If I can begin with a little personal reflection before jumping into notes from Beth's second session with us on becoming "Transformed", I need to tell you how incredibly moved I was watching this DVD. Tears burst from my eyes as I became overwhelmed with just how AWESOME our Transforming God is, and just how much what Beth has to say can become anyone's reality because it was mine.
Beth started our session recapping where she left on DVD 3, asking "What do we do when God doesn't do what we expect? What has the enemy done to twist our thinking?" As she discussed being devastated by God she told us that the "enemy is banking on you never getting over the devastation in our lives, BUT (and this is a big BUT) our calling is on the other side of the devastation". Did you hear that?? She went on to say (and I really need to bold this I think) "The greatest work God will ever do in you is on the other side of that personal devastation". I sure don't want to miss out on that. Do you? Beth continued to warn that if we let the enemy hold us in that place of devastation, then we'll be stuck there for who knows how long and it will all be in vein. It'll be like we've missed the boat. We'll miss out on being used by God AND we'll miss out on the blessing that God wants to shower on us.
Romans 8:28 in The Message reminds us that "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." We have got to move past our devastation or we aren't really living are we? Beth reminded us that "we WILL have the opportunity to have our trust tested to be offended by God. We're going to trust something - either God or not."
Psalm 126:5,6 gives us a tremendous promise in that "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest". I don't know about you, but I want to return from the harvest singing my heart out!
In Session 3 Beth asked us what it will take for us to experience our "this far" moment. After we move past our personal devastation with God, we have got to return to whole-hearted obedience where JOY is coming!! Beth reminded us that we are MORE than conquerors - more than an "overcomer".
Returning to the text in 1 Chronicles 15:12-15, Beth reminded us of how the Israelites returned to obedience when preparing to take the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. They knew the consequences of disobedience (think Uzzah) and King David was determined to do it right this time. Once he got past his personal devastation with God, he recalled God's character. God is GOOD and His presence BLESSES!
Beth took a moment at this point to remind us that devastation doesn't always come as a result of sin or disobedience. It may have nothing to do with it, yet... devastation often leads us to disobedience and sin. She took us to a passage in Song of Songs 6:12 where she pointed out that when we pull our hearts back from God, the enemy comes and carts our passions off in a cart, ending in devastation and disaster. When we try and carry God's work on our own strength we do the same thing with the same results. We don't want that do we?
Beth encouraged us to seek Him and find Him and to seek Him with our whole heart through studying His Word and prayer. This led to her third point in our lesson: to "have the courage to see the fulfillment of God's promises to us". She told us that if we'll invite God to bless us so that HIS name will be great, then we will be blessed. If we ask God to bless us so that our name will be great, the blessing just seems to fall flat doesn't it? It's all about HIM!
Beth guaranteed us that the enemy is banking on us staying "stuck" and she challenged us by asking if we have the courage to walk past the offense we feel with God. Are we willing to accept His promises? Our God IS TRUSTWORTHY!!!
I personally loved when she said that "we don't need to understand the devastation to get through the devastation". We may never know the "why's" of what God does in our lives, but we don't need to have all the answers to move on. In 2 Samuel 7:20-29 we see a post-trauma David praising His God and we can take his example and do likewise post-devastation in our own lives.
Beth told us that "it isn't less hard to stay offended. You're still stuck. It's time to stand up and take courage!" Worship is never a risk and oh what joy comes from laying down our pain and disappointment with God. In our notes Beth pointed out Your God has good things for you - not painless things for you, but good things. Don't you want to receive those? I know I sure do!
Beth reminded us that as the Ark of the Covenant (God's presence) was carried on 2 poles and we too have 2 "poles" to carry God's presence in our own lives - His Word (our Bibles) and Prayer. Without those two "poles", God's presence will topple in our lives and disappointment and devastation are sure to follow.
So as we leave our time with Beth let's recap:
If we want to experience the "this far" moments with God, where we sit back and go "Whoa God... look where You've brought me!", then we need to get past our devastation with God and return to whole-hearted obedience so we can gather the courage to see the fulfillment of His promises to us. I'm in... how about you?
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