OK
GOD, LET’S MAKE A DEAL!
Have you
ever tried to make a deal with God? Have you said something like, “OK God, if
you will do this for me I will follow You closer or I will cut back on a
certain sin if only You will help me out and grant my prayer request.”
I have
done that in the past, but, thankfully I have not done it in a long time.
However I have to admit the thought has crossed my mind a few times in the past
years. When that thought comes to me it is usually when something very serious
is going to happen in my life and I am unsure of the outcome and I need extra
help from God. Fortunately, I have been able to ignore the thought of making a
deal with God and rely on my faith, as I should, to carry me through.
The
thought of making a deal with God passed through my mind just recently but I
did not let it take possession of my thoughts and returned to my faith. You
see, I am going to have major surgery in the next few days and I was a little worried
about the possibility of becoming paralyzed. Dying is “OK” because I would be
with Jesus, but being paralyzed is another thing. Instead of trying to make a
deal with God I chose to rely on my faith in Jesus, trusting that He will be
with me whatever happens. I turned my cares over to Him and now I am comfortable
with my situation. What a blessing it is to be able to put all my cares on Him!
What
prompted the thoughts of making a deal with God is the fact that I feel like Paul
when I sin. Romans 7:15 “I don’t really understand myself,
for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
And I can’t get my thoughts (that sometimes turn to actions) to reflect the way
Christ wants me to think. The $64,000.00 question for me is, “How do I conform
my thoughts to reflect what is right and pure?”
Dennis ... your blog is Awesome!!! Thank you for sharing God's instruction as we each face mighty battles in daily living! You are lifted in prayer for God's perfect and good will to be done as you face this surgery and go through it! This is true ... God is Omnipresent and we know He will guide the surgeons hands as the procedure is accomplished and your healing process takes place.
ReplyDeletePastor Scott's teaching is perfect timing for so many arena's in our lives surgeries, illness, everything. May Holy Spirit root Paul's instruction in our hearts as minds as we face the challenges of daily living. This past Sunday one of the songs we sang fits with your sharing and it has been hauntingly flowing in my mind since we sang it. The words go something like this ...
"I raise the white flag and I surrender all to You ... all for You Lord ... The battles over ... the work completed ... all to You ... all for You Lord ...". May we each bow down and allow our Deliverer ... Full Victory ... in us and through us! Thank you Dennis for sharing in this battle of "Trusting God to move the mountain". Peace to you and Lucy ... RoseAnne
Thank you for your comments. It is hard to surrender especially when things are going well. It is a challenge for me but with the help of the Holy Spirit I will endure. And thank you for your prayers. Surgery went fine and I am on the road to recovery. end.
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