Friday, March 07, 2014

Five Minute Friday: Willing

START

Willing... What am I willing to do?

What does willing mean?

Is it me using my force to accomplish something with my strong will?

Is it my response when someone asks me to do something? "Are you willing to do XYZ?" "Yes, I am willing." "No, I am not willing."

More often than not in my mind the word "willing" goes along with the word "Lord". "We will be coming to visit you, Lord willing." "We will be here for residency for 3-4 years, Lord willing." "We will be serving overseas someday, Lord willing."

I remember a sermon when we were in the middle of the craziness of trying to find a place to live at the beginning of med school and how grateful I was 24 hours later that we had heard it. We were challenged to not say "I am going to do this or that." But rather to say, "Lord willing we are going to do this or that." and remember that our good God was in control even when circumstances that we didn't plan and we don't understand come our way.

Like the rich man who'd built his barns confident that he had plenty for many years to come so he'd take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry, we don't know what tomorrow holds.

I am so thankful that I know Who holds tomorrow. What He wills is so much better than what I will. He's already there and I can trust Him.

STOP

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

Linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday.
Five Minute Friday