Wisdom DateSample

Live

It was a gorgeous Mother’s Day several weeks later. I felt truly honored as a wife and a mother that day. It had been a long time since I had felt good about me. Bill was at church with us—I knew this was a miracle.

One of the congregational hymns that morning was “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” As I joined in with an awakened spirit, I realized that I had heard this hymn many times during my years of church attendance, but I had never understood it. Now I thought, “This is what I need—a thousand tongues to tell of my Savior and His love.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t sing or hear the others singing. I seemed to be immersed in a solemn quiet where I clearly heard the voice of Jesus say, “I gave My life for you; will you give your life for Me?” 

I promptly responded, “Yes, I will give my life for You.”  

At my affirmative something that felt like depression settled in. I reasoned that if Jesus wanted my life, I must be about to die. I didn’t understand why my mind suddenly digressed in this direction. At that time, I didn't know about our enemy satan, and how he could torment us by putting thoughts into our minds.

One hope cheered me—we were going to my parents’ home for the afternoon. They lived eighteen miles away. I knew that as soon as I saw my mother, I would be all right. She was my uncontested rock.

As we arrived at the door of my parents’ home, the Lord spoke for the second time that day. “Choose. Choose between Me and your mother.” I discerned that every dependence I had placed in my mother must now be transferred to Jesus. Determined to do what I knew was right, I whispered in my heart, “I choose You, Lord.” Thundering through my mind came the words, “The Lord your God is a jealous God” (Deut. 4:24). 

This relinquishment was the final blow. When I entered the house and handed Mother our gift, I burst into tears. We finally had to leave because I couldn’t stop crying. Bill tried in vain to comfort me.

The next morning, I visited a mature Christian friend for counsel. Seeing my obvious distress, she welcomed me to sit down with her on her pleasant front porch. 

She began by telling me how Jesus had my heart, but satan still battled for my mind. She gave me a list of scriptures to read. In the next weeks I eagerly mediated on these truths.

One summer morning a few months later, I was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes when I suddenly realized that the darkness was gone—absolutely gone. Then Jesus spoke to me clarifying, “Not die, but live for Me.”

Dishcloth in hand, a hymn of response came to mind and I sang it aloud to Him as a love song.

Living for Jesus a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance glad-hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing of me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.*

We have an all-powerful God and a deceptive enemy who hates Him and us. Resisting the devil means opposing him with the truth of God’s Word and the power of His Spirit. The devil is a defeated enemy in Jesus.

At this time, I didn’t know my mother had become an idol in my life. God asks for our whole heart.

Today’s Scriptures are a look at the contrast between God’s goodness and the deceptions of the enemy. It is futile to worship anyone but God Himself. Live free in Him, dear child.

* Thomas O. Chisholm, “Living for Jesus,” 1917.