too. He knows that all are in need of His Perfecting Touch.
There is no mess that God cannot redeem and bless for His Purpose.
Wherever you are, Girlfriend, God is there. You may think it is a dark and ugly place right now ~~ but God sees all of that. He knows the agony, anguish, painful feelings and thoughts that you have had to endure in that place.
You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not recorded in Your book? Psalm 56:8 AMP
Your tears ~~ my tears ~~ He has saved them, collected them, treasured them. This is over-the-top for me. What does this do for you? Knowing that the God of all creation has taken the time to take notice of your ugliest of times, moments, years, experiences ~~ and collected all of the tears that have flowed from our puffy eyes ~~ and put them in a bottle and recorded them.
This is love.
It is Love that desires to draw you near to Him ~~spiritual imperfections, flaws, wrinkles ~~ all is sin ~~ and sin is what blocks that nearness. Is it pride, thinking that we’ve already ‘come clean’ at the time of salvation; said the Sinner’s Prayer, asked Jesus into our hearts ~~ but not given Him true reign of our lives? Is it fear, afraid that God will require us to ‘do something’ that we would never want to do and certainly don’t want to run the risk of being viewed as ‘overboard Christian?’ Is it arrogance, having mapped out how we want our lives to be, including the lives of those in our immediate circle of influence, and the determination to ‘maintain control’ of all that ‘goal’ entails?
Girlfriend, here is where I want to reach out to you, in these remaining days of this closing year.
In your ‘place’ of inward reflection. Wherever that ‘place’ is. However that ‘place’ appears at this very moment.
You. Are. In. It.
And God is there in it with you.
Are you willing to be a candidate for that much needed heart transplant, knowing full well that if you refuse, you will relive this ‘place’ or worse yet, not leave this ‘place,’ where you are at this very moment ~~ and continue to hide from the Living God Who loves you so much that He felt that you were worth dying for?
Gracious is the Lord, and [consistently] righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The Lord protects the simple (childlike); I was brought low [humbled and discouraged], and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my life from death, My eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling and falling. I will walk [in submissive wonder] before the Lord In the land of the living. Psalm 116:5-9 AMP
While the rest of the world ‘resolves’ to ‘turn a new leaf,’ or make promises (that it cannot keep) for a fruitful new year ~~ you have the opportunity and privilege to start with a new heart and allow the God of all Creation to set your feet on solid ground, to cover new ground. Ground that you would not have ever imagined possible, Sister.
And I speak that from my own heart.
Remember earlier, I said that it took me years to understand and to come to terms with the fact that God requires transparency in a real Relationship with Him. To simply say that you’re a Believer is not a ‘qualifier.’ Did I step on any toes? To become a Follower ~~ now, that’s the deciding factor, Sister. To declare Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is where the surgical process begins ~~ and the effects of the transplantation will reap its workings ~~ but not without the deep dive of the spiritual scalpel (the Sword of Truth).
If this rattles your cage a bit, then I know The Holy Spirit is speaking straight to your core. If this makes you uneasy, then there’s unfinished business between you and God. If you feel that God is calling you to a deeper Relationship, then by all means drop whatever you’re doing and go to that prayer closet and deep dive into conversation with your Savior.
But if you’re in a ‘place’ where you have nothing to reveal ~~ I pray most earnestly for you. Because you’ve taken yourself off the candidacy list and shut yourself off from transplant opportunity ~~ and transformation cannot occur in your life.
We all must daily ~~ not just at the end of the year or at the end of our wits ~~ be transformed.
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. Romans 12:2 AMP
Are you willing to go there, Girlfriend? I ask not in the tone of sorority or social community ~~ but in the Fellowship of Christ, as one who has been gifted with the heartfelt desire to bring out the best in you by imparting the love of God toward you ~~ here, in this safe place. Come.
I invite you, Sister (and this Invitation is only for the one willing to come up behind me and then alongside of me), to take up the Call that God has placed in front of you. Be bold in your walk, stand firm in your faith, and be strengthened in the Power of The Holy Spirit. Muscle up, Girlfriend, because the ultimate best is about to happen ~~ if you are willing and able. Cardio like you’ve never experienced before, awaits you, but only if you have spiritually prepared and trained yourself for the Challenge that will result in phenomenal proportions. Again, this is not for the faint-hearted. If you accept the Invitation to experience the Change and Challenge(s) of a lifetime, then come and go with me to a place(s) where only God can take you (and me).
He will blow your mind.
And will blow away all the debris from the fallout of your current mess(es).
Are you ready? Then let go and let’s grow ~~ into the Love of Christ and let the transformation begin.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~
LindaRJohnson
T2T Visionary
Titus Two 