Stand Firm In Faith...

"Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you are asking of Him right now." Oswald Chambers

These words cut right to the heart of all I feel burdened with tonight - "He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you are asking Him right now."

Have you ever been in this place as well? At a place of pleading and begging God to DO a particular something in your life only to wait and wait and wait. It almost seems as if He isn't even listening to us. Is He listening to us?

WAIT.

He has something bigger at stake...the things I am asking of Him are less important than the work He is doing in my life. What a thought! He sees the whole picture...we only see this moment in time.

Oh if I would be able to recognize more completely that HE IS UP TO BETTER THINGS. I must set aside these desires, these lesser things that He may want for me, but not at this particular time.

Jesus,
I am so busy begging You to give me my heart's desire. I have completely lost sight of the wonderful reality that You ARE up to something in my life. Whatever the "bigger issue" is that You are focusing on in my life - open my blind eyes to see it. Please reveal to me where Your focus is on me so that I can make that my focus as well! My narrow mind is so focused on my loneliness - but You are focused on something else! Whatever it is, Lord, forgive me for my own selfishness and help me to be sensitive to what you desire to do in my life. Yes, Lord, I do feel confused about why life is the way it is. Holy Spirit, help me to accept the silence I hear on the matter of my loneliness. Help me to be at peace even when I feel confused by what the Father is doing in my life. Even though I don't always understand Your ways I remain surrendered to You. Forgive my selfishness and open my eyes to the work You want to do in my heart and my life right now - in the middle of all this loneliness! 

More Surrender

Jesus' joy was complete surrender to the Father. This must also be my joy - surrender. So, here's my resolution - I'm letting go. It is a continued theme in my life. I must daily surrender, daily resolve that my desires fade in the light of who my God is and His desires for me! 

My only purpose is holiness....life isn't about happiness or boyfriends, jobs or apartments. Life is about holiness.

"The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy....

At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God...God has only one intended destiny for mankind - holiness. His goal is to produce saints." Oswald Chambers

As I reflect on these words and the truth in them, I am taken by the reality that all God is interested in regard to me is my holiness - setting me apart from the rest for Himself. Life's circumstances are for that purpose. He desires to use even the lonely Saturday nights of my life to make me more holy, more like His Son. He will stop at nothing.

I still find myself in this dark cave and I'm beginning to feel that I'm not leaving this place for a while. But here I am with the God who loves me more than I'll ever understand. His love is what has brought me here and it is here that I lift my hands in surrender and in worship. It may be too dark to fully understand the purpose of these lonely nights, but I do believe there is a purpose. If nothing else so that I might reflect on Who my God is and how He loves me. 

I remain surrendered! Holy Spirit, grab hold of my heart and guide me. Show me exactly what I should do today and tomorrow. Give me YOUR joy. Help me to remain surrendered to You and Your desires for my life. Make me a woman who simply reflects Christ in all she says and does. Have Your way with me. Fill my heart and mind with thoughts of only You tonight.