Sometimes I can barely breathe...

Sometimes I can barely catch my breath when I think about what has happened in my life in the last 4 years, the struggles and strongholds I have had to overcome (and am still overcoming), and the people I have lost in the process. It's super painful and sometimes even still a little unbelievable to me. I remember growing up and always hearing my friends and people in my church talk about these crazy, life-changing testimonies they had after they became saved and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. They would have these intense life situations, sins, or addictions that they had to overcome through the blood and love of Christ. I was never one of those people. I grew up in the church from a baby and gradually learned about the Bible, the Gospel, and God/Christ through weekly Sunday School classes, church services, and youth group. I remember in middle school and high school feeling like perhaps something was missing to my testimony, wondering why I didn't have that big life change. By the time I graduated from high school, I simply accepted and acknowledged that every person has their own unique testimony, and I felt blessed that I didn't have any huge life situations or hurdles I had to face in my life thus far.

Philippians 3

I have been studying Philippians one-on-one with one of my friends from my Community Group this month. It's very difficult for me to stay in the Word by myself, so I have found that I am most successful and disciplined when I have a sister in Christ to keep me accountable. So in the past 10 years or so, I have participated in many different Bible studies with friends where we read through and study a book of the Bible. My friend recommended we study Philippians, and I am glad she did, because it is such a powerful book of the Bible. This past week, we just finished studying Chapter 3 and I wanted to share some of Paul's powerful words and messages from this chapter. Enjoy.

Transformation

" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

I love seeing transformation in people. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and become born-again believers, we are transformed. We must accept Jesus; He doesn't force himself on us. It's a choice for us. But once we make that decision, life will never be and is never the same. We are claimed by God as His children, and our lives are radically changed. We view things differently, we see the world through a new lens. We view people differently. Our priorities change, what we spend our time and money on, and practically everything. Our old life passes away. New life enters our soul and spirit.