I shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed at how the preaching of God's word can speak so clearly to whatever situation I'm facing. I was still struggling with surrendering my will when God provided exactly what I needed to hear.
Our Pastor was speaking of a young man that he had met at a preacher’s conference. The young man had come up to Pastor after he had preached about taking your hands off your life and giving the Lord control. He had realized that although he was saved, he had never really done what Pastor had said. Later in the conference, this same young man stood up and said he had finally taken his hands off, and told God to do whatever he wanted with his life.
Not my will, but thine Lord!
An excerpt from my book:Our Pastor was speaking of a young man that he had met at a preacher’s conference. The young man had come up to Pastor after he had preached about taking your hands off your life and giving the Lord control. He had realized that although he was saved, he had never really done what Pastor had said. Later in the conference, this same young man stood up and said he had finally taken his hands off, and told God to do whatever he wanted with his life.
Now this message was nothing new to me; there was nothing I hadn’t heard many times before. But isn’t it wonderful, the way the Lord can take something we already know and pierce our hearts with it like it’s the first time? It seems that this ‘taking my hands off’ is something I need to do on a regular basis!
I went to the altar and asked the Lord to take control, as I had done many times before. But this time my prayer was more specific. One of the things I asked of God was that if our foster daughters were not supposed to be in our home, then let the social worker find another family for them. (She had been trying unsuccessfully to do this very thing)
That was Sunday morning. The next morning, as I was talking to our social worker, I had forgotten about my trip to the altar. When she made the comment, “You probably don’t want the girls to move before Christmas,” I immediately, and rather curtly, said, “No one is going anywhere before Christmas!” I then added, “Besides, I know you don’t have anyone to take them, so we can wait for ‘the right home’ to come along.” She replied, “Actually, I have a family in mind.” Of course, when she told me about them I knew they didn’t fit ‘my’ criteria for that perfect home and I ended the conversation, saying that we would wait until after Christmas and see what happens.
A few minutes later, I suddenly remembered the previous morning and my prayer came back to me word for word. I called our worker back and said, “I don’t know if this will make any sense to you, but…..” and I proceeded to tell her this whole story. I also said I realized that if I’m truly taking my hands off, then I needed to trust the Lord with whatever home he chose for them.
Finally! Not my will, but thine Lord!
I went to the altar and asked the Lord to take control, as I had done many times before. But this time my prayer was more specific. One of the things I asked of God was that if our foster daughters were not supposed to be in our home, then let the social worker find another family for them. (She had been trying unsuccessfully to do this very thing)
That was Sunday morning. The next morning, as I was talking to our social worker, I had forgotten about my trip to the altar. When she made the comment, “You probably don’t want the girls to move before Christmas,” I immediately, and rather curtly, said, “No one is going anywhere before Christmas!” I then added, “Besides, I know you don’t have anyone to take them, so we can wait for ‘the right home’ to come along.” She replied, “Actually, I have a family in mind.” Of course, when she told me about them I knew they didn’t fit ‘my’ criteria for that perfect home and I ended the conversation, saying that we would wait until after Christmas and see what happens.
A few minutes later, I suddenly remembered the previous morning and my prayer came back to me word for word. I called our worker back and said, “I don’t know if this will make any sense to you, but…..” and I proceeded to tell her this whole story. I also said I realized that if I’m truly taking my hands off, then I needed to trust the Lord with whatever home he chose for them.
Finally! Not my will, but thine Lord!
Matthew 10:37,39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Continued....Part 7
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I love your story of surrender!
ReplyDeleteThank you! But as you'll see in the next part...it was easier said than done! haha
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