Is God Stretching you?

I have been working out at the Tri-City Court Club for about three weeks now. I have been working very vigorously to try and get in shape..... and since I am out of shape it can be very tiring.....and every time I leave the gym.......I am sore & weary. My muscles are being stretched......I feel like I have muscles that are sore that I did not even know I had....and when I stretch and work those muscles it makes me stronger & healthier. Yeah! :)

This process reminds me of when God stretches us.......IT hurts.....when our faith is growing it causes some growing pains........and even though we may not like it.....this is a good thing.....when he asks of us something that we may not want to do & yet we obey.........He stretches us......when He calls us to something that is out of our comfort zone.......He stretches us.....when He calls us to do something that others don't understand or agree with.......He stretches us.......when He gives us difficult people to deal with......He stretches us........when he calls us to love the unlovely, to turn the other cheek & to share the gospel with people who are uninterested.......He stretches us.....

When we were called to board a plane and travel to a distant land to meet our precious daughter & bring her home....He stretched us....our faith grew and we saw Him work in Mighty ways.....He stretches us into His image and makes us what He wants us to be......Is God stretching you???......If you are sore, bruised and weary......then God may be stretching you....... And the end result will be that you are stronger......your faith (muscles) will grow as a result of this......Rejoice!! God is at work in your life.

So although I am excited about getting into shape......and growing my physical muscles.....I am much more interested in growing stronger in the Lord and being stretched spiritually.

Do you have sore muscles...are you yielding yourself to God's plan? Is He asking you to increase your Faith?.....

Lord ....I pray that you will stretch me into your image......I accept the pain that can come from this process of being used in ways I am not used to.......I know that your ultimate goal is to cause me to be conformed to the likness of your Son......Lord stretch me & use me for your Glory! Amen.

Surrendering to Him,