Each time I read this verse I am more in awe. The willingness that it reveals is astounding to me. But it teaches me something very important. We need to be available to the Lord to do what He needs done. What should matter the most is His kingdom and His will.
Years ago, I prayed a prayer, after which I began to place a lot of stipulations. The prayer was simply, "Lord, do with me what you will. Whatever it takes, Lord, do." As I thought about the words that had come out of my mouth, fear set in. What if that meant that something or someone I loved would be taken from me? What if that meant serious illness? What if that meant going somewhere difficult? What ifs poured forth like a fountain. But the prayer had already been uttered. Could I stand before my heavenly Father and say, "I changed my mind?"
It took me awhile to think things through. In the end, I poured out my heart and shared my fears with Him. I figured that since He made me, He would understand. And in the end, I said the words again, "Whatever it takes, Lord, do." Because I want to be used of Him. I want to bring glory to His name and honor Him in His kingdom. I want to be who He created me to be.
My challenge this week is for you to think about those words, and if you have never prayed them, that you do so. It sounds much easier than it truly is. But I promise you that it will deepen your relationship with the Lord and you will learn some new things about yourself. God bless you.
I have prayed this prayer. What happened next was not what I expected at all, but God gave me the courage to live through it and continues to do so. I live with it everyday of my life now and am waiting to see what God has in store for the future. There is something great to come from it. Amen.
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