Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, in humble submission:

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”
(Philippians 1:12)

O Jesus.

I have such a hard time accepting this truth.

I’d much rather mature in You through pleasant experiences.

I wish I could learn

trust
wisdom
patience
obedience
faithfulness
compassion
perseverance

and every other character trait I admire

through a never-ending succession of happy moments, mountaintops and pleasures.

But it doesn’t work that way, does it?

It kills me to admit it

but there’s something about the agony of suffering that purifies me.

My self-centeredness is too great

my sinful nature too strong
my willful stubbornness too deep

to change on its own
to give up without a fight.

It has to be put to death

so the new person You are creating me to be can rise from the ashes

to live this new life.

_________
Genesis 50:17-21; Job 3:23-26; Job 13:15-16; Psalms 119:67; Isaiah 38:14-17; Romans 7:14-25; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:15-21; Colossians 1:24; Colossians 3:5-10; Hebrews 2:9-10; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 5:7-9; 1 Peter 2:19-25; 1 Peter 4:1-2

What is Lazaroo?

Take Me Deeper

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.