Jun 24 2009
Committed or Deluded?
The Lord just showed me something that I haven’t seen before–that living in power takes commitment of every little nook and cranny in our lives. It means we take down our stop signs to the Lord that say, “This is as far as I go.”
And though many of us think we are living in obedience and submission to God, if we ask He’ll show us areas where we have held back, either out of fear, doubt, control, or other emotions we may not even be aware of.
He showed me that though I walk in the gifts I have areas where I am too afraid to give Him complete control.
In fact I just edited a book by a woman who lives every day as if she is at His beck and call and He uses her in incredible, miraculous ways to heal the sick, encourage the downcast, and so much more. There are times when the Lord has had me pray for someone on the spur of the moment in a store or on the street, but not for a long time, and not often. This woman asks Him everyday what her assingment is, and then says, “Help me be willing to obey.”
To be honest, I was heartbroken to see how far I live from walking in complete freedom in the Spirit. In fact, I have rarely seen anyone who functions in such power. Perhaps that’s why we see so few miracles, signs, wonders and healings. We just won’t go all the way with God–we’ve put up stop signs that, because He’s a gentleman, He won’t violate.
His heart is yearning for us to be those hands and feet, going and reaching out to those who are lost and dying. But are we willing to go all the way with God?
I was not only brokenhearted to learn this, but cast down and discouraged, believing I had failed my wonderful God. So I repented and asked Him to show me the way, and He showed me that it wasn’t up to me to muster up that kind of commitment. It was merely up to me to give Him permission to break down those hindering spirits, to heal those hurts, to shatter those fears, building complete confidence in Him. And fortunately, I don’t have to do anything to make it happen, except to yield and hold tight to God, and I even told Him I wasn’t sure I could, but I was willing. Then I felt His smile and His reassuring words, “That’s all it takes.”
What about you? Do you have areas where you want more power, more visions and dreams, more prophetic gifts and understanding? Then ask Him, for He gives to those who ask. And He will use us in power and might in ways we might never have dreamed, to minister to those who are so desperately lost and in despair.
Oh, one last thing…He showed me that He can only entrust His intimate secrets about others with those who forego judging and criticizing others, to those who ask for His heart for the lost. Well, I’m ready to be changed into that kind of woman, even if I’m not there yet.
Use us, Lord, while there’s still time, and help us to let go judging, of limitations and hindrances that force You to set us on the shelf because we’re not ready.
Because of His great love,
Nancy
