GOD Morning! April 26 Boot Camp Day 51 / Broken Daily

GOD Morning!  April 26 

Boot Camp Day 51

Broken Daily

Luke 9:18-36 AMP

¹⁸ Now it happened that as Jesus was praying privately, the disciples were with Him, and He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹ They answered, “John the Baptist, and some say, Elijah; but others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life.” ²⁰ And He said to them,“But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “The Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God!”²¹ But He strictly warned and admonished them not to tell this to anyone, ²² saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and be put to death, and on the third day be raised up[from death to life].”

There’s a poster at the gym that says “Broken Daily”. The poster reminds me of a time in my life when I was crying out to God daily to break me. It felt really good to pray this. In my mind I was being broken right there in my prayer time. I had no idea that God would actually answer my prayer in real life!

When the breaking process actually happened, it was real and ugly. Oh wow. I don’t even like to think about it.

So lately, when I pray God break me, I actually whisper it quickly and then move on because I hope that I never have to go through anything like that again!

But wait. I have it all wrong. I’m reading verse 22 again. The Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, put to death, and then He will be raised from death to life!

Sounds to me like I have to die before I can live. Sounds to me like I have to be broken daily like the poster says.

So here’s the fool proof formula to life. Real life.

²³ And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. ²⁴ For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success],and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heavenly]Father and of the holy angels. ²⁷ But I tell you truthfully, there are some among those standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

1. Follow Jesus (talk to Him, read His words, pattern my life after Him)

2. Deny myself: Set aside selfish interests

3. Take up my cross DAILY (I must be willing to endure whatever may come)

4. Follow Jesus ALL the way (I must be willing to suffer and die for Him).

5. Lose my life to save it (What does it profit me to gain the world and lose my soul?)

Here’s the result of truly following Jesus…

The Transfiguration

²⁸ Now about eight days after these teachings, He took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ As He was praying, the appearance of His face became different [actually transformed], and His clothing became white and flashing with the brilliance of lightning.

If and only if I totally follow Him, I will be transformed into His likeness.

BAM.

I believe this from the bottom of my heart.

It’s simple.

But it’s not easy.

It’s the hardest thing that I will ever do.

I long to be transformed into His likeness.

Honestly, I believe that He wants to transform us in the here and now. On this earth. But many times, we stop the process. We don’t like to die daily. We don’t like to be broken. So we limp through life. Thinking that this is all there is. Hoping that all of our trials will be over one day in heaven.

On April 12, 2008, I experienced a transformation.  From panic attacks, anxiety, depression, agoraphobia and more to the strong, confident woman that I am today. Confident in myself? No. I am God confident. He has transformed me completely.

But there’s more to be done in me. I need to be transformed again. And again. And again. Until that beautiful day when I see Him face to face, in ALL of His glory.

“Thank You Jesus!!! Wow. I am in awe once again. Your beautiful word! You make me brave. Instead of fearful of what You may have in my future. You enable me to look past the trials to the transformation. How I long for the transformation! How I love You, my precious Jesus. You died so that I might live. Break me. Make me. Mold me. I pray all of this in Your Mighty Name, AMEN.”