I hope you were able to spend some time thinking and praying about your spiritual gifts over the last week. I know it was on my mind more than usual this past week. Maybe it is the time of year when summer is winding down and fall approaches that brings this to my mind.

In finishing the book, “Courageous Leadership” by Bill Hybels, he writes a very short–yet extremely powerful–prayer that has guided my devotion time the past week. Hybels writes, “God lead my life. You are the potter and I am the clay. Show me the way. You speak and I’ll listen.” That short prayer has caused me to really pause and surrender my plans to Him.

My prayer this week has been for me to just lay my life before God and let Him have His way. This has been very difficult for me. I like to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. It has been difficult this week to pray that prayer and let God do what He wants to do with me.

I have basically been asking God to take all the areas of my life and tell me what the next step should be for each of them. Do I need to stop doing some things that I am currently doing? Or, do I need to step on the throttle and really get after some things I am currently doing? Is there some other direction He wants me to go? Are there people He wants me to partner with? Am I spending just the right amount of time on some things?

I think it has been important for me to really lay my life before the Lord and let Him examine me and speak into my life. I have heard soft whispers in some areas this past week…other areas I am still waiting. I am on His time table.

I will close with another Hybels quote that talks about how important this process is in making your calling sure, “Examine yourself and your life. Then change whatever you can change that will lighten your load and help you prevail in your calling.”

More to come,
Jeremy