Devotion: Purpose
Take a moment to read Matthew 28:16-20 & Proverbs 16:3-4.
Reflect on this: How often do we make our well-documented and thoroughly crafted plans and then ask God to bless them? We try to persuade God to agree with us, instead of allowing ourselves to be realigned with him and his commission expressed in the Matthew passage. I too have frequently found myself caught in this hamster-wheel pattern, clinging to my human self’s desires instead of giving over what I know I’m forcing for a better kind of co-creation with God.
After living enough life, along the way, we realize we cannot “make” or force our plans to happen through willful effort. Our plans for school don’t look like what we wanted. Our dreams for what life should look like don’t end up like that picture in our mind. What I have found after all the pushing and striving of my ego, is that I will often be pleasantly surprised by the “secret plans” God has seemingly been making in the background while I’m over here biting my nails about what I think will happen. I have a 10-foot view of these plans; God has the 10,000-foot view.
Just as the first disciples had to relinquish their preconceived notions of who the Messiah was and how he would accomplish his mission, we too must let go of our limited wisdom. It’s surely difficult because we want to stay in control, of course, convinced we can figure it all out ourselves through all the best-intentioned strategic planning. But soul-filled, kingdom-style living comes through not self-reliance but self-surrender.
In our most bewildering moments, if we can release our white-knuckle grasp and our need for knowing all things, something far better will be given. Simply this: “God works all things for their proper purpose.” When we willingly go where he leads, releasing our own agendas and obligation, he is free to guide us in Spirit-empowered ways.
May we remember the practice of self-surrender again and again. May it enable us to behold God’s presence in every moment without an agenda. Then all things will become graced encounters revealing the God who lives within and among us.
Let us pray…
God, we surrender ourselves to your eternal love and understanding. We release our agendas and open ourselves to your ever-unfolding path of peace and joy. We gladly live in this knowledge of your unwavering love. Amen.
Written by Joanna Clay
Joanna and her husband, Matt, live in Lincoln with their two young daughters, Emery and Madisen. The Clays have been members of the Sheridan community since 2014. Joanna is Senior Content Manager for a San Diego-based healthcare coaching company called Practicing Excellence. She enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, longboarding, binge-watching historical dramas, and connecting with others over life’s big questions.