{"id":864,"date":"2015-09-08T10:47:39","date_gmt":"2015-09-08T10:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theprodigalpig.com\/?p=864"},"modified":"2015-09-04T15:43:25","modified_gmt":"2015-09-04T15:43:25","slug":"transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.theprodigalpig.com\/?p=864","title":{"rendered":"Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"05-28-15<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0 Aww, Prodigal.\u00a0 I like that sign!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prodigal:\u00a0 That is why I wanted you to meet me here.\u00a0 I thought of you when I saw it and just had to show you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0 You know me so well Prodigal, because you are right, I really did like it!\u00a0 I have another story to share with you today about qualities in each of us.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

James P. Gills writes in his book The Unseen Essentials about some of our qualities that we all hold at times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before we develop a working dependence of the Lord, we often must be broken.\u00a0 Self-will, so opposed to God’s will, declares its mastery of the soul.\u00a0 Let one ounce of independence remain, however, and its insidious spread, like an unchecked malignancy, will destroy godly dependence and breed rebellion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter, the most outspoken of the twelve disciples, is an excellent illustration of brokenness leading to dependence.\u00a0 If ever we wanted an example to prove that God does not choose us for who we are, but for who we can become, then Peter is the one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter-impulsive, coarse, self-centered, strong-willed, and independent-hardly qualifies for high honors.\u00a0 Despite his obvious weakness, he was included with James and John in an inner circle with the Lord Jesus.\u00a0 He was even privileged to be present during His transfiguration.\u00a0 Jesus saw through Peter’s human frailties, as He does all of ours.\u00a0 He chose Peter because he was a man through whom He could work.\u00a0 The Lord selects His workers today on the same principle.\u00a0 He always looks at the heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A study of Peter’s preparation for the ministry reveals a beautiful example of brokenness.\u00a0 God brought him through a process that transformed him-body, soul, and spirit-from a life of self-centeredness to one of joyful submission to the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dependence does not come without struggle-a fierce struggle for the independent, successful individual.\u00a0 First, God focuses on an area that needs work.\u00a0 Often, His choice does not coincide with ours.\u00a0 We would keep our strengths and build up our weaknesses, but our strong points are where we are most susceptible to independence and pride.\u00a0 An acknowledged weakness can be more readily turned over to God than a strength.\u00a0 It is too easy to want to rely upon our strong points.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, the Lord pinpoints a problem that may be hindering what He desires to accomplish in and through us.\u00a0 It can be an attitude, habit, relationship, or anything we are attached to that stands between us and Him.\u00a0 Usually, He spots something especially dear to us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You know that spot that the Lord is poking at.\u00a0 He is developing a beautiful example of brokenness at this present moment.\u00a0 He is doing this out of love.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Psalm 51:17<\/p>\n

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jennifer Van Allen<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

www.theprodigalpig.com<\/p>\n

www.faithincounseling.org<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Me:\u00a0 Aww, Prodigal.\u00a0 I like that sign!   Prodigal:\u00a0 That is why I wanted you to meet me here.\u00a0 I thought of you when I saw it and just had to show you.   Me:\u00a0 You know me so well Prodigal, because you are right, I really did like it!\u00a0 I have another story … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nTransformation - The Prodigal Pig<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theprodigalpig.com\/?p=864\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Transformation - 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