Am I willing to simply reduce myself down to simply "me"? Am I determined to strip myself of all that my friends think of me, and all that I think of myself? Am I willing and determined to hand over my simple naked self to God? Once I am, He will immediately sanctify me completely, and my life will be free from being determined and persistent toward anything EXCEPT GOD." -Oswald Chambers (taken from today's devotional in "My Utmost For His Highest"
Ouch.
I was seriously thinking about this same topic last night before I went to bed and God gave me this:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." -Romans 12:1-2
To be a living sacrifice means I have to die daily offering up myself to God. God may reveal to us what His will in the bigger scheme of things but we must take it day by day by daily putting our own agendas to death in order that we can align ourselves to the destiny He has spoken and revealed to us.
I think of the story of Noah. God told him that rain fall from the sky even though up until that point in natural history it NEVER rained. Then God told him to build a really massive boat so two of every species of animal can be inside and also his family. God revealed to Noah his destiny. But it was up to Noah to die to what he thought was right. The logical thing to do was question God because in the natural rain didn't exist yet and how the heck was he going to call up every single animal species from all over the world into a boat?? But God's promises stood and Noah's destiny and God's promise to him eventually came to pass.
God already spoke destiny in this particular situation in my life. He has confirmed everything and gave me peace over this. But am I willing to obey God and to quit worrying and stressing? I need a revelation of His goodness and love. It's a struggle but I need an encounter with Him. I believe when I encounter Him my heart will be changed. And when my heart is changed I can love Him fully and therefore obey Him based out of my love and affection for Him. But I need to put myself and my own "genius" ideas to the grave first and commit all my ways to Him.
"The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established." -Proverbs 16:1-3
Again, it goes back to giving to/offering up everything to God trusting Him that His goodness and His promises will come to pass apart from us striving. He wants us to be at rest and not to strive. Another version of Psalm 46:10 is "CEASE STRIVING and know that I am God".
--------------
Lord, I come to You and You promised rest for my weary soul. You promised a garment of praise instead of heaviness. So I just come to You, knowing that You are my rest and my rock. I commit my ways to You for Your ways and thoughts are better and higher than my own. I declare Your goodness and Your faithfulness. May I rest in what You said and not fret or worry. Come and encounter me with Your love and goodness. Abba, I need You...
No comments:
Post a Comment