Down and Out

Read Romans 7-8

Is it just me, or have you, too, ever felt "down and out," "utterly dejected," or "a total
failure?" My guess is that you also have had such gloomy thoughts at times. This, of
course, does not excuse the sin in such thinking. But, sometimes it's good to know that
"I'm NOT crazy" -- others have often had the same thoughts.

Maybe that's why I enjoy Patsy Clairmont's speeches and writings so much. I love
hearing her stories! Why? Because she's an open book. She tells us all of her failures and
her weak points -- she hides very little. But, she tells us all about them with great humor
and then she points us to Jesus, "the Author and Finisher of our faith." By the end of her
little stories, we can see God's fingerprints all over her. For, He has been lovingly
molding and shaping her into a beautiful and fine piece of art. Look at her! She was once
agoraphobic -- confined to her room. And, now she spreads His love to thousands and
even millions! Thank you, Lord, for using the imperfect!

Anyway, Today, I was having a "poor-little-me" pity party and wondering, "When will I
ever learn?" Through the murky mire of the self-pity pool I was looking into, I couldn't
see where I had grown, learned, or changed. Then I Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) came to
mind, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror [or a murky, self-pity pool!]; then
we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully
known." Later, in II Corinthians 3:16-18 (KJV), we read, "Nevertheless when it shall turn
to the Lord, the vail [or murk!] shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in
a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even
as by the Spirit of the Lord." Yes, God's Spirit dwells within me since the moment I
accepted Christ's sacrifice and asked Him to be Lord of my life. That same Spirit IS
changing me into His image. So, when I sit back and wait for the mire and dirt to settle in
this pool of my reflection, I begin seeing the changes that He's making. Praise God! I'm
not what I use to be! His handiwork is evident even in my life!

If you are a Christian who has truly given your heart to God and accepted Christ's gift of
salvation, you, too, have been being formed by God's hands into a masterpiece. I love
Stephen Curtis Chapman's song "The Fingerprints of God." He talks about one who is
covered by the "fingerprints of God." When you look in the mirror next time, look for His
fingerprints!

When I consider thy heavens,

the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art
mindful of him?
Psalm 8:3-4a