2 Corinthians 12:7-10
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The power of Christ resting on me is what is important. But, when does this power of Christ rest on me. Only when I am ready to die to the sinful nature of the Devil in me. Only when I am ready to put to death the sinful nature of the Devil in me. Only then Christformation begins in me. Christformation is the demonstration of God's power in me. How does sufferings help me towards Christformation? Sufferings help me to put to death the evil desires and passions of the sinful nature in me. Do we have a verse or passage in the Bible that speaks about this? Yes....
1 Peter 4:1-2
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
