Setting Terms Are We?
By Elin Henderson
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
By Elin Henderson
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
I was watching a movie
recently and an admiral in the Navy was giving instructions to his captain. The
captain then retorted with some ideas of His own and the admiral said, “Setting
terms are we?” The captain replied, “No, just respectfully requesting.”
Whether we call it “setting terms” or “respectfully requesting,” we are all guilty of doing just that with the Lord. We give Him certain areas of our lives and hold others back. We say, “I am gifted in this way, so feel free to use me there, Lord, but you can just forget about nursery detail! I am not about to do that!”
What causes us to constantly set terms with Him instead of giving Him our all? Fear would probably be near the top of the list. We fear what it could mean for us if we fully surrender. What if He really would put us in the nursery? What if He really would call us into full-time ministry? What if He really would have us deal with a past fallen relationship? Secondly, our pride gets in the way. We simply think we know better than the Lord regarding what we can and cannot do.
By setting these terms, we limit our availability and usability to the Lord. And, in this struggle comes unrest as we willfully hold back areas in our lives from Him. But the just live by faith! Faith says that even though we don’t understand and can’t see the outcome, we are willing to trust. It’s in that trust we find rest. We think we know our limitations, but truly our Creator is the only One who is most intimately in tune with our capabilities and capacities. Will not His grace be sufficient even when it seems our abilities or limits are not enough?
The Lord is constantly desiring to use us more, extending and enlarging our territories and stretching us to be more like Him. Take the leap of faith and say, “Lord, no terms attached, I am available!” No matter what He calls you to do, you can find peace in knowing your Maker will provide all you need to fulfill the task. Give yourself wholly, a living sacrifice, to Him to be used as He sees fit!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there anything in your life that the Lord has asked you to do that you’ve refused? Surrender it to Him today, acting in obedience and trust.
FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 3:5, 12:9; Deuteronomy 15:8; 1 Chronicles 4:10; Romans 1:17
Whether we call it “setting terms” or “respectfully requesting,” we are all guilty of doing just that with the Lord. We give Him certain areas of our lives and hold others back. We say, “I am gifted in this way, so feel free to use me there, Lord, but you can just forget about nursery detail! I am not about to do that!”
What causes us to constantly set terms with Him instead of giving Him our all? Fear would probably be near the top of the list. We fear what it could mean for us if we fully surrender. What if He really would put us in the nursery? What if He really would call us into full-time ministry? What if He really would have us deal with a past fallen relationship? Secondly, our pride gets in the way. We simply think we know better than the Lord regarding what we can and cannot do.
By setting these terms, we limit our availability and usability to the Lord. And, in this struggle comes unrest as we willfully hold back areas in our lives from Him. But the just live by faith! Faith says that even though we don’t understand and can’t see the outcome, we are willing to trust. It’s in that trust we find rest. We think we know our limitations, but truly our Creator is the only One who is most intimately in tune with our capabilities and capacities. Will not His grace be sufficient even when it seems our abilities or limits are not enough?
The Lord is constantly desiring to use us more, extending and enlarging our territories and stretching us to be more like Him. Take the leap of faith and say, “Lord, no terms attached, I am available!” No matter what He calls you to do, you can find peace in knowing your Maker will provide all you need to fulfill the task. Give yourself wholly, a living sacrifice, to Him to be used as He sees fit!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there anything in your life that the Lord has asked you to do that you’ve refused? Surrender it to Him today, acting in obedience and trust.
FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 3:5, 12:9; Deuteronomy 15:8; 1 Chronicles 4:10; Romans 1:17
Oakwood’s
missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as
church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to
fourteen-year-old Callie and eleven-year-old Elias.
