to what am i devoted?

i think i have known for a few years that above anything i can do FOR God, i need to KNOW Him. my devo today took me back to that line of thinking.

"Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ. ... If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble. ... The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ..." (Chambers, june 19)

last year, i took stuff off my plate so i could concentrate on THE one thing--sitting at Jesus' feet, learning about the Father through His life, the Word, prayer & meditation. as i have slowly begun to commit my time to service, i want to be continually aware that i will be of use to him only when i am abiding in Him and being OBEDIENT to His will.

i also want to encourage those serving around me that the source of energy and power to serve come from Him, and that the goal of ANY service is to GLORIFY God. yes, things need to get done, and God has a plan for meeting those needs--the works were prepared for certain people before the needs even arose. He will provide. my duty is to stay connected to God so i can hear His voice calling me to my job. i also think i have been in the way of others, serving where i didn't belong because i was capable, because i thought, "if i don't do this, who will?" worse, i think i have bullied others into service without insisting they consult with God--really consult with God about what He would have them do. i continue to say, "i am NOT the junior holy spirit, and i cannot compel others to change/serve/repent/act, etc." in the same token, i cannot discount someone from service because i think they have "too much going on," or "aren't spiritually mature," or whatever. my job is to pray to God for direction and then to OBEY. if that means i ask someone to serve and they pray about it and say "no," then i have done my part and their obedience to a call is between them and God. if their "no" was in obedience to God, who am i to tell them they need to trump God's command? yes, my assumption is that they consult with God--and i choose to assume that rather than the other. again, their obedience to God (in seeking Him and abiding in Him and in doing His will) is between them and God.

of course, i want to encourage people to know God--through prayer and His Word, and i try to invest in people in that way. i want to be an encouragement. but i cannot make them receive my help--again that is the job of the Holy Spirit. i pray and obey--God WILL work the rest out.


another convicting thought i read earlier this spring was from john piper's book, don't waste your life...(paraphrased) if we provide for the needs of people but do not point them to Jesus (who will meet their ultimate need), then we are condemning them with a kind face. how can i point those i serve to Jesus?

i must KNOW Him and surrender my life so that He is Lord over it--so that everything that i am is about His work in me, about being transformed by His Word, conformed to the image of Christ, so that hope and joy OVERFLOW. that is the abundant life He came to give me! i am a billboard displaying what is in my heart--and i want all who "read" my life to be about Jesus.

i want to be in His Word daily, and that is getting better. i want to be in prayer daily, there i still need some help. i know i have been given discernment so that i can better pray for people NOT so that i would judge them--i am learning. God is still at work on me, but i KNOW He will complete the change He began.

Lord, i praise you for your sovereignty and your grace and compassion. thank you for how you deal with me and how you give me the desire to know you. i want to glorify you with my life. as i daily choose to trust your words and walk in the ways you have set before me, please help me be sensitive to your work in me and in those around me. help me love you more and encourage my family and friends to know you, because you are LIFE. i give you this day--i want to glorify you in all the mundane tasks, they are my gifts to you if i remember to do them with a grateful heart and with my eyes on you.

i love you! your child,