Laying Down My Blessings

Texts:
- Psalms 113-116
- John 5

Sometimes You bless me in enormous ways. "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice." Indeed Lord, I love You for the times that You have heard me call.

In the midst of our forty days of prayer, praying for the courage to take the next step towards ministry, I suddenly receive a call from my wife who has heard from You and is filled with courage and encouragement. I remember back to searching for the right job out of school, how You showed up right on the day that I needed You to. The exact day and the exact hour that I needed to make a decision! I remember all the way back to college, when Courtney broke up with me, that after I had finally laid it all into Your hands, cried my eyes out and given up that You spoke to her to come back to me.

More times than this even. But it seems to me that it is when I sacrifice the good things in my life that You speak the most. When I gave up food, their You were working through the Word to sustain me, to excite me. When I gave my relationship with Courtney over to You, to lead and to protect, there You were giving it back to me.

How do we find out if the blessings in our path are from You or distractions to move us away? We lay them down. We put them back upon the altar and say, "As great as these things all are, I want You. I want Your will." So Lord, I'm loading the altar this afternoon with all my stuff. All the great things that You've given me. All the things that may need to be given up to stay on Your path.

- My job. I've been wanting it to work out for me to stay here and teach Bible only. Maybe that's not the path at all. Maybe I shouldn't even be here at all. That's hard to say with a wife that doesn't have a job either. But I'm not making any decisions. I'm just saying, I'm willing. If this job must be left for You, then thank You for the opportunity You provided. This situation is now in Your hands.

- My role with Exodus Community. Leadership is a stewardship, I will be held accountable, and it is temporary. If it is time for me to step aside and let someone else take a lead role, I just want to establish that You are in control. This is not my thing, it is Yours. Move it along as You see fit, with or without me leading the way. Because I don't it to move in my way, I walk us to journey on Your way.

- This blog. It's been fun and encouraging, but sometimes burdening and selfish. Sometimes I've wanted people to comment about how brilliant I am. No, I want people to see You. So if this needs to become private I'm willing. Here I am, speak to me.

- Anything you want to take Lord, and I do mean anything, I am willing to lay it down. You are the source of all blessing, I want to walk with the one who gives, not the stuff You give.

Thank You again, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Giver of blessing and life. My love for You is sprung anew in sacrifice. Speak clearly, for I am willing to hear. Amen.