We are each designed for a unique and divine purpose. Live yours!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Submit to God and Be At Peace

I've been sharing over at Godly Graffiti about my adventures as an author and writer. One of the joys I have had this week is that my column at Take Root and Write is posted. I am the 2X a month columnist for God's Wonder Woman!

I was also asked to contribute an article to The Writer's Lounge at Christian Women Take Root! That article is also posted and available to read. I strongly urge you to join these two sites - not just because I'm there or have writings there, but because it a group of strong, seeking, questioning, encouraging and empowered, faith-filled women.

You know, God is really blessing me right now. I have been fighting Him for a long, long time! Have you heard about the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land? Oh, how I can relate to them and their backsliding, complaining and generally fighting God! I have been praying for quite a while that God would release me to do His work in the world and I believe He just may have answered my prayer!

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.(Joshua 1:8 NIV)

Besides a few quick counseling sessions with a Christian counselor to help me get my head together, I have done some very specific things to arrive at this place in my life. I have most of all prayed. I mean on my knees praying.

The Prayer of Jabez has long been a hallmark prayer for me and I prayed it throughout most of 2008. God heard me. When He felt I was ready, He answered that prayer on my behalf.
Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10 (NAS)

Since early January I have also been doing lectio divina each morning which I talked about a bit in an earlier post. I use the Lord's Prayer and repeat it over and over again until nothing else is on my mind. If - okay - when idle thoughts, concerns about the day ahead or life in general enter my mind, I keep repeating the Lord's Prayer until there is nothing on my mind except God. Sometimes it takes five minutes. Sometimes it takes much longer:-)

I am still in awe and really almost disbelief that God is using me to minister to His world. I spent so many years not believing in my heart and soul what my head kept telling me: I was worthy and good enough. God views us from a different perspective than the world does - and even than we view ourselves!

Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. (Job 22:21 NIV)

He created us for a purpose and until we begin to fulfill that purpose we will not have peace in our lives. I'm beginning to glimpse God's vision for my life. I will continue to pray continually for Him to renew, refresh, correct or redirect that vision as I move forward.

Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, (Deuteronomy 30:9)

4 comments:

SQUELLY said...

A beautiful, thoughtful post. Thank you!

Andrea said...

Sweet peace...isnt this season of peace beautiful. GOD is faithful, just and true!! Thank you for following HIS call. GOD BLESS, andrea

Unknown said...

Mary,

Submit and be at peace. Amen and amen! You have just described the last three years of my life.

I pray for every success for you as you continue to submit to our loving heavenly Father!

Blessings,
Cheri

Edie said...

I'm so delighted for you Mary. I am on a similar journey and it is so true that when we are doing what He disigned us to do, we will have peace.

Rich blessings!