Living by faith ain’t for sissies. This is certainly what I’ve learned since beginning my journey with the Lord for the World Race. Every moment of every day beckons me to come and die to myself to truly live unto Christ.
“Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you’” (Genesis 22:2).
Whom you love. Those words gleamed each time I read through Abraham’s test of faith. The very one whom Abraham loved; the only son chosen to live out God’s covenant with Abraham; the child of promise his parents awaited from the Lord. This one God commanded Abraham to offer as a sacrifice.
This testing highlighted Abraham’s heart for the Almighty God: “And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22:12).
And that’s exactly what the Lord revealed to me as He walked me through different scriptures. He showed me that I must surrender the good things or works I do for Him if it takes His place on the throne of my heart. That means evangelism, preparing and equipping for missions, ministry and whatever else have you with regards to “serving” Jesus.
If it takes King Jesus’ throne in my life, we must tell it find another place to sit. It’s gotsta go!
So God told me to surrender Reinhard Bonnke’s School of Evangelism, the World Race and anything else in my heart that distracted me from gazing upon His beauty and trust Him. My friends, idols are easy to set up … But they’re also easy to kick down!
I came to a place the other night where I realized that if God’s presence isn’t with me, I don’t want to take another step.
Regardless of how good of a “destination” I’m walking toward or whatever golden opportunity presents itself, without Jesus it means nothing. Check Moses out: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). That brother was talking about the Promised Land! Without the Lord, the Israelites could go no further, they didn’t want to go any further.
Thus, I surrendered the idols I started loving without realizing. I gave up the promises and the desires that I had withheld from Papa. Once again, the King of Glory assumed His rightful throne in my heart!
Now with confidence I look ahead to His promises because I know they’re from Daddy God. Whether me going to Toronto tomorrow or on the World Race in January, I’m pursuing Jesus first and receiving these blessed opportunities as gifts from the Giver.
