Just after the baptism of the Holy Spirit I began to be serious about serving God but I was confused about what I was to do and what God did. I thought I should ask Him everything, but I really wanted to do my own thing my way so I did.
The next day, I’d feel guilty and beg forgiveness. Examples I struggled with had to do with daily disciplines like getting up in the morning after staying up half the night rather than sleeping in. I really didn’t want to get up in the morning so I would set a couple of alarm clocks only to get up on shut them off and go back to bed.
I didn’t want to wash my hair every morning but knew the only way to tame the curls would be to start over each morning with a wet head. I hated to decide what to wear; it took too much time. What to do? I wasn’t getting anywhere.
One day I opened my devotional book The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges and read exactly what I needed. The discussion presented the farmer who knows what to do but is utterly dependent on forces outside of himself for the result. He can’t cause the seed to germinate, bring the rain or the sunshine. He is dependent on God.
Then Jerry said, “Yet the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize, and cultivate, he cannot expect a harvest at the end of the season. In a sense, he is in a partnership with God, and he will reap its benefits only when he has fulfilled his own responsibilities.
Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do.” After reading that, I knew I needed to get over these blocks in my path and get on to something important. I asked God, “Will you wake me up in the morning?” The next morning He did, but I didn’t get up. The next the same, but the third morning I knew God was serious when He woke me up and if I didn’t get up He would not continue.
Every morning since, I wake up fully awake, get up without an alarm clock. Thank You, God. A few years later, He sent me a wonderful woman who has a gift for cutting naturally curly hair. With the right cut, there’s less fuss and naturally easy to blow dry my hair just a little and let the curls form as my hair dries. Thank You, God.
I asked him again, “Show me what to wear today, it’s taking me too much time.” Before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I have a mind picture of what I am to wear for the day. God answers prayer if we choose to ask. It’s been thirty years with these little things every day. I’m so amazed that He is so faithful. He is directing me in other ways to “care for the temple of the Holy Spirit.” I don’t think there’s an end to this job.
Do you ever wonder how this Christian life works? How much do you do and how much does God do? Did you ever wonder where in the world to start or is this one of the numerous “restarts?” Have you been waiting a long time without much response from God? Perhaps it’s time to start “Your Journey.”
The first thing we do when you come to the Sheep Shed is help you hear God, listen to what He says then design a plan to start your journey. The Journey determines your direction, your place, your part in it and the purpose for the journey in the first place.