Building

If you could write a book about your life, you probably could fill it with endless pages of stories-some highs and some lows. If you could jot down every memory, every sad moment, happy moment, every thought, it would be a masterpiece. However, I have a question for you-would it be so hard to believe that every little thing you experience was building you for the next moment? I believe that everything I went through and are currently going through will relate or help me in the future. Even if you can't figure it out or see how its true, just know everything we go through is for a purpose. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

God builds you up so that you can be made more into His image. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit (John 15:2). To prune means to cut away dead or overgrown branches especially to increase fruitfulness and growth. So in this instance God cuts away all dead or harmful areas in our life as part of our growth. This could be sin, people, habits, thoughts, idols, etc. He replaces those areas with the fruit of His Spirit- love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, goodness, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5). So when we suffer, whether that's by situations we may be in, our environment, illness, loss, any hardships- we can overcome knowing we are being made stronger. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation; knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4).

To build means to construct by putting parts together; make stronger or more intense (Google) So God takes all the contents of our "book" (happy, sad, sufferings, environment, etc) and makes it whole. Plus we know that He is not finished with us yet! He keeps building until the day we see Him. I admit, sometimes I do get caught up in dwelling on why things happened or overthinking about when the next thing will come. In reality God already wrote the pages of my book. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them (Psalms 139:16). Honestly God only lets us know what He allows-its things going on in the spiritual realm happening right now that we don't even know about. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Regardless of what is going on around us, we serve a God who is in control of the seen and the unseen. We know that everything is being worked out for our good.

Just like the scripture of 1 Peter 2:5 says we are built up a spiritual house, we are being built into something much greater than us. We are living for a purpose. Even the negativity that may surround you can produce the positivity in building your personal growth. You were MADE to come out stronger. You're not supposed to build onto something to make it weaker. You build on the weak to make it stronger. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest up on me (2 Corinthians 12:9). Its during this time that God is building into you His power, majesty, goodness and glory. He will continue to build as long as you allow Him. So if it comes to a point where you feel as if there is no change or growth, sometimes you have to take a look at yourself- we could be standing in our own way. The more He builds, the better we are able to handle what life throws at us. Also, its allows us to be used more by Him. We are walking in His image because of what He instills in us.

Just think of all the oldest buildings or structures all over the world -they are still standing! One of the reasons are because they were built on a strong foundation, so just think, how much greater will you stand with the master builder? For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). With Jesus we will always stand.

Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

1 Timothy 6:19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may hold on eternal life

Isaiah 55:9 For as my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovihlo_fX80

Google. (n.d.). Google search.