Are we ready? A couple of clichés come to mind. This is where the rubber meets the road. As John Baker with Celebrate Recovery says this is the step that separates the men from the boys and the women from the girls.
This affirmation comes from James 4:15: Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (NIV)
OK, be honest with me here. Am I stretching or adding to God’s Word? That is not my intention. I am influenced as now we have reached Step 6 in the 12 step program in Celebrate Recovery that states: “We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
ENTIRELY ready to let God do His thing. NOT, I will do better. I can do this, I am OK. No this is a God thing. Are we READY?
This is what it boils down to. Am I ready to do whatever the Lord’s will is? The “instead you ought to” statement is just warning for us about making our own plans referred to in James 4:13. Instead of us going out on OUR PLAN James is telling us we OUGHT to live and do whatever is the Lord’s will.
But God, that wasn’t my plan. Well this brings us back to the verse for this step: James 4:10: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (NIV)
Are we ready to humble ourselves and willing to live by God’s plan? Can we position our self appropriately and realize we are not God and He is. His plan is better and if we will just desire to do His will He will lift us to unknown heights. It is so crazy that we hold on to our plan instead of trusting in the Almighty who has a much better plan for us.
ARE YOU READY?
Can you share with me a victory you have had in this area? Can you share how God revealed Himself to you when you were ready to let Him. Where did God lift you to? I would love to celebrate with you!
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
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