by Larry Burkett
Psalms 2, 22, 27
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produced endurance" (James 1:2-3).
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).In God's wisdom, He realizes what it takes to keep us attuned to His direction: We must read His Word, accept His teachings, and be completely dependent on Him. Once we make a total surrender of ourselves to God, then, and only then, can He begin to use us.
No matter how many times we think we have surrendered ourselves to Him, we find ourselves falling into old habits and we have to try again.
Many times, as Christians, we pray, "God mold me into a vessel you can use," and then when God's work begins and things don't happen just like we had planned we are ready to call "time out."
When things are going well, we seldom complain, but when our goals are blocked-even temporarily-we become frustrated or irritated-a bit like spoiled children when they don't get their way.
If you set your mind on your own desires and not on God's will or His timing, you will not attain the happiness or satisfaction you seek.
If you want the perfecting of your faith, it comes by way of following God's leading and being in His will.
I pray that the God of peace will "equip you in every good thing to do His will," working in you what is pleasing in His sight (see Hebrews 13:20-21).
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