My family embarks on a three month journey that will take us to both a short-term missions assignment and CCC's national staff conference.
In the past these experiences would often take me by complete surprise in terms of how the Lord uses them to refine me and develop my capacity.
This year I know that He will surprise me, but I'm also significantly more aware of my strengths and weaknesses, and can understand how to integrate my experiences with his heart shaping work in my life.
The most helpful categories for me to think about the Lord's development is through vivification and mortification; in other words what is the Lord seeking to breathe life and kill in my heart that will make me more like Him? This usually kick-starts the process of discerning where He is at work and what He wants to do.
I've noticed when leading that most people lean naturally towards one or the other; a significant area of redemption in leading others is helping them discern not only their natural bend, but also helping them see the areas that they have yet to discover. If they are made aware of only what they know or pointed only to what they have yet to see, then they miss receiving a complete picture of the Lord's work in their life.
How do you see vivification and mortification at work in your life and in those you lead? What sort of redemptive experiences have you had that have developed your capacity?