There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a stumbling block.

The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?

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November 1, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I do not know exactly why we must be broken over and over until we are conformed into the likleness of Jesus. However, I do know that the pattern of being broken can become familiar to the point that we know God is shaping us, and we begin to understand that He brings the courage ,strength and patience essential to the change.

And God says…”When you open your heart to Me and ask Me to come in and live with you, there is a fair amount of “housecleaning” that needs to be accomplished. Your self reliance, notions about pleasure and pain and self must be eliminated. The Holy Spirit within you can and will grow and consume you from the inside out as your natural state is broken and discarded.”

“Seek first the Kingdome of God…..Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways….and remember a broken and contrite heart I will not ignore”