I once supervised a woman who constantly demonstrated that her greatest strength was also her greatest weakness. She had passion and drive to do a great job but often got carried away in her zeal and had to be reined in.
Peter was a man of similar extremes who often reacted out of two things—passion and fear (Matthew 14:29-31). It was with passion he declared Jesus as God, only to then fearfully denounce His mission (Matthew 16:16-23). This same heart caused him to lash out at those who arrested Jesus and then follow the crowd and be overcome by fear that led to denial (Matthew 26:51-75).
Ruled by his emotions, Peter was a picture of instability until he was indwelt by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and was transformed. Instead of hiding his affiliation with Jesus, he boldly “stepped forward . . . and shouted to the crowd” (Acts 2:14). He then went on to preach “for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners to [repent]” (Acts 2:40). God used that impromptu sermon to add 3,000 people to the church!
Many of us struggle with a particular behavior or trait we just can’t seem to kick, even though we know it doesn’t please God. These weaknesses can leave us feeling defeated, hopeless, and full of despair. But there’s hope! The transforming power of the Holy Spirit is still available today. Once we surrender our hearts to Christ, Romans 8:9 says that “[we] are not controlled by [our] sinful nature.”
As we spend time reading and meditating on Scripture, the Holy Spirit works to mold and transform us into the image of Christ. We no longer have to live in fear, defeat, or shame. Instead, like Peter, we can live out our God-given calling boldly and powerfully!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 11:1-10, 12:29-36
More:
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 to see what happens when we’re transformed by Jesus.
Next:
Think about a past weakness and the process of overcoming it. What principles can you apply from that experience to a current issue you’re struggling with? How has God’s power helped you overcome fear?
Gary Shultz on February 9, 2017 at 5:29 am
Hi Remi: As you know, scripture tells us that perfect love casts out fear. God’s love towards us is that kind of love, but to have a working relationship, love must be answered. As Christ questioned Peter on the shore of his love for Him, Peter was learning. Then the tremendous gift of the Holy Spirit, as David was able to feel that power at times, we have been ever gifted with God’s Spirit. God’s presence in His Spirit, how can this be? What a gift! Peter strengthened now by a force better and greater than his own, yet in his person, spoke by the Spirit. No fear, only strength for the man that had experienced the passions and failures you spoke about. As you know, God doesn’t erase us, it does become that relationship God had planned, and we desperately needed. Life that is with Him, for Him, and He for our best. Now when it comes to that, we can say, “it’s all good”. Fear is gone and God’s love, wisdom, and strength brings the day. Thanks Remi
remioyedele2015 on February 9, 2017 at 11:19 am
Hello Gary,
I love the idea that ‘God doesn’t erase us,’ and would like to add that, rather, ‘He enhances us!’ As you said, in and through Him, we experience the relationship God had planned, and become all that He intended.
Thank you so much for that bit of poetry this morning :).
Be blessed,
R
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 7:43 am
Hi, Remi! Great encouragement for us today. I find it so wonderful that God leaves our basic temperament intact when He saves us. He fashioned us right down to our personality and wants to use our unique “quirks” for His glory. It’s so true that quite often what was once our greatest weakness before submission to Christ—now under the control of the Holy Spirit—can become our greatest strength. Now ain’t that just like God?! 🙂 Peter was fearful and impetuous in his passionate personality before he was empowered by the gift of the Holy Spirit. That transformation was nothing short of amazing when he, along with the other disciples, received the promised “power from on high”. We have that same promise too. As I think about my own struggles with fear, I am so encouraged when the Spirit gives me a bravery that I know is not my own. It truly is the power of Christ in me when fear becomes my motivator instead of my executioner. 🙂 Also, with my melancholy personality, I have been blessed/cursed with an observant, analytical, and critical eye. It often feels like a burden because I simply see too much—and sometimes things that aren’t even there! 🙂 Without submission to the Spirit, that can—and has been many times—a negative in my life and relationships. But when I yield that to the Spirit’s control, He uses it for purposes of insight, wisdom, and discernment in my life and in the Body of Christ. God is so faithful to not let anything about our lives be wasted. In Him, our weaknesses do become strengths, and more importantly, things USEFUL in His Kingdom and for His glory. That’s real transformation, isn’t it? Thank you for this today, Remi! Grace and peace to all. ♡
remioyedele2015 on February 9, 2017 at 11:29 am
Hello gagirl!
Yes, it is just like God!! 🙂 It’s amazing to me that right from the womb, we begin exhibiting some of those unique personality “quirks” which God has bestowed upon us for His glory. I read a book once where the creator described his creation in breathless terms of amazement and wonderment, and couldn’t wait for that person to unleash on the world all the blessings embedded in their personality. Can you just imagine God looking at us like that??? He sees us as He designed us, and only He can transform us into that glorious vision. May we partner with Him in our transformation!!
Be blessed,
R
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 11:43 am
Oooh! Remi, you just brought to mind that C. S. Lewis quote that I like so much. “I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.”
samgaskill on February 9, 2017 at 11:46 am
Now that’s a keeper quote! I shall ask my hubby if he is familiar with it. I think he has every C.S. Lewis book : )
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 11:59 am
Actually, I’m wrong. That is a quote by George MacDonald. He was one of Lewis’ inspirations. The quote has often been mistakenly attributed to Lewis. Ha! Amazing what you can find out on Google. 🙂
samgaskill on February 9, 2017 at 12:04 pm
: ) I know what you mean . . . . sometimes too much . . . . Ha! Have a really awesome Georgian day!
