Fixing It Our Way
by Malcolm Wood
For several months there’s been a piece of sellotape over one of the buttons on the timer of our electric oven. This has been our attempt to overcome a fault with the timer which controls the operation of the oven. Although this ‘work around’ as one of our sons would call it, enabled us to use the oven, it didn’t cure the fault. It still rendered the timer unusable and meant that the full facilities of the oven weren’t available to us.
Eventually I was brave enough to remove the timer unit and send it to a firm which repairs faulty electronic circuits. I’m glad to say that the timer is now re-installed and the oven is fully functional again.
Sometimes in our lives we tend to ‘tape over’ the problem we might have which is preventing us from reaching our full potential in life, and we’re content with living with the ‘work around’ measure we’ve taken to cope, and pretend everything’s normal.
The Lord wants us to be brave enough to bring Him, ‘the expert’, into that area of pain, fear, doubt, or whatever, and allow Him to deal with the problem. So often the Lord waits for us to take the initiative. That shows we’re serious about receiving help, getting things put right, and bringing the matter to Him.
God has designed a destiny for each of us to fulfil. Let’s ensure we allow no so called ‘work arounds’ to hinder our using all the gifts and abilities He’s given us, and being all that He intends us to be.
‘Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone’ (Psalm 33:7).
Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for so often acting as if there’s nothing wrong and not allowing You to help me deal with the problem I have, so I can attain my full potential in You. Please give me the courage not to ‘work around’ the problem any longer and bring it to You. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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