Refined, Sanctified, and Humbled..Ouch!

I am not my own, I have been carried by You.

Everything rides on hope now. Everything rides on faith somehow.

So, when the world has broken me down. Your love sets me free.

-Addison Road.

I literally am listening to this song on repeat: just letting that Truth run through my heart.

"I am not my own, I have been carried by You."

God is taking me through the refining fire, sanctifying me.

BUT.. it is hard and it hurts sometimes. That is why it is called a fire though, right?

"I am not my own, I have been carried by You."

Letting it sink in.

God is calling me to big things. "Big things," require obedience and sacrifice. This is all dandy, except for when I try to do it on my own. When I try to take on the world with my own strength, it never works out right and I end up feeling really alone. I then become very frustrated and confused. I begin to question those callings, I ask why me? Why is this on my shoulders? Why am I responsible?

"I am not my own, I have been carried by You."

Ohhhhh, yeah.

Praise God for best friends, and Proverbs 27:17.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Tonight, my best friend Mika and I were chattin' it up about life and because God is so good, the conversation always reverts back to Him. I began to tell her of my frustrations and the questions that I had. She very lovingly brought to my attention the fact that I had used the words I and me, quite a bit during my rant. She reminded me that, IT IS NOT ABOUT ME. If God has called me to it, He will bring me through it. (Okay, that is cheesey and she didn't exactly say that but the same point was made.) It is so true.

"I am not my own, I have been carried by You."

Lightbulb. Ding, ding, ding.

I have been bought with a price. I am not my own. I have been called to greater things that are bigger than this world. But, by no means does the Lord ask me to do it by myself. He doesn't ask something of me, then leave me to fend for myself. He provides a way, He gives me the strength, and He equips me. He carries me through it. He gives me precious friends that give me a kick in the pants when I get wrapped up in myself.

"I am not my own, I have been carried by You."

Praise God.

IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! No matter what, I can rest in Jesus and the fact that IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM. His love sets me free. I am free!

Everything rides on hope now, everything rides on Faith somehow.

When the world has broken me down, Your love sets me free.

Jesus, I am expectant of You and the lives that will be changed because of Your love and Your grace. I will put my faith in what You have called me to do.

Regardless of what the world throws at me, Your love sets me FREE.

I am so thankful for friends like Mika, who aren't afraid to love on me and give a swift kick when my thoughts get jacked. She knows when I need to be humbled, and lovingly brings me back to my knees. I know that she is constantly praying for me-- Praise God because I can't do it on my own.

Refining and sanctification hurt and the process is hard but the end result is beautiful. I become more like Christ!

"I am not my own, I have been carried by You."