They Simply Are...

I have been pondering one of my morning devotional readings this past week!

For years, I have read My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers!

And regardless of how many times I read this devotional…when I read it with fresh eyes…something new jumps out at me!

My morning devotional last week opened up with this statement…”Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil not spin – they simply are!"  (May 18^th).

It continued with…”Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon – all of these simply are as well!"

"Yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf!"

I think of the numerous times that I have strived to be useful to God!

I think of the times I have said yes to a request because I thought it was a way for me to serve and honor God!

I think of the various times that I have said “yes” to serve, but not really feeling quite called to serve in this area of ministry.

Why?

Because I didn’t want to let someone down…I didn’t want to let God down.

Yet, when I think about the reasoning behind my “yes”…it really wasn’t a good reason for me to accept this particular assignment.

Also, by saying yes to that particular area of service…I possibly robbed someone else of an opportunity to serve in an area that he or she felt called to serve!

Ouch!

I think it is easy for us to get caught up in trying to do the right thing…trying to serve God…without seeking God and asking Him if this is where HE desires us to serve.

My devotional continued with the following…

“So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful.”

Most of us like feeling useful…wanting to help…but sometimes…the particular area of ministry…or the timing isn’t right for us!

“Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God.”  In essence, Jesus was saying, “Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me.” 

God desires for us to focus on Him…to pay attention to Him!

And when we do this…"rivers of living water will flow out of us!"

It is so easy for each of us to focus on what we think would please God…to focus on our circumstances…to worry about tomorrow…to allow our thoughts and worries to consume us.

Yet not one moment of worry changes anything!

However, when we turn our attention…our focus to our Heavenly Father…not only will we grow spiritually, but HE will also direct out paths!

Our Father already knows our needs…He knows our circumstances…He knows what we are facing each day! 

And He knows the plans that He has for us!

He simply desires for us to come to Him.

To be more like…the lilies of the fields…the sun, moon and stars…they simply are…letting God take care of them!

My devotional closed that morning with the following thought:

"The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field” – simply and unaffectedly.  Those are the lives that mold and shape us!"

"If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live – yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him!"

Isn’t that freeing!!

All we need to do is maintain a right relationship with Jesus Christ!

All we need to do is focus on Him!

And God will use us…every minute of our lives!

And what is so cool…is that we won’t even be aware that we are being used of Him!

And as we focus on Him…we will be molding and shaping the lives of those around us!

Oh, how I desire to do that!!

How I desire to be used of God in such a way that I am completely unaware that I am even being used!

We can do this…we can be that person…so when God looks at us…He can say…”They Simply Are”!

Dear Heavenly Father…help each of us to focus more on you…to desire a right relationship with you, so that we can unconsciously be used for your glory!  Help us to be more like “the lilies of the field”!!