Today’s devotion comes from something the Lord is urging me to explore in my own life. I hope it speaks to you as well. The Christian life is all about being led by the Spirit. When we ask God to lead us, we do so because we trust His guidance more than our own. We know He knows best. We know He wants our best. We know He can do all things that we cannot. We know He answers every call to Him.
But still, we try to lead ourselves. Why do we do that sometimes? When I am writing, my deep desire is to be led of the Spirit. There is just something special about letting God give you words and ideas. But sometimes, I go off on my own “great” idea, only to delete the whole thing and start over because it was all me and not what God led me to. Who do I think I am anyhow?:) A successful writer or successful Christian life depends hugely on daily seeking God’s influence. I say this often and mean it. I am only what God makes me. We cannot be what God makes us if we have already made ourselves. He wants in on the project from the get-go.
We need to be led because that is what God wants. When we submit our life to Him, we are giving Him full control of our lives and saying, “God lead me.” Simply put…we crave to be led by Him whom we love with our whole heart. From our perspective, we think we can make pretty good plans on our own, but we need to want the future that God wants for us. We see around us and we see the visible. God sees every direction and the invisible and even into our future. He is perfect, so asking for and following His lead will take us exactly where He wants us to be, to do what He wants us to do. And He can do way more than we can even imagine!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20 NIV
The more we let Him, the more He will lead. It really is up to us, trusting Him enough to let Him lead,, more and more and more. Because we are human, we do not always get it right, but constant time in the Word and prayer…God honors that seeking time and guides us. He desires for us to keep seeking Him and desiring Him as leader, day after day, year after year. It honors who He is. Our leader is the Holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal Father who created us! That still blows my mind! He, God almighty, knows us!
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17
We need to be led so God’s will gets done. Do we want the very best life we can live for Him? If so, that means letting go of our will and purposefully, daily, asking Him to lead us to His will. Whatever we can accomplish for Him, He will lead us to it. Not only that, He will give us what we need to accomplish it. He will equip us to do His will. He will give us a passion to do His will. That’s how I think pastors thrive in a very tough calling. God gives them His passion for people and and equips them with all they need for building His kingdom. That’s so cool! They depend heavily on God, as we should.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Doing God’s will is more than just saying the Lord’s prayer or going to church several times a week, soaking in wisdom. (as I used to think!) It is a constant, daily, earnest grappling with the amazing reality that God knows our name, abilities, desires, habits, everything. And He wants to use all of us to further His kingdom. He wants to use His creations, that He made for a specific purpose, for that purpose. If only us humans would stop more often and marvel that the one Holy God can use us. It is a very humbling reality and an amazing one.
Dear Father,
We love You. We want Your will more than we want ours. Show us where we are doing well and where we need to submit more in our lives. It’s hard being human and lining up to meet Your will, especially when we have certain ideas of how our future should look. Work on us, Lord to become purer and more like You. We ask that You do that work in us because we can’t do it ourselves. We are only what You make us. It’s all You, Lord, and that’s okay with us. We give You all the glory! Amen
Love and prayers to all,
Just me. Just His.
Tina
Glory in the Morning 