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July 14, 2009

What God Can Do with Your Whole Life

by by Judy Douglass

The boy hesitated as Andrew pushed him toward Jesus. "Sir, I have only a small lunch, five loaves and two fish, but if this could help feed some of the people, you can have it." I'm sure Jesus smiled and said, "Thank you. I think this is exactly what I need."

The boy watched in awe as, with that small lunch, Jesus fed more than 5,000, with lots of leftovers.

"Wow," the boy responded. "If he can do that with my lunch, I wonder what he could do with my whole life!"

Each of us could wonder the same thing: What if I give him my whole life?!?

What if I give him my time? Would my day look different? Would I get the priority things done? Would he multiply my time to enable me to accomplish more of his work?

What if I give him my talents? He gave them to me to begin with - would he develop them more fully, more beautifully. Would he fill me up and pour me out to touch every life I encounter? Would he surprise me with the good works he created me to do?

And what if I give him my treasure? Do I really need so much of it? It's just loaned to me anyway. He tells me not to invest in things that don't last, but to invest in heavenly endeavors, where the return on investment multiplies many times - for eternity.

So what if I don't stop at time, talents and treasure? What if I give him my hopes and my dreams? It happened to me. I had dreams: to be a writer and editor, to marry a great guy, to make my life count. I gave them to him - and the vastness of the betterness has been staggering. I would have settled for so much less - God had so much more.

But wait. What happens if I give him those negative things in my life--my shame, my guilt, my fears? Certainly he won't multiply those; maybe he will halve them. No, not halves. He erases them, forgives them, buries them, sets me free from them.

So Lord, I give you everything I am and have - puny as it all is - to do what you desire with all you made me to be. The song says, "I can only imagine!" And that is true - I can only imagine. But his Word promises that he will do far more with what we give him - even our whole lives - than we can ask or even imagine!

Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on July 14, 2009 9:08 AM

Comments

Thank you for a beautiful message.

Posted By: FireMom | July 15, 2009 10:00 AM

This is a beautiful succinct reminder of how important we are to God and what He is waiting to do in and with our lives if we just trust Him and give ourselves to Him.

Posted By: Donalyn | July 15, 2009 3:26 PM

How timely this is for me to read..fresh back from a STM trip where I had many reminders of my own inadequacies and constant need of dependence on God. And at a time when I am about to re-evaluate His Plan for what little I have to offer in my upcoming future.

Thanks for the powerful words, Judy.

Posted By: Jenn L | July 16, 2009 2:36 AM

What a fresh perspective on "the five loaves and two fishes"! I was blessed by this short but powerful message. After many years, I still need to surrender all. Thanks.

Posted By: George | July 16, 2009 7:09 PM

Wow! Your encouraging comments made me go back and reread this. And once again God reminded me that the blessing is in surrender, not in holding back or holding on to whatever is in my tight grasp.

Posted By: judy | July 17, 2009 8:31 AM

This is so wonderful and necessary for our lives. Do I have permission to use some of it in a devotional I am writing for a prayer team I am on? I would give credit to the writer and Christianity Today.

Posted By: Diane | July 17, 2009 10:47 AM

One of my most favorite scriptures is Mark 12:29-31. I focus on that scripture, because when we do in all sincerity love the Lord our God and everyone else, He opens all doors for us that lead us to His thoughts and ways, and not man. Places where He knows our gifts from Him will be used for His glory.

What is my gift? All I can say is that He is always leading me to places where His truth is needed unbeknowance to me until I get there. There is always someone in need of His precious truth. I have also found that I learn more about His righteousness, love and mercy, because I witness first hand the power of our Almighty God at work.

I love to write about Him and share it with many. When I write about Jesus Christ, His truth is my tool, and again I learn so much about His thoughts and ways. I am so blessed each day God gives me to be able to share His truth.

It is my desire for the glory of God to plant His tiny mustard seed into the heart and soul of others. I know He is still molding me to be a better child of His, and I praise and glorify His name for how far I have come today. He is the only One who can guide us through His will in reaching a point that is endless in learning His thoughts and ways.

I give Him the glory for who I am today, and still being molded by His righteous, undying hands of love, grace and mercy.

Posted By: Deborah Huff | July 18, 2009 8:21 PM

This was definitely an encouragement to me, as I continue to seek out God's will for my servanthood and career! Thanks!!

www.itsjustmesarag.blogspot.com

Posted By: Sara | July 19, 2009 2:15 PM

Diane, it is fine with me if you use it. You might need to ask GFL.

Posted By: judy | July 20, 2009 1:00 AM

Thanks for the powerful encouragement.

Posted By: mallika | August 4, 2009 12:37 AM

Wow! this article is too good, especially the part of surrendering the negative things in our life. Pls. give me more details about the song 'I can only imagine'

Posted By: Viola Saldanha | August 20, 2009 6:38 AM

good and soooooooo god blesssssess you all

Posted By: cris | May 19, 2010 2:00 AM

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