Zoë Elmore
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
While visiting a friend’s church, several men and women gave an update on their recent mission’s trip. There were the usual stories of making new friends, helping out with building projects and eating new and unusual foods. I seem to remember someone saying that they actually developed a taste for locust. Yikes, I’m not sure my taste buds will ever be ready for that. As the stories continued there were stories on how this culture practices putting the needs of others before themselves and one thing in particular caught my attention. In greeting one another, the tradition of this culture is to reply with one word “Mondi” when translated it means “order me.”
Wow, talk about loving your neighbor as yourself! Sadly, I’m not sure our culture has much room for that attitude today. As I look all around my neighborhood and community I see people so obsessed with chasing the next big deal in order to quench the desire for bigger and better stuff – so much so that people rarely even speak to one another face to face. Just imagine the difference it would make in all our lives if we had this same attitude of putting one another’s needs before ourselves.
This attitude of “order me” is such a clear picture of complete surrender to Christ. It’s a reminder that my relationship with Him is so much more than simply having my list of needs and greeds met. As I enter His presence with awe and reverence waiting to receive His ordered instructions for my day, I stay out of the trap of only seeking God’s hand without ever seeking His face. It’s in those quiet moments when I’m listening more than I’m talking, I not only experience God’s perfect provision; but I come one step closer to having my dreams fulfilled. Perhaps the old saying is really true, ‘God gave you two ears and one mouth, you should listen twice as much as you speak.”
Over the last few years the Lord has led me to develop and deepen my quiet time and to keep Christ first in all things. I periodically I ask myself the following questions:
· What things does the Lord have planned for me that will further His kingdom?
· Are there things is He asking me to put aside for now?
· Who does the Lord want me to encourage today?
· What can I give someone today that will bless them and meet a need?
I’ll never know the answer to these questions if I enter His presence with the attitude of me, my and mine. If you’re ready to refresh your spiritual life, I encourage you to adopt the attitude of “order me, Lord.”
Dear Lord, search my heart and show me the places I’ve yet to surrender to you. My desire to put you fist in all things and to serve you with gladness in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Listen to Today’s Radio Show
My Prince will Come: Getting Ready for My Lord's Return by Sherri Rose Shepherd
Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Application Steps:
Study the lives of Abraham, Moses, Samuel or Paul; write down the verses that demonstrate their obedience in keeping the Lord first in their lives.
Reflections:
What areas of your life do you need to bring under the Lord’s control?
What is keeping you from total surrender?
Begin your day by asking the Lord to “order me” for your good and His glory.
Power Verses:
2 Corinthians 5”15, “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (NIV)
Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. “(NIV)
Ephesians 4:1-2, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (NIV)
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
While visiting a friend’s church, several men and women gave an update on their recent mission’s trip. There were the usual stories of making new friends, helping out with building projects and eating new and unusual foods. I seem to remember someone saying that they actually developed a taste for locust. Yikes, I’m not sure my taste buds will ever be ready for that. As the stories continued there were stories on how this culture practices putting the needs of others before themselves and one thing in particular caught my attention. In greeting one another, the tradition of this culture is to reply with one word “Mondi” when translated it means “order me.”
Wow, talk about loving your neighbor as yourself! Sadly, I’m not sure our culture has much room for that attitude today. As I look all around my neighborhood and community I see people so obsessed with chasing the next big deal in order to quench the desire for bigger and better stuff – so much so that people rarely even speak to one another face to face. Just imagine the difference it would make in all our lives if we had this same attitude of putting one another’s needs before ourselves.
This attitude of “order me” is such a clear picture of complete surrender to Christ. It’s a reminder that my relationship with Him is so much more than simply having my list of needs and greeds met. As I enter His presence with awe and reverence waiting to receive His ordered instructions for my day, I stay out of the trap of only seeking God’s hand without ever seeking His face. It’s in those quiet moments when I’m listening more than I’m talking, I not only experience God’s perfect provision; but I come one step closer to having my dreams fulfilled. Perhaps the old saying is really true, ‘God gave you two ears and one mouth, you should listen twice as much as you speak.”
Over the last few years the Lord has led me to develop and deepen my quiet time and to keep Christ first in all things. I periodically I ask myself the following questions:
· What things does the Lord have planned for me that will further His kingdom?
· Are there things is He asking me to put aside for now?
· Who does the Lord want me to encourage today?
· What can I give someone today that will bless them and meet a need?
I’ll never know the answer to these questions if I enter His presence with the attitude of me, my and mine. If you’re ready to refresh your spiritual life, I encourage you to adopt the attitude of “order me, Lord.”
Dear Lord, search my heart and show me the places I’ve yet to surrender to you. My desire to put you fist in all things and to serve you with gladness in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Listen to Today’s Radio Show
My Prince will Come: Getting Ready for My Lord's Return by Sherri Rose Shepherd
Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Application Steps:
Study the lives of Abraham, Moses, Samuel or Paul; write down the verses that demonstrate their obedience in keeping the Lord first in their lives.
Reflections:
What areas of your life do you need to bring under the Lord’s control?
What is keeping you from total surrender?
Begin your day by asking the Lord to “order me” for your good and His glory.
Power Verses:
2 Corinthians 5”15, “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (NIV)
Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. “(NIV)
Ephesians 4:1-2, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (NIV)
Labels: Relationships, Serving, Time with God
4 Comments:
Thank you for this study today. I just orderd Prscilla's book on Discerning the Voice of God and the last verse you gave is perfect for what my daughters have been facing in their relationship with one another. Thank you so much!
Sisterlisa
I just love it when God chooses to communicate a valuable message to me through scripture, my leisure reading and now through your devotional! The very idea of giving others an open book to order me goes against my selfish nature. God is teaching me to surrender all to Him and trust Him to give me the ability to obey His every command.
I want to hear God speak into my life so I don't make mistakes he doesn't want me to make. So I can hear him speak in all things that I encounter.
Dear God,
I ask that you forgive me for not seeking your face as I should. You should come first in my life not when I have time. Forgive me for not giving you the place of honor you deserve. Lord, I pray that you show me the things you have planned for me, the things I need to lay aside, peop;el I need to encourage and needs that you want to meet through me. Please don't let me lose an opportunity to further your kingdom because of my unwillingness to listen to your voice. Show me how to love my children and forgive me for my blow up at grace this morning. Help me to be a good manager of my time so that i cang et done all that needs to get done. Thank you for loving me even when I fail. Help me to step out at these meetings and be friendly with others. Thank you for all that you have blessed us with, help us to get back on track with our money and save the windfalls that we have coming our way. Help us to be wise in our decision making and look on Peter and his profession with favor. Amen
Friends,
What a great reminder for each of us. Thank you for your comments and for reminding me the value of seeking his face each day and for walking so close with our sweet Jesus that we hear HIS voice and obey without delay.
Continued blessigs to each of you as we walk this road together. Let's encourage one another on my blog.
www.zoeelmoreblogspot.com
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