(the following is a guest article written by Audrey Lupisella)

Before any of us become believers of Christ, we all follow our own path.  We follow whatever path we think will let us be free, or fulfilled, or pleased.  I know in my own life, living in this fashion brought nothing but hard consequences, shame, and deep discontent that left me searching for peace, true happiness and joy. However, God leads each one of us to a moment of understanding, of believing, of innate knowing the truth that is Jesus Christ. It was in my deepest valley that God found me and brought me into the light and love that changed my life and filled my cup to overflowing.;  I have followed Christ as a believer ever since.

However, we are not just called to be believers; we are called into relationship with our Creator.  After the Holy Spirit calls us into an abiding and intimate relationship with Christ, we then have a responsibility to follow his example.  Ephesians 4:22-24 says to

Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

In other words, we are to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). I know from experience, that this is impossible to do without some godly intervention. Thankfully, God has promised us that He has begun a GOOD work in us and will continue it until we are perfected on the day of Christ (Phil 1:6). He is constantly renewing us and has sent the Helper (Holy Spirit) to teach, convict, and reform us into the likeness of our Lord and Savior.

One of the most encouraging characteristics about God is that not only does He transform us, but He is doing it for a glorious purpose! Jeremiah 29:11 says,

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely revel in the idea that God designed every single one of us with specific and amazing purpose. In order to fulfill our purpose in this life, however, we have to be listening to God and willing to go and do exactly as He leads. We are each our own color and God wants to paint us into His elaborate masterpiece, but we have to be willing to let Him use our colors.

Have no doubt, living the life to which God calls us will be rife with troubles, but we can rest upon the Rock of Salvation who is a Mighty Fortress and approach each battle knowing that God has delivered it into our hands and we are already victorious!

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57).

Now the question is… will you only be a believer of Christ? Or are you going to allow the Divine Artist to paint you into the masterpiece?

-Audrey Lupisella

[Audrey is a wife and mother of three who moved to the DC area 3 years ago from Tennessee. She is currently attending seminary at Regent University with hopes to graduate with a Theological degree in Biblical Studies in May 2015 and has plans to use it to teach and write about God’s Word through any opportunity He presents.]