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Thank you, Mary. The same to you! 🙂
hsnpoor on February 9, 2017 at 6:56 pm
GG, sometimes I think we were twins separated at birth! That’s how much I sometimes “feel ya” in some of your comments. Today was like that and I just stopped by to say I share that same melancholy personality and I just love your comment that you (and me too) “have been blessed/cursed with an observant, analytical, and critical eye. It often feels like a burden because I simply see too much—and sometimes things that aren’t even there! “. I’ve been there, done that and have the T-Shirt to prove it! I also so relate to how the Lord will overwhelm and transform my fear/fears into something useful and something better than if I had stayed in my comfort zone. Yes, that is REAL transformation and we have no one to thank but God for it! Blessings to you!
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 8:58 pm
LOL…I’m thrilled to call you my sister, Kim—in more ways than one! (♡♡… twin hearts) 🙂 Hey, may I share something that came to mind as I went about my day thinking about this word, “transformed”? When my boys were little, they used to play with transformers. Do you remember those toy figures? Do they still make/sell those? (I have no clue since I have no grandchildren or little guys around to keep me in the toy loop.) They looked like clunky robots, but, man, those things could transform into something altogether new and amazing. If I recall correctly, the little jingle that was advertised about them was, “Transformers—more than meets the eye.” That’s so like us and what God has done in us! God has transformed us in such a way that while our uniqueness and individuality remain intact, we take on a whole new identity—“in Christ”! I remember how my boys would “break down” their transformers so that they took on their new form—yet their basic structure still remained, though hidden within their new, and more significant, transformed identity. Well, guess what? We, too, are “hidden in Christ”. We are the TRANSFORMED ones—more than meets the eye. I love it! Call me crazy (told you I over-think and analyze everything), but that just blessed my wool socks off on this cold Georgia day! 🙂
hsnpoor on February 10, 2017 at 11:38 am
OH MY GOODNESS!!! I am so excited reading this, GG, because I thought of those transformers yesterday too!! I have twin cousins (who I call nephews because we are and always have been so close; though, I’m an only child) who I kept A LOT when they were little (Mom had a bit of growing up to do) and they loved going to MacDonald’s, not so much for the food, but to get those transformers in their Happy Meals! Girl, I still have pits & bruises on the bottom of my feet from stepping on those things and the twins are 28-years old! I LOVE where you let that thought about those toys take you in analyzing our relationship with and in Christ, as transformed beings. Such a wonderfully true analogy! Thank you so much for sharing; you made my day today (2/10/17)!
Tom Felten on February 9, 2017 at 8:42 am
Remi, as others have said, praise God for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Regardless of how we’re hardwired in personality, the Spirit can make us more like Jesus as we submit to God’s transforming work. Yes, may we all seek to live out a life of passion and wisdom in Jesus—emphasizing both truth and grace!
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 10:46 am
Amen, Tom! “Regardless of how we’re hardwired in personality…”, the Holy Spirit wants to conform us into the image of Christ. That’s the goal…that we become more and more like Him. I love that He works that out in us within the context of our unique personality traits and life experiences though. That’s just waaay cool! 🙂
remioyedele2015 on February 9, 2017 at 11:35 am
Hello Tom,
Amen and Amen – may we be more like Jesus everyday as he transforms us into His ideal version of ourselves!
Be blessed,
R
samgaskill on February 9, 2017 at 9:23 am
Good morning ODJ forum. Timely devotion for me. That our greatest strength can also be our greatest weakness until willfully surrendered to God’s authority and His Holy Spirit prompting is wisdom spoken to me. I relate well to my sister GG’s comment about sometimes seeing more than we would like. In my case I am captured by the emotions I see in others, be it peace or joy, or sadness and brokenness. Being a sensitive person myself I tend/tended to be a “fixer” kinda gal. Rushing in to alleviate pain I “suspected” for another. This rushing became my weakness so afraid was I to feel their pain myself. Empathy is a great burden when understanding of God’s role and ours is unclear. God has gently but consistently been teaching me to “wait” and listen for His prompting and direction before responding. I’ve realized that what I thought was helpful was not always “true mercy”. Not getting in God’s way as He works behind the scenes is merciful as our spiritual condition is of greatest importance. I’m seeing more and trusting more that His ways of transforming another’s heart for good even if His pruning in love is uncomfortable for them and me is best!! Today’s devotion is a gentle reminder for me to wait more upon the Lord before acting. God bless you all and may even our weaknesses glorify Him!
gagirllive on February 9, 2017 at 10:55 am
I certainly identify with you, beloved. How many times have I heard the Spirit say, “Don’t get between the hammer and the work of what I’m doing in this person or situation.” Thus, why it is so crucial to keep our minds in the Word and in a position of yieldedness to the Spirit! “The mind governed by the flesh produces death, but the mind governed by the Spirit produces life and peace.” (Romans 8:6) Life and peace…yeah, I want that! 🙂
remioyedele2015 on February 9, 2017 at 11:41 am
Dear Sam,
I completely agree that empathy can be a great burden when understanding God’s role, but ours is unclear. You’re absolutely right that it can cause us to rush into places where the Spirit isn’t leading! And yet, I have learned (slowly and painfully) that it is just in those places of uncertainty and lack of clarity that we learn the most about submission and trust. The challenge is holding on to that empathy while also holding it out to God; in that pose, He can infuse Himself and transform us at the same time. May God give us the grace to listen and understand what it is He’s saying to us.
Be blessed,
R
samgaskill on February 9, 2017 at 11:49 am
Thank you for the further encouragement Remi to stay still both in doing, and while listening to God!
hsnpoor on February 10, 2017 at 11:39 am
That’s a good and instructive word, Mary, and one I need to take to heart, as well.