master of transformation

We all know from the bible, that God's ways are different to ours, but in reality eventually it's so difficult to live with that out and expect God to work completely contrary to our expectations and still to meet his promises.

The most amazing thing concerning this matter I experienced since the start of the new year is God's miracle to restore inner peace to my life simply by altering my attitude without changing a single detail of the outward circumstances.

I hope that from these experiences I might learn that God is focussed on the transformation of my heart, much more than changing in what I feel stuck in. And I'm glad that he tought me to be thankful for this.

grace lectures

I never considered it difficult for me personally to accept God's undeserved grace. Not until now, when I suddenly find myself confronted with some weird attitude in my heart which makes me prefer the hard way of reaching the goal by my own strength instead of simply receiving God's freedom and grace.

It's a bit like not being willing to forgive oneself, even if I know that God has already forgiven me. But God is not stubborn the way I am, he is gracious. And so he is gently talking to me about the burdens I carry which he actually does not want me carry. The burden of obedience and endurance without joy.

It all runs down to pride. It is pride that makes me end up fighting agains failure, helplessness and dependency from God.

In this situation God opens my eyes to new details of his character. He is simply willing to give me a new chance, start anew, walk new ways, in short, simply to give me grace.

The fourfold purpose of life

Did you know that the creation story doesn not only tell us the beginning of our world, but also contains some hidden truths about our main purpose? This is true at least according to Rick Joyner, who was preaching years ago at a "Dawn of a new day"conference in Germany.

Genesis 1:26: "God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us."
The most inportant and very first purpose of our lives, the basic of everything else:
First main purpose: TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

Genesis 2:15: "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it."
Second main purpose: TO CULTIVATE THE GARDEN

Genesis 1:28: "Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Third and forth main purpose: TO BE FRUITFULL and TO TAKE DOMINION

So, what does that mean for us? If any of those four is missing we don't fulfill the purpose God has created us for. And he has placed every one of us in a special place. So, what is "my garden"? What is the area, God has entrusted me with to cultivate, to bear fruit in and to take dominion over?

No victory without fight

There is a tendency in our spirituality which I would call victory euphoria. I went through that myself. It's characterized by the word wictory right at the centre of every conversatiopn and prayer, it's all about claiming and proclaiming victory, just like we only need to call out this magic word in order to see it fall down from heaven.

So, there is nothing wrong about victory, but lately God brought some new light into my understanding of Jesus' victory on the cross in my life.

One fact I kind of forgot about was that there is no victory without fighting. And that'S the less desirable part of it. First there is the struggle, the wrestling and the wounds, then the party.

And this spiritual battle includes self-denial, obedeience and brokenness. Things that don'T sound like triumph anymore, but are crucial if we ask God to grant victory.

Absolutely unlike us God isn't mainly focussed on quick success. He's more interested in transforming our heart and attitude thatn winning the battle as soon as possible. Maybe that's why we so often have to wait so long for God's victory in our lives.

Thinking about the character ov citroy reminds me of some lines from Rob Dolby: "We as humans have this image of running the race, and crossing the finish line in great shape and with great strength; but lately I have had that image reshaped, sometimes we finish the race not running at all but even crawling, and success can look like just being able to remain standing at the end."

Maybe that'S the picture we need to get used to claiming voctory for us. This is not meant to weaken the incredible power of God allowiung us to partake in Jesus' victory right here on earth. But it speaks some deeper truth into the process that leads to victory.

Am I willing to accept God'S way of granting voctory? Am I ready to undergo all of which it does to my pride, impatience and selfishness?

When I was walking alongside the Elbe river the morning after a storm Friday morning I felt taken right into the mdidle of what victory feels like. It is like the rising sun on a new morning after a dark, stormy night. It's like the relief that fills the air when the waves that were once big and frightening slowly go back into the riverbed. It's the feeling of being over the top, even if there is still chaos and damage around you.

God chose to

Right now God seems to be going through some lessons with me about accepting his will, even if, or, especially if it's absolutely contrary to what I actually was hoping for. But it's all my fault, there was a time - and still is - when I was asking him to teach me his ways, so he's doing nothing else but answering my prayer - can't accuse him of that.

So, that's the challenge. Do things, or, NOT doing certain things, allowing God to completely change your mindset, your hopes and expectations, giving up what you measured your decisions on, ... simply for one reason: because God chose to.

As long as I don't understand his motivations that's the only thing I can count on, hoping that God has done enough transforming work inside of me so that my selfish heart considers it worth it.

Following the message of the bible it is worth it.
Because God knows better.
This is why I should be fine with his answer.
"Why, Lord?" - Because he chose to.

unhealed wounds attract flies

All of you who have been at the War College might remember that phrase about demons: "Where there is garbage, there are rats." So, there is a new one from Rick Joyner: "Unhealed wounds attract flies."

Have you ever wondered, what in your life makes it so easy for Satan to trick you into believing his lies? One of the answers are the scares we carry around unless we allow Jesus to heal where others have wounded us and by doing so take away every ground on which Satan can build all of this lies about others that so much destroy their lives, our relationships and our soul.

We can't prevent that we get wounded, but all of us have open doors to our Father in heaven who calls himself "the one who heals".