Cherie Fresonke

AUTHOR. SPEAKER. TEACHER.

Word Weaver Transforming Lives

Expect to be Changed

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Have you ever seen a person who is weighed down by sin? Can you see the hopelessness on his or her face? Can you see the emptiness within that person’s eyes? Doesn’t it just break your heart?

Well the other day, during my morning devotions, I ran across Ezekiel 33:10b which says:

Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them.

Well, this verse immediately brought me encouragement because its theme is exactly what fuels my life’s calling. When I see the sin that is weighing a person down it breaks my heart, and I desire to be a part of God’s healing work in that person’s life.

As I share this with you, I am reminded of a vivid picture that is embedded upon my heart forever. It’s from my first trip to Bulgaria. As we were walking down a shopping street within the city of Sofia I saw a woman who was carrying a beautiful boutique of flowers just below her face. Yet the contrast between the hope blooming forth from the flowers and the hopelessness etched upon her face broke my heart. I wanted to help; I wanted to encourage her, yet I didn’t know the language or the culture.

Yet she is no different than the many women I have in my office from time to time. So weighed down with sin that they come in hoping that I can pray a magical prayer and all their desperation will be washed away. But it’s not as simple as that. Instead, I must teach them what Hebrews 12:1b says:

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

As we throw off everything that hinders and the sin that does so easily entangles we can become all that God created us to be. This is what causes me to want to step out and serve the Lord. I want to help set the captives free. This is my life’s calling.

You see, in my own personal life, my sin had weighted me down, but when I turned to God and asked Him to wash me clean He set me free! And He wants to do the same in each person’s life. This is why in my morning devotions Ezekiel 33:10 so ministered to me. It reminded me of my life’s calling and encouraged me to not give up.

You too, have a calling on your life (see Ephesians 4:1). God created you for a specific purpose. Never forget, who you are in Christ. You are His workmanship (see Ephesians 2:10). Do you know what your calling is? Have you been reading God’s Word daily so that His still small voice can lead you and guide you? If not, what are you waiting for?

Looking forward to your comments. How has your daily devotions encouraged you? Do you know your life’s calling? Or has sin entangled and weighed you down?

 

If you would like to read my testimony of the sin that weighed me down you can find it in Go in Peace. It is available for purchase on our webpage http://www.sunflowerpress.net/resources.html

 

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