HOW DO YOU FEEL? (part-19)

DO YOU FEEL INCOMPLETE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun
a new work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 1:6)

MEDITATION:
Do you feel like something is missing in your life? Even
on the days when you think you ‘have it all together’, do
you still have feelings of being incomplete? You can’t
identify it, but you feel that something is missing?

How do you handle these feelings? Do you try to add new
things to your life in an effort to find fulfillment? Some
people have many hobbies; some attend every seminar
their employer will pay for; some play every sport they
can work into their schedule; some participate in every
event they know about; some sign up for every new class
offered at their church.

None of these are bad things, but the question that arises is,
    “Are they searching for something
      to make them feel complete?”

As far as the classes at church are concerned, some may ‘know
much more than they are currently doing’. In other words, some
probably need to apply to their lives what they we have already
learned, before seeking out new classes that provide them with
additional information and instructions. Otherwise, they are just
filling their heads with knowledge, but their lives are not being
changed.

At any rate, most of us probably have feelings of incompleteness
at times in our lives. When we do, we need to be reminded that
when we are saved, it is not just an event in in our lives, but it
is the beginning of a transition period where God sanctifies us.

We enter a transition process initiated by God that will purge us of
unrighteousness and fill us with righteousness. In essence, He takes
us where we are and makes us a new creation. It is not something we
earn; it is given to us from God out of His grace and love. However,
we do have the responsibility to receive (accept) and embrace what
He is doing un our lives.
    You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
    to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
    deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your
    minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God
    in true righteousness and holiness.
    (Ephesians 4:22-24)

As a result, there are many things we need to allow Him to change, and
many new things for us to learn. As we are being sanctified by God, we
may have times when we feel incomplete. Why? Because we sense there
are areas in our lives that God still needs to transform into more of a
likeness of Jesus. This is not an immediate, ‘one and done’ event, but
it is a lifelong process that concludes when we meet the Lord in eternity.
    Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly
    nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and
    greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of
    God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life
    you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all
    such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy
    language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you
    have taken off your old self with its practices and have put
    on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the
    image of its Creator.
    (Colossians 3:5-10)

According to His Word, He is the One completing our transition
from who we were, to who He wants us to be. Isn’t it exciting to
realize that the Lord loves us enough to transform us into a new
person? Our responsibility is to trust Him enough to allow Him
to change our lives.

Is it an easy transition? Not necessarily, because it means we have
to basically stop moving in the direction of the world (that is filled
with sinfulness), and become more focused on the righteous things
of God.

Is it worth allowing Him to change us? You bet it is! Initially we may
have feelings of awkwardness, but as we see how He is transforming
us, we realize what a blessing it is, and we look forward to the future
changes He will make in us.

Our confidence rests in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How
reassuring to know that our confidence is not in man, or in man’s
abilities, but in the grace of our Lord! Our life will have many turns
and some difficult paths, but we can find confidence when we know
the Lord is at work in our lives.

Allowing God to mold us is a growing process – we start out as
a babe in Christ until we become a mature Christian with the
characteristics of the Lord. When things get difficult (and they
will be sometimes), we can be reassured the Lord is at work in
our lives. When we look toward heaven and accept the fact that
we are in His hands, all is well.

ACTION:
Are you having feelings of incompleteness? Have you
been saved? Do you thank the Lord for transforming
you into the person He wants you to be? Are you willing
to do the things He requires of you, even if it makes you
feel uncomfortable initially? Does the scripture above
help you understand why you might have feelings of
incompleteness and restlessness?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your involvement in
my life. Thank You for molding me into the person You
want me to be. Thank You for helping me to exchange
the sinful things in my life for the things that please
You. Thank You for Your Word that assures me You are
guiding me through a transition period, so that I can
become a mature Christian – a child of Yours, with Your
characteristics and one totally committed to You and
Your desires for me. Realizing that You are at work in my
life brings me an unexplainable peace and joy. Forgive
me for the sinful and disobedient portions of my life that
I am still holding on to. Create in me a determination to
give You full control of my life.”

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