Life Defining Moments

Year 6-Day 285: Today, I am grateful for life defining moments.

Everyone has them. They come in different packages. Some are happy like new births and others are sorrowful in the form of death or loss. These powerful moments make us or break us. Sometimes, they do both. Sometimes... we have to be broken to discover the true power and beauty of Christ's presence in our lives. 

“We all have life-defining moments. They are like open-book tests, but we don't know we have been examined until it is over.” ― John Bevere, Honor's Reward: The Essential Virtue for Receiving God's Blessings

Many of these life-defining experiences, come with a sense of fear and a feeling of awakening. The fear is because something has changed. The awakening is the realization that the God who is with us is for us... even if what is happening feels crazy and out of control. 

Remember when we talked about "meek" not being weak, but like the powerful mustang horse once it is broken and harnessed by a tender, loving master. What a great analogy to the power of God in our lives to get us through the hardest, toughest hours of change. Even when change is beautiful and good, it can be overwhelming. 

Let's look at Matthew 5:5 in several translations: 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (ESV)
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (NIV)
"God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth."(NLT)

Good stuff, right? 

"The Message" version is so encouraging:
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

Meek, humble... and content. Again, imagine the wild mustang who has found a relationship with a good, loving, wise cowboy. They can soar like the wind when they run together. They can go further and farther together. The horse needs the cowboys wisdom and guidance. The journey from untamed to broken and beautiful takes time. Both have to be willing to work on the relationship. 

Our God is willing. So much, he sent his son to be with us and walk in human skin so that he might fully glimpse our human weaknesses. 

By the way- when we open "The Book"... the Word of God... it is like an open book test. It is a shame to let it collect dust when so many answers are inside. Or course, I have questions, too, but that is part of the fun of this wild ride with the Master.

Today, we can approach him without fear, because of Jesus finished work and the grace given. It is a life-defining truth. 

Today, I am grateful for life defining moments.