Lifetime Daily DevotionsSample

Lord, Is This You?

It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him.
I Samuel 3:18

Questions to mull around in my mind: Have I given myself to the Lord? Every facet of my life to Him? Have I told Him that I want His will in my life no matter what the cost? Do I yearn for Him to work in my life? Have I prayed, "Lord, keep Your hand heavy upon me. Don't let me veer from the path You have for me? Is He capable of taking my life and working in it? Is He interested in what happens in my life? If my answer to all of those questions is "Yes, yes, yes," then what is the answer for this question? Is there any reason why God would refuse to respond to my pleas?

The answer is an emphatic, "No." Therefore, since I have given myself to Him and He has taken me, can I say with confidence, It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him, no matter what comes?

Oh, dear Lord. I know that I don't perform in all of the truth that You have shown me-very patiently taught me-but I sincerely long to walk in Your truths. You know my heart better than I do and You know the depth of sincerity in that statement. You are well aware of my "falling downs and my feeble getting ups" again. But how well I "perform" is not a prerequisite for Your taking over in my life, is it? The only prerequisite is the depth of my desire. Am I right, Lord?

Your word says that You began a good work and You will complete it. Your word says that You are working in my life both to will and to work for Your good pleasure. You say, "I know the plans that I have for you; plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope."

What am I to think but that You are involved in my every circumstance? Not that You cause them, but You take them-horrible messes that they sometimes are-and You use them and I find myself clinging to You, depending on You, and Your Spirit strengthening me.

What I must remember is that the people around me in my world may not be searching for You; they do not walk in Your ways for them and don't really have the sincere desire to do that. These people may bring harm, grief, and cruel events into my life. Add to that the fact that I am a pilgrim, a stranger in a foreign land walking in enemy territory, surrounded by enemy troops, fair game to their taunts, to their temptations, and to their attacks.

How do I mesh the two, Lord? You in my life-working-but here I am, living in a sometimes Godless world where others, under the control of the evil one, are ever present, just waiting to trip me, deceive me, or throw stones. Oh, I see. This is where I must quickly step into the truth of Your meeting my difficulties for me-through me.

Lord, I know You haven't stopped working when the circumstances of my life are bad. The truth is that adverse circumstances force me to search for You more intensely, to yearn more acutely for Your provisions for me to meet life here on planet earth.

You, Lord, can take any circumstance and use it-no matter how bad it is. You can make something awesome out of awfulness. So I must believe-I must trust that You will take my circumstances and use them for my good. I may have to dig through the muck and mire to find You, but then I can calmly say, "It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him."

I have told you these things so that IN ME you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer-take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted-for I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it [for you] Jn. 16:33 AMP.

Only IN HIM is this promise fulfilled.

So what must I do?

I must abide in Him.

How do I do that?

In my mind.