Transformed

Hi Ladies,

Thanks again for your patience with me this morning as we worked through a very challenging topic this week. We started out with a quick review of how David was “Anointed” or chosen for a specific task. And we’ve learned that God wants each of us to accomplish something. For that task, He prepares us, equips us and then gives us direction.

Last week Beth Moore talked about the difference between a “good” plan and a “God” plan. David had a good idea about the ark and celebrating God’s presence. But when Uzzah was struck down, David became angry and fearful.

For our homework this week, Days One and Two discussed how we have been transformed to this point and why we are transformed. Would God place us on this earth to stay in one place, without any growth in our faith, without learning as we go, and without the ability to look back and use our experiences to grow and to share our growth with others? I’m so glad that He never left me, not for one second. God’s transforming work continues daily, whether I want it to or not. He wants to bear fruit, as it states in John 15: 7-8.

So we know that we need to be transformed, and we know that more is on the way. But many times we are pained by the process. Days Three and Four talked about anger and fear, but mostly anger. 2 Samuel 6:5 shows David and everyone that was with him celebrating the Lord. In the middle of the celebration, the oxen stumbled, the ark of God began to fall, and Uzzah tried to catch it. And God struck him down.

What is that about? David was doing God’s work. He was joyful and celebrating God. He was bringing the ark of God back to the center of Jerusalem. He had Nathan’s blessing in his work. What went wrong?

We discussed and then heard from Beth Moore many situations where things seem to be going along just fine and then tragedy strikes, sometimes more than once. We get angry and then are left with questioning God and his reasons. I cannot imagine the pain that is felt when these losses occur, sometimes pain that never completely heals. Pain felt in tragedy will not be forgotten while we are on this earth. Does God still have a plan?

God’s plan is to allow us to have anger for a while, but not forever. He wants us to lay our pain at his feet. And He wants to be changed, transformed, as a result.

Psalm 62:8. “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour our your hearts to him, for God is our refuge”

At the bottom of page 73 in our workbooks, Beth Moore simply states “Sometimes there’s just a bigger plan”. Prior to that she gave the example of the execution of John the Baptist. Here’s the abbreviated version:

What We See – appeared to be John’s worst day
- John the Baptist was imprisoned and then executed by beheading.

What God Sees – must have been John’s greatest moment
- John the Baptist entered Heaven and saw the face of God.

God does NOT want us to hold on to our anger. The toxicity of anger that remains in our heart is a feeding ground for Satan. Satan can take our anger and grow our sin. Beth Moore stated that he could take our “disappointment” and turn it into our “disobedience”. “Sometimes there’s just a bigger plan”

Day Five brought this all together in the healthy fear of God. David received a healthy fear of God the day that Uzzah was struck down. He didn’t run away, he ran TO God. I love these verses at the end of that study:

“You are My treasure.” Deut. 7:6
“Return to me with all your heart.” Joel 2:12

“Sometimes there’s just a bigger plan”. God loves us and wants us back. How will you be transformed today?