Weekly Devotional 5-17-21 The Transforming Power of God
Following is the testimony of a dear Christian sister whose life was miraculously transformed by the Power of God.
She writes, I was born in Graham, Texas in 1969. My parents were both alcoholics, but only drank nights and weekends, so were able to hold down jobs and function fairly well in society. Just before I turned five we moved to Huntsville, Alabama to be near my grandmother, the family enabler. Home was volatile and I grew up exposed to things a child should never see, much less accept as normal, but I did. It was just “life”. I never went without any basic needs and was even blessed to receive twelve full years of private Christian education (mostly thanks to my grandmother), but I was never accepted by most of the kids in school because I was overweight, and my family was not wealthy like theirs. It was like a rollercoaster growing up. I became addicted to alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes by my mid-teens. I thought sex was love and would do pretty much anything to feel loved and accepted. I was married three times and have two beautiful daughters from my first marriage. I never understood why I could not love men enough to make them stay. The problem was that two messed up people can never make a good relationship. Without God, they all fell apart. Every time a relationship would crumble, I would seek solace in alcohol and drugs. It never worked. Things just gradually got worse. I tried to end my life so many times, but God always intervened. I lost my vehicle, my jewelry, my business, and my family turned away from me because of my addictions. I finally spiraled completely out of control and landed myself in jail for 45 days at the age of 41. It is a miracle it had never happened before. That is where God reached me. He asked me if I was tired, and I said YES! He radically touched me in that jail cell, and I knew I would never be the same. I became consumed with the Bible. I read night and day, studied, wrote down verses, memorized verses. I could not get enough. Things were hard when I got out and I tried going back to my old life for a few weeks, but God had gotten my attention and I could not remain in the pit. Nine years ago Valentine’s day was the last time I drank and did drugs. I tried to overdose, but God was not done with me. I was so broken when I woke up the next morning and I cried out to God and asked Him to help me because I could not do it on my own. I finally GOT IT. In the past nine years He has transformed me. He delivered me from alcohol, cocaine, pills, cigarettes, codependency, foul language, sexual addiction, bisexuality, anger, pride, and numerous other sins that were leading me down the path to hell. He also touched my body and healed all my illnesses–high blood pressure, anxiety disorder/PTSD, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and chronic pain. GOD IS SO AWESOME!!! I have given my life to giving back. I served in leadership at a Celebrate Recovery program for a while, but then was led to a jail ministry, and a rehab and homeless ministry. God also blessed me by opening the door to become a certified Christian counselor and prayer minister. I am now back in leadership with another Celebrate Recovery group and give my testimony at every opportunity. It brings me such joy to reach out to those who are as I was. I love to tell them God’s truth, to break the devil’s lies. O set the captives free, God!!! I was told many times that I was worthless, that I would never be anything, that I would die in my addictions, but my Sweet Savior saw what they did not. He redeemed me, washed me, and made me whole. He gave my life meaning. He is my all in all. Do not let anyone tell you that you or one of your loved ones is “beyond saving”. That is from the pit, and the devil is a liar. (End of Testimony).
This sister had a tough life and was not a very good girl but because the Lord rescued her from the many things she was involved in and gave her new spiritual life she is now using those very same experiences in helping others. And she is enjoying her relationship with the Lord. This could be your experience also. If you do not have a Bible, I suggest that you get one and spend a lot of time in it. I suggest that you read through the 4th book of the New Testament (The Book of John) at least a couple of times and then read the Book of Romans a couple of times also. By the way, I prefer the New King James Bible. As far as I am concerned it speaks to me in ways that other translations do not.
One thing everyone should know, the sister that I speak of did not pull herself out of the pit, it was her heavenly Father and the work of the Holy Spirit in her life. The Apostle Paul speaks of this won-derful work in his letter to the Ephesians, consider:
“1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1-10).
Steve
stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; the Work of God on Behalf of Man