Sunday morning's service was so neat. Because we're in Acts, we're studying the beginnings of Paul's ministry. It's just extraordinary the journey the Lord took him through to be able to use him so mightily. And yet, how alone he must have felt, especially as a new convert. The apostles were mostly unlearned laymen. They must have been initially both suspicious of this Pharisee who was famed for his hatred of Christ's followers, as well as a bit jealous of and threatened by his scholarship and his success in other regions as a preacher of Christ. And he couldn't go back to his former colleagues and peers -- to them he was the ultimate traitor.
Paul strikes me as someone I could learn a lot from. I've been trying for so long to find some sort of "position" for myself as an unmarried female in God's overall pattern. There are instructions for parents, children, husbands, wives, pastors, deacons, widows... Where are the instructions for me? But it strikes me that Paul wasn't really any of those things either, and yet God used him so completely, and he never seemed to have any trouble knowing his purpose.
But all things have a purpose in the Lord's divine plan. There are lessons about dependence on God for my strength in these difficulties, and I pray the Lord will help me rejoice in the chance to learn more of how to lean on Him. I am so weak, but His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Lord, place a guard on my tongue and blinders on my eyes to anything but fulfilling my responsibilities diligently and faithfully. Please cause me to know when to speak and when to be silent. Let the words I speak be holy and kind. Give me compassion for those whose actions chafe my spirit and provoke me to react badly. Give me grace in exhaustion to have a smile on my face and Your joy in my heart. Make me teachable, pliable in Your loving hands. These events are happening for my ultimate good, even though I don't see it clearly, and NOTHING is beyond Your control.
"Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God."
~ Psalm 43:5
Complete reliance upon God. I can do nothing good in my own strength. Lord, help me, enable me to rely wholly and completely on You. I am so very weak and sinful on my own. Keep my spirit close to Your heart, so that the moment I stray I am aware of it and run back to Your arms. Disobedience waits on every side; keep my focus on Your glory, Your purpose, Your strength, Your love. Oh, especially Your love. No one will ever love me as You do, my Redeemer. Broaden my heart and fill it with love for you. Teach me compassion, and give me Your love for your dear ones, my brothers and sisters in You. Remove my focus on my own hurts and give me Your heart for the pain and needs of others. Make me a faithful, JOYFUL servant where You've placed me!
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God."
~ Psalm 43:5
Complete reliance upon God. I can do nothing good in my own strength. Lord, help me, enable me to rely wholly and completely on You. I am so very weak and sinful on my own. Keep my spirit close to Your heart, so that the moment I stray I am aware of it and run back to Your arms. Disobedience waits on every side; keep my focus on Your glory, Your purpose, Your strength, Your love. Oh, especially Your love. No one will ever love me as You do, my Redeemer. Broaden my heart and fill it with love for you. Teach me compassion, and give me Your love for your dear ones, my brothers and sisters in You. Remove my focus on my own hurts and give me Your heart for the pain and needs of others. Make me a faithful, JOYFUL servant where You've placed me!
“Lord, help me to glorify Thee;
I am poor,
Help me to glorify Thee by contentment;
I am sick,
Help me to give Thee honour by patience;
I have talents,
Help me to extol Thee by spending them for Thee;
I have time,
Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee;
I have a heart to feel,
Lord, let that heart feel no love but Thine,
And glow with no flame but affection for Thee;
I have a head to think,
Lord, help me to think of Thee and for Thee;
Thou hast put me in this world for something,
Lord, show me what that is,
And help me to work out my life-purpose:
I cannot do much,
But as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living,
So, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into Thy treasury;
I am all Thine;
Take me, and enable me to glorify Thee now,
In all that I say,
In all that I do,
And with all that I have."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I am poor,
Help me to glorify Thee by contentment;
I am sick,
Help me to give Thee honour by patience;
I have talents,
Help me to extol Thee by spending them for Thee;
I have time,
Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee;
I have a heart to feel,
Lord, let that heart feel no love but Thine,
And glow with no flame but affection for Thee;
I have a head to think,
Lord, help me to think of Thee and for Thee;
Thou hast put me in this world for something,
Lord, show me what that is,
And help me to work out my life-purpose:
I cannot do much,
But as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living,
So, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into Thy treasury;
I am all Thine;
Take me, and enable me to glorify Thee now,
In all that I say,
In all that I do,
And with all that I have."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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