Hanging on to Our Way

When there’s something in life we want badly; we sometimes try to make it happen. This can be anything from a particular job, business or career, to a relationship or potential marriage, or maybe some other goal or achievement, personal or professional.

However there is a danger that we can want the thing too much. If we get to a place where we’re pouring effort into it to a great extent it risks becoming a self project - something we’ll handle ourselves, without God at the centre. But in such a project we can only see things through our own limited eyes and mindsets instead of the big picture God knows. From that place the very thing we’re seeking, which may have been a perfectly legitimate desire in the first place, can even develop into idolatry, i.e. something we place above God in our lives.

Four years ago, before I ever came to work for Ellel Ministries, I had come to a place where my journey with God was more important to me than anything else in my life - and I wanted to progress it faster. I decided that meant I needed to find a really strong church, somewhere where I would be thoroughly discipled, and I figured this would be in a city somewhere in England. I started researching churches, looking for the right place to put roots down where I would be able to get the spiritual nutrients I so strongly desired. I thought that if I found the right church then I could look for a job nearby to enable me to make the move.

In the midst of that search God got my attention and said to me ‘stop limiting Me by your imagination’. In saying that He made me realise that His plan for me was going to be better than anything I could conjure up! This brought about a radical change in my thinking - looking at new options , which I wouldn’t even have considered before, since I deemed them out of reach for me practically and financially. Seven months later I was at Ellel Pierrepont starting the NETS school. Something I’d thought I would never be able to attend. Wow! In letting go of my own ideas and my own grip on the situation God was able to move and enact a much better plan than I would have. At first it didn’t feel so good, as God had taken the wind out of my sails of self, but the faithfulness of God is so worthy of our trust.

So, what are you still holding on to too tightly today? In order to receive God’s best we have to give Him room to work in our lives. As today’s scripture illustrates, that can often on the surface look like a negative, as some things (your own plans) are dying. But the harvest of wheat that God will bring if you allow Him to will be light years better than anything you would achieve doing it your way! Do you have the courage to put those plans precious to you on ‘open palms’ to God? The decision is in your hands.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You care about every detail of my life - not just the detail of my past, but also the detail of my future. I ask You to bring Your gentle conviction to me over anything I’m holding on to too tightly. I want to receive the best You have for me and I don’t want to be a blockage to that. Please help me to yield where I need to, and give me the courage to step up to the things You call me to. Thank You so much that You care about me this much, in Jesus’ name, Amen.