Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Sacrifices; Faith Builders
Doubt infects my mind. I battle back and forth, struggling. I feel the weight of a request. “I want to be sure without a doubt it’s you before I make a move”. Yet, sometimes He wants us to take a step without facts or reasoning. Should I obey or turn away? I’m torn between two truths in that moment. I don’t want to hear these words. I don’t want to give THAT up. I’m brought to tears with a request which leads me to a sacrifice I have never made before; my personal treasure. Yet inside my heart, I know there's more than God ‘just testing my obedience.’Sacrifice;
-The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
-The thing so surrendered or devoted.
I can hear the whisper of a fool, ‘You don’t have to obey God’, ‘nothing is going to happen’. Nothing will happen without faith, that much is true. But if I know God calls, God has His reasons. Either way, He wants to move and I believe that through faith. In finding direction, it would seem that the confirmation I asked for is confirmed by the very attempt of the enemy to discourage and de-rail me. On the other hand, my request of confirmation proves my immaturity in my faith which stings, but hey... it's okay to be me, right where I'm at.
How can I say I want to go further with God; how can I say ‘I want you number one in my life’ and when you test me to see if you ARE number one in my life, I back away because of what I want? I can’t imagine how Abraham felt…who was led to kill his only son, and got all the way up the hill, laid him on the alter and held the knife high and an angel appeared and said ‘stop’. (Genesis 22:1-19) It was a test, and He was willing.
I’m taken back to a point in my life where God asked me to let go of something that I found it extremely hard to let go of. My grip was tight – I thought I had what I wanted. I was so blind and I don’t know why. I ran into a situation so quickly, everything beside me, danger signs on the side of the highway, blurred right past me. I couldn’t see straight. God told me to let go and I had hoped He would give back what He wanted to take. I trusted, finally, after struggling a lot with it, but I gave it up and He never gave THAT back, but He DID give me something back in return, sooner than I thought, and a gift that I never saw coming, a gift I couldn’t have imagined. He has His reasoning, which He doesn’t tell us a lot of the time. He just wants obedience… Afterall, faith pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6)
We know the procedure isn’t always fun or enjoyable. When He operates on the heart, it’s faith that is required to believe He’s doing a good work. The procedure is uncomfortable and can be quite painful for the time being. Yet, when this surgeon is done, the process of pain and agony is worth it. Worth every bit. Because this surgeon doesn’t make mistakes. Romans 8:28 falls into play once more.
How often does God ask us to do something that would result in sacrifice? A sacrifice is clearly something that would cost us something. A true sacrifice wouldn’t be easy to give. This didn’t hit home for me until I felt God ask for something of value of me. Something I strongly desire, yet hesitant to ask Him for His opinion. But I do because I once said, ‘I want to live for you, completely. I want you in every area of my life.” And when you full-well mean it…the time comes to put your money where your mouth is. It’s time for ME to put my money where MY mouth is. When God starts speaking to those areas you’re not so willing to let Him in on. When He starts walking towards them, He tests our true desire. If I can sacrifice what means most to me in life, and give it to God and do as He asks, does that not show Him and myself that I truly love Him and would truly will give up anything for Him because I am devoted?
I am reminded that I am the only thing in life that holds me back from my own blessing, is me. The more I say ‘no’, the more I rob myself from my own blessing. After all, the gift of choice is mine and He loves us far too much to take that away, but my choices today affect my tomorrow.
What do we do if God asks for a sacrifice…a prized, valued and cherished possession…?
Bottom line: He’s a good God, and doesn’t want to ruin our lives. He’s full of compassion and mercy! (James 5:11) His thoughts are far above our own – our minds cannot comprehend the ideas of the Most High. (Isaiah 55:8-9) He’s good and I trust that. I’ve seen that to be true time and time again. He’s setting me up for something; I think it’s safe to say that. Who knows? Why guess what God will do or why He’ll do it? Just hear the voice and listen, whether you like it or not. I can say this though: there’s NO ONE else I’d do this for – that’s for sure… NO ONE…
// posted by JP @ 10:15 p.m. 
Comments:
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Good blog hun! Sacrifice sucks but its worth it in the end! You always amaze me with the depth and powerful-ness of your writing! Keep it up hun! Be blessed, love you!
Sacrifice is the ultimate trust in Someone who has only your best in mind. Ultimately does anything really compare to God that it's worth holding on to?
ps. Thanx for not taking offense to my blog - especially coming from a guy. The purpose was not to bash...how's Medicine Hat by the way? Nice town...
ps. Thanx for not taking offense to my blog - especially coming from a guy. The purpose was not to bash...how's Medicine Hat by the way? Nice town...
Wow, this is a long post. I haven't read it all. I am standing at a computer here at the university, and I don't feel like standing much longer. So, anyways, here's what's happening. I'm coming to the Hat on Thursday to get my braces tightened (boo) and you're going to hang out with me. So that day is booked for you, you have no other plans. We never talk anymore. My number is 1-(403)-328-9552. And y'all need to come and see my place here in Lethbridge!
T-Y.
T-Y.
# posted by 
: 10:36 a.m., September 22, 2006
: 10:36 a.m., September 22, 2006
I uh.. I don't write short blogs much.. I try to keep them within a reasonable length, but I've come to the conclusion that I can't write short blogs about subjects I'm passionate about. It's just not possible.. Sorry! (But truthfully, not really, because if nobody feels like reading that - hey, I'm not stoppin' em)
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