Forever Changed

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good morning and welcome to ICR Let's Pray Ministries. I'm very grateful that you all tuned in once again this morning. I hope you all woke up with a smell on your face and joy within your heart this morning. I pray that God shines his light upon you throughout the entire day. I pray blessings and healing and miracles and favors upon your life today. Amen. I pray that God connects with you one-on-one today so you can know that you are on the right road now. Amen. I want you to know today's devotional is called Forever Changed. Our scripture text comes from 2 Corinthians 5 and 17. And it reads this thus. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. Amen. May the Lord have a blessing to the hearing and the reading and the doing of his word. Amen. Let me ask you all a question. Have you ever looked back at an old photo of yourself and thought, Wow, I've changed. God knows I have multiple times. But not just changing from an appearance standpoint, but physically, emotionally, spiritually, in the way you think, the way you handle hard days, the way you pray, the way you trust God. Sometimes we're so focused on where we still need to grow that we forget to notice how far God has already brought us. And I thank God for how far He's already brought us. Amen. And if there's anything you should know about yourself right now, that is that God believes in you and God takes special moments out just to mold us and transform us, right? And I want you to know that I love this scripture that we just read because it reflects on how much God loves us, right? God is not simply improving us, He's transforming us. There was a version of you before Christ Jesus began working in your life, right? And there's a version of you today. And even if you don't feel dramatically different, I can almost guarantee you that God has been doing more than you can ever realize in your life. Maybe you don't react to situations the way you used to. Maybe you pray before panicking now. Maybe you forgive a little quicker. And maybe you have more compassion than you once did. I want you to know all those things matter. Those are signs of transformation. You see, God's work in us is rarely loud. Most of the time it happens quietly, like roots growing beneath the surface. You can't always see it happening, but it's happening. Sometimes we expect transformation to feel like a lightning bolt, but often it looks more like daily faithfulness. Amen. Choosing to pray one more day, choosing to trust him one more time, choosing to open your Bible even when you don't feel anything, choosing to keep walking with God when the answers haven't arrived yet. Amen. And one day you look back and realize I'm not who I used to be. Not because of your own strength, but because God never stopped working on you, right? Maybe someone listening today feels discouraged. Maybe you've been measuring yourself by your failures. Maybe you've been focusing on the habits you're still trying to break, the prayers that haven't been answered, the average word you still struggling. If that's you, hear me out. Listen to me real close. God is not finished with you yet. The fact that you're still seeking him is evidence that he's still working. Amen. The fact that you're listening right now may be a reminder that he hasn't let go of your story. He is still writing your story. He is still writing the page and flipping the page and still writing your story chapter by chapter. Transformation is not perfection. I could tell you that right now. Transformation is progress, it's surrender, it's allowing God to shape your heart little by little, day by day, second by second. Amen. And I want you to know this, my brother and my sister, that's exactly what God is doing right now. We might not be able to see it, but I'm telling you, God is doing it. And maybe today is a good day to stop, reflect, and thank God for how far He has already done brought you. Amen. Think about where you were a year ago. Think about how you survived scenario or situations that you probably shouldn't have survived. Think about the prayers God has answered. Think about the strength he provided when you didn't think you could take another step, right? You're still here, you're still standing, you're still breathing, and you still have a purpose. Amen. And that's evidence of God's faithfulness. And I want to ask you a couple of questions as we reflect for a moment. How has my relationship with God grown during these days? Not where do I need improvement, but where have I grown? Where has God been faithful? Where has he changed me? Amen. Sometimes we need to look back and see how God has worked on us, right? And another question you can ask yourself is this what habits do I want to continue? What has helped me stay close to him? What practices have strengthened my faith? And what is God calling me into next? Because I want you to know every season of growth prepares us for another step of faith. And sometimes the next chapter begins with simply saying, Lord, I'm willing. Lord, guide me, Lord, I'll go. Amen. It all focuses in on, Lord, here I am, meaning surrender. Amen. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we thank you for the work you have done in our lives. We thank you for the prayers you've answered, the battles you've carried us through, and the ways you've been changing us, even when we couldn't see it. Heavenly Father, sometimes we focus so much on our shortcomings that we forget to celebrate your faithfulness. Heavenly Father, and on this day, help us to see ourselves through your eyes. Remind us of how far you have brought us. Thank you, O God, for making us new in Jesus Christ. Thank you that our past does not define us. Thank you that your grace is greater than our mistakes. For anyone who's listening right now, oh God, if they feel stuck, if they feel discouraged, weary, remind them that you are still working. Give them hope for their journey ahead, oh God, I pray. Renew their man's strength and the heart. Guide their steps according to your will, oh God, I pray. Help us hold tightly to the habits that draw us closer to you, oh God. Lead us into the next season you have prepared for us, oh God. And when you call us for it, give us the courage, oh God, to trust you and to follow you faithfully. May our lives continue to reflect your goodness, oh God. I pray. Your mercy and your love let our lives reflect it, oh God. Heavenly Father, we surrender ourselves to you right now. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. And before we go, I want to leave you with this simple reminder. You may not be where you want to be yet, but you're not where you used to be. Amen. God has been working, God is still working, and God will continue working if you will just step aside. Don't overlook the miracle of transformation. It's one prayer at a time, one day at a time, one step of faith at a time. You are being shaped by the hands of our loving Father. Thank you for spending these moments with me today. Wherever life finds you right now, may you walk in confidence, knowing that God is not finished with your story. You are loved, you are seen, you are being transformed. And because of Jesus Christ, you are forever changed. Amen. May God get the glory today. I hope you may rejoice and know that you are on the come up. Amen. So this is our let's pray ministries until tomorrow. Have a blessed day.