A Re-post --"Smells like Redemption"

The following post is from Dec 12, 2012.  I was struck by it this AM re-reading it.  It presents a great challenge to us that involves a major shift in perspective....one that I badly need.  It is one that turns annoyances and hardship and pain into something of solid benefit.

I was reading a devotional yesterday by Prayfit and it said that exercise is not good for your body.  It tears down muscles among other things.  But the great part....the reason we exercise is because of the way the body "comes back" after being damaged. Damaged muscles get replaced by new and improved, stronger muscles.

Today, in my daily verse email there was this verse: 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3

 Just as the prayfit devotional did, I would suggest that you welcome troubles, inconveniences, pain, insults, and hassles as spiritual training.  See it as a tough day at the gym....one where you come out sweating and bruised and feeling great!!!  Because you see that's how redemption works.  It tears you down....all those human responses and natural impulsive reactions get destroyed and in their place comes new Heavenly "muscle" which respond in grace and in love.
So next time someone cuts you off and steals your parking place tell yourself, "Smells like redemption."....

Truth is folks, we are in training.  In training to be able to breathe heaven's air and walk on heaven's grass.  If you've ever read "The Great Divorce" by CS Lewis, you'll know that this is no small task.