But the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32)
...Have you not read how I could not do mighty works in their midst because of unbelief? It is no less true today...I can accomplish great things through even one yielded, believing vessel...Move on and never entertain the thought of retreat...Keep your eyes on me. (Frances J. Roberts from "Come Away My Beloved")
One yielded, believing vessel. Whew! There's a lot in that one phrase. I don't think yielding is possible without belief. When I am driving and have to yield to oncoming traffic, I have to believe a few things about my situation. First, I have to believe that oncoming traffic will not or cannot stop. If I didn't, I would just keep going in the direction I was headed. I have to also believe that insisting on my way and not yielding will likely have grave consequences...and I don't just mean a ticket. If I stubbornly refuse to yield I could cause a wreck which could injure or kill myself and others, if not just tie up traffic and delay other drivers. I also have to believe that these are good reasons to yield. If I don't care about my life, my property or the safety of others I will not yield.
The same is true with yielding to the Lord. If we do not believe that His way truly is the best way and that refusal to yield will bring us or those around us trouble, harm, or unnecessary inconvenience, we will not yield. If we do not believe that God is truly always working out His best for us, that he cares for us, and will never leave us, we will not yield. If we do not believe that He truly knows what is best, we will not yield.
But the truth is that this is all true...and yield we must! We must serve His Truth, not our thoughts, feelings, or past experience.
However, our yielding is not meant to be a forced thing. It is meant to be a joyful thing. In his devotional, "My Utmost for His Highest", Oswald Chambers encourages us to Launch out in reckless, unrestrained belief...
Sometimes "launching out" is yielding, if not it is almost certainly preceeded by it.
If we do not believe that His way truly is the best way and that refusal to yield will bring us or those around us trouble, harm, or unnecessary inconvenience, we will not yield. If we do not believe that God is truly always working out His best for us, that he cares for us, and will never leave us, we will not yield. If we do not believe that He truly knows what is best, and do not choose to serve this truth as opposed to our thoughts, feelings, or past experience, we will not yield.
ReplyDeleteI needed that so much, Tina! Thanks for sharing. Did you write that, or is it all from Oswald Chambers? Just curious!
Blessings!
I wrote that part. The Chambers part was "Launch out in reckless, unrestrained belief..."
ReplyDeleteReading it in your comment makes me realize I need to re-write that last sentence.
OH well, it made sense at 6:45 this morning.
Thanks! :)
You have a God given, Holy Spirit refined wisdom that really touches me! I sometimes want to skim over your posts because the sinner in me does not want to be challenged, while the God child in me wants to stretch and grow and hunger and thirst for what He has for me.....it makes sobs well up in my innermost being, because, through you, Tina, deep is calling out to deep. Thank you and I'm so glad I found your blog!
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