Rightly Commit

I’m a little bit stubborn…ok…maybe very stubborn.

I can be very confident in what I believe, committed to my position even when I’m wrong.

And my stubborn confidence can be comical at times when it’s something not important, but it can lead to challenging situations when my commitment to my own “rightness” ignores the Lord or excludes the inputs of other, more knowing supporters.

That got me thinking about what the Lord wants from me – a commitment beyond me – a commitment that focuses on Him – a commitment that engages with Him – a commitment that depends on Him:

“Rightly Commit”

I knew the plans I had for me,
they were perfect, undoubtedly,
I had control and plowed ahead,
followed the path the world had led;
all things were good until they weren’t
the dreams were gone, the plans were burnt,
all of my goals went up in flames,
I only had myself to blame.

As I looked back on what went wrong,
it did not take me very long,
to see how selfish I had been,
ignoring guidance from within;
for I had charged out on my own,
not caring that I was alone,
and only when things fell apart,
did I come back with humble heart.

It’s only now I see so well
the gift from You as You indwell,
Your Spirit shares Your plans for me,
for me to follow willingly;
You just ask me to surrender,
to let You be my planning partner,
then let You guide, show me the way,
to seek Your will and always pray.

I now do planning differently,
I pause and pray expectantly,
I listen for what You will say,
then wait for You to light the way,
for You have promised plans for me,
plans for the good, mercifully,
I must commit and let You lead,
and then with You the plans succeed.

***

The Lord invites us into a shared planning process and desires that we embrace it fully – for us to humbly welcome Him into our thinking and planning, to trust Him with what is good and right, to align our desires with His will, and to step forth with a confidence that comes from Him.

However, our desire to control, and our belief that we must be in control, often get in the way of us surrendering and partnering with Him.   

Yet His call remains simple and consistent – seek Him, plan with Him, trust in Him, walk with Him, rest in Him, rejoice in Him – commit to Him.

That should be our drumbeat – for Him, with Him, and in Him – that’s what leads to true success.

I pray we each commit our thinking, planning, and doing to the Lord.

In His love,

Stan