The Lenten Journey

Day 24:  No Rebellion

Being misunderstood, being accused – I hope falsely, produces an opportunity to examine my motives.  I woke up singing:

Words: John E. Bode, 1 Music: An­gel’s Sto­ry, Ar­thur H. Mann868 

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me, around me and within;
But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.

O let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength alone.
O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end;
And then in Heaven receive me, my Savior and my Friend.

Abba asked me to not be “rebellious” today.  That means I don’t respond out of hurt, anger, misunderstanding but with a “gentle and quiet” spirit.  I sense that the second part of my Lenten Journey is to focus on the requests of the last twenty some days and really deal with them.  I can make anything in my life a “daily Bible reading exercise.”  By that I mean, seeing the words, checking off that I saw them and read them, and thinking that is the end of that.  But I hear Abba saying :  “Oh no, no,  no Baby doll!  We are going to go to work now and make the words part of your life.”  Well shoot, I like reading them better, checking off that I read them and putting everything nicely away until tomorrow. 

I am wanting to be “rebellious” and tell God what I will take part in and what I won’t take part in.  I am wanting to be a petulant child.  I am wanting to have my own way.  Oh, a “bunny trail” to go down.  I re-wrote Have Thine Own Way Lord:

Have Mine own way, Lord!  Have Mine own way!  I want to be the Potter, and not be the clay.  Just a little touch up will suit me just fine, Being still and waiting seems way out of line.

Have Mine own way, Lord!  Have Mine own way, Fix (him/her)  real quick Lord, just as I say.   Whiter than snow, Lord, Make me right now, Do something painless, and I’ll take the bow.

Have Mine own way, Lord!  Have Mine own way!  I get so weary, help me TODAY!  Power, all Power, I want to have!  Zap me and make me perfect right NOW.

Have Mine own way, Lord!  Have Mine own Way!  I’ll tell you how Lord, do it today!  Filled with my way Lord, So all can see.  If I’m in Control Lord, I can be soo happy!  

OK, off the bunny trail  and  on to  the God Trail.  I’m opening my hand Lord, placing  it in yours.  I think I’ll sing – “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus . . . .No turning back, no turning back.