Convicting.

I think I should just get right out there and say this:
I hate it when God convicts us of something.

The ways in which He does this can range from subtleties that could easily be overlooked to billboards shouting out what God is really trying to say to you. Be warned, friends - when you hear a particular verse repeatedly, you are in danger of being convicted, or taught a lesson by the Lord. As beautiful as these times are, they are often some of the most challenging.
Why is this, might you ask? Why are these times so trying to us?

The answer is simple: God is showing us that we are far from perfect in the state we are in, and that we must be continually transformed in order to be made complete in Him.

What does that look like?

Pain. Because transformation IS pain.
We love being in our little boxes of comfort and calm, all snuggled up in our weaknesses and failures. We hate being torn out of those spots where we feel right at home.
But news flash - this earth, these bodies - this is not our home.

We were not made for here. That is why we are always longing for something more, but we can't put our finger on what that "more" is - because we haven't experienced it yet.
Because we were made for something more, something greater, something deeper, God convicts us. He allows us to go through the flames so that we might be refined. He wants us to be polished and pure so that we may fully reflect His beauty.

So I hate being refined. And although I ask the Lord to make me more like Him, in all honesty I don't really like the pain it takes to get there. But you know what?
God is teaching me to rejoice in my weaknesses, delight in my hardships, just like Paul did (see 2 Corinthians 12).

Of course, I say all this because God has been convicting me of something recently, and also of course, I'm loathing it.
Because conviction means there is a need for change. It means I have not been glorifying God as I should be, that I have been failing to give Him the worship He deserves.

I've been convicted of this simple truth: I have made myself my first priority.
I spend so much time worrying about me, my needs, my thoughts, my desires, my problems, that my focus on God has been minimized, as has my focus on giving myself to ministries and relationships.

The verse I've been hearing endlessly (which is basically a blowhorn declaring that God has been convicting me) is James 1:17. "Every good and perfect thing is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

EVERY good and perfect thing is from ABOVE...NOT of myself...I am nothing and can produce nothing that is good in and of myself. I am not worth glorifying.
My Father is UNCHANGING. I change all the time - my mood, my desires, my passions - and so does everyone around me. The only constant in this life is Jesus Christ, and everything He is.
But still, I make myself my first priority. I somehow still think there is something good in me that deserves my utmost attention and focus.
Epic fail, right?
Welcome to the human race, Sydney. We will never be perfect this side of heaven.

So this is my challenge to you: As difficult as it is, ask God to convict you. Ask Him, the great Potter, to mold you like clay into His image. Ask Him to show you how you can better glorify Him, how you can better devote each action to His work.
Is it dangerous? You bet. Will it hurt to be transformed? Absolutely. Because I guarantee you He will answer your prayer in ways so high above your own (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Transformation by the Creator means that God loves us too much to leave us where we are in our imperfections. He wants to sharpen us so that we can be used by Him and beautify us so that we can reflect Him.

So look for those verses that keep re-appearing.
Because God is on the move, and something radical is coming your way.
Will you invite Him to transform you today?