| "RUINED FOR LIFE"
Recently, I had lunch with a friend of mine from
church. She and I were talking about God's
will and walking in that which He has called us to do. She has recently made some personal
sacrifices to do what she knows in her heart is what God is calling her to do –
working as a missionary in China. She
told me that she and her fellow missionaries talk about being "ruined for life"
– meaning that once you are walking fully in God's will and know what it feels
like to be operating in that which God has created you to do, you can't do
anything but that. Even if you try, you
won't be satisfied to do anything but God's will, so you are "ruined for life." I like that phrase, and that conversation has
challenged me to think about whether or not I am "ruined for life." Recently, I have felt a bit restless over
what I am currently doing. I do believe
that I am operating somewhat in God's will.
But, I don't think that I am fully there – that He has more for me, but
I haven't fully given myself to His direction and care. Some of it is from fear – fear of what God
would require of me, fear of what He has in mind for me, fear that it is not
what I desire for myself. Yet, these
fears are unfounded, when I think about it.
God has never failed me, and, if anything, when I do turn to Him and
follow His direction, I have always found that His plans for me are much better
and greater than that which I could have imagined for myself. So, what am I afraid of? In all honesty, I am afraid of the sacrifices that it will
require from me.
Since my lunch with my
friend, I have been praying that God would change my heart, so that I would
even come to a place where I am even willing to consider asking Him what His
will is for me. How can I walk in His
will for me if I haven't even asked Him what His will is? But, I haven't even come to that point
because I know that once I ask, I need to follow through and obey.
God has been so patient with me. He is just waiting for me, and I know that He
is. I'm close, but not quite there,
yet. If you think of it, please do pray
for me. I want nothing more than to be
walking fully in that which He has created me for. Because only then will I truly be happy and
content, because there isn't anything better for me than to do that. The lyrics from Robin Mark's song "Jesus, All
for Jesus" reminds me of this promise.
Only when I give all to Jesus will I truly be free. Jesus, All For Jesus
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
For it's only in Your will that I am free,
For it's only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
(For any of you who may be reading
this and are still wondering about the claims of Jesus, I encourage you
to visit the following website: Who Is Jesus Really?)
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