"The Knife & The Lemon"
There are many areas in my character and in my life which must be changed so that I can be the person I know God wants me to be. Today in morning prayer I was really asking the Lord to change me. I remember telling him "Father, if all the areas in my life that don't please you were like the juice inside of a lemon, squeeze it all out!" I literally wanted God to remove from my life those bad habits, behaviors and attitudes I knew didn't please him. Then I remembered something my pastor said yesterday and has said many times "When we are about to receive the promotion or blessing we have been waiting for, something always happens which will test our character and your action will determine whether you passed or failed." When I thought about that I immediately asked God "Why is it that we have to go through something so hard in order to pass?"
And this is where the Lord began to speak to me. He answered "You told me you wanted me to take out all your bad habits, behaviors and attitudes like the juice inside of the lemon. In order for the juice to be squeezed out of the lemon a knife has to go through it." My eyes immediately opened! I knew exactly what he was telling me. If we are the lemon, the knife is the test that will either show us if we are ready for the blessing or not. That knife will hurt and will test your patience and character, but knowing that soon you will receive a blessing or soon you will overcome those habits, behaviors and attitudes that pushes you to stay calm and trust in God. Look at what God tells us:
I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will
refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my
name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and
they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" Zechariah 13:9 (NLT)
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as
fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious
than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials,
it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus
Christ is revealed to the whole world.1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)
If you are reading this today I want to tell you to stay firm, keep fighting and don't throw the towel. The devil wants you to give up but you must keep fighting. Let that juice which represents the bad areas, habits, behaviors and attitudes be squeezed out of you. In the end your faith and patience will bring you a GREAT reward. The knife may hurt but the joy of that blessing that you have been waiting for will be so much greater.
Keep praying, keep believing, and keep reading Gods word. Peace.
