I was reading the entry for My Utmost for His Highest this morning and was a little torn. Here is the section that brings me to this blog post:
. . . I am with you to deliver you,’ says the Lord —Jeremiah 1:8
God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— “. . . your life shall be as a prize to you . . .” (Jeremiah 39:18 ). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives.
Now, I am fairly new at reading Oswald Chambers’ stuff. There are times that I read it and I can hear some of his influence or at least an identical influence in some of the people who have helped form my thinking. One of those people, once again today, is Louie Giglio. Yesterday, as I piggy backed on Pete Wilson’s blog, I posted an audio message from Louie called “Prayer-a-Remix” where Louie points out how unbiblical many of our cliche’ American prayers are. [Download the Full Message Here – Requires Quick Time]
In the message Louie talks about how one of the typical things that we pray is “Lord Protect Me!” – However, in the post Cross/Resurrection teaching of the Gospel, we are never promised protection or safety. Louie points out that in the Old Testament all the heroes (David, Daniel, Noah, Etc.) were victorious and lived, but in the post Cross/Resurrection portion of the New Testament all the heroes suffered and died (Jesus, Peter, Paul, Etc.) – The bottom line is that sure we can pray for protection, and trust me I pray for protection for my family daily, but in reality, if you are living totally abandoned to Christ and truly mean that He can use your life to further His mission no matter what, then I believe there is no promise of protection, because sometimes His mission is greater than our lives!
**You have got to listen to the audio message about Louie’s example of Graham Stains – It puts this into perfect perspective – I admit I have used the illustration numerous times now!**
Join the Conversation, What Do You Think?
Wow. I haven’t yet listened to the message, but this is something I’m taken aback by. I’m interested in looking into this. great post
@ Kelli – Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Definitely listen to the message and let me know what you think.
I’ve heard that message by Louie a month ago or so. It really changed the way that I pray to my Savior and how I view certian things. Good word man…keep them coming.
By the way- you did awesome this past wednesday night and really brought the word! Can’t wait to hear you preach man!
@ Drew – Thanks bro! I appreciate the encouragement.
I love that message…
God’s plans and means are so much bigger than us.
Nick, I think you are dead on with this thought. We say take our lives… yeah we said LIVES.
If God takes my life but somehow in the process a thousand or even one person comes to know him is that not good Kingdom business? From God’s perspective I am going home. I am with Him, supposedly one of my ultimate goals as a follower of Christ. The problem is most Christians want to die in their sleep at 140.
I honestly want my life to be used up for the Lord. My wife had heard me say this many times. Don’t get me wrong, if given the choice I am in the 140 crowd but I gave up that choice and placed it in His hands.
The harder thing than ending my life is most of the time living it. Life really is hard and many times I stumble in trying to live it out for Him.
@ Harold – well said. My prayers usually sound something like “Lord use my life to further you mission and Kingdom, but I want to be the one who raises my kids!”
Though I believe it is true, it is hard.
@Nick, God made me give up my kids when they were around the age of yours. I fought Him tooth and nail but finally submitted. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done as a Christian. It scared me to think about praying the prayer at the time.
Oh silly, since they were His anyhow. He just wanted me to acknowledge what was already a reality.