Paying the Price..

I am reading this book now on Kathryn Kuhlman, the amazing healing
evangelist and her love and life for God. And i am sooo super inspired and
encouraged. This is what she says of trials and storms:



"Whether life grinds a
man down or polishes him depends on what he's made of.



A diamond cannot be polished without friction nor man perfected without trials.




Great pilots are made in rough waters and deep seas.



I feel i am the person I am today because of those deep waters. Not the
sunshine in my life, but the storms, the winds, the gales (have polished
me). And 'll say it to you without fear of contradiction. It is true. Friend,
these things come into your life. It depends on what you're made of whether you
permit them to defeat you or whether you use them for the glory of God.



I wouldn't be where i am this very hour had it not been for the
disappointments, had it not been for the storms, but i made up my mind I wasn't
going to be one of those little birds that run for shelter the first time
the winds start to blow."


With her strong sense of independence and self reliance, yet Kathryn
communicated such a powerful message of dying to self in real life. Of this,
she continues her message
"
I could not have done it in myself, but when I made the effort, God was there
to help me. When you pray, you get into the stream of power- His power. All you
have to do is yield yourself to God, ask Him to take care of you. Ask Him to
take care of those things in your life that are bigger than you, and you'll
soon find yourself being lifted above all obstacles, all storms , all
difficulties."


God can and desires to bring His glory to the world through ALL of us, not just a chosen few. However, few are willing to pay the price. And I agree with
what she says:
"Paying
the price is never a one-time experience". To die to self
daily, and choose life in Christ. It begins with an initial commitment and an act of
determination to begin a lifetime of paying the price. Part of the price for a
spiritual walk that allows the Holy Spirit free reign in your life is the
recognition of God's principles when they are brought to your attention -
principles such as not allowing self-centeredness to operate in you - and the
decision to deal with it. Self -centredness with all the other
"self" sins - self-pity, self-indulgence, even self-hatred (judging
and condemning oneself) - hinder the Holy Spirit



Am i willing to pay the price? I can only tell day by day as i make my choices and choose my responses. Day by day Lord, help me die
to self, more of You, less of me.