Is the Lord Willing?

Today I was reading in my favorite devotional,"My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. I will probably be quoting him alot in this blog so just remember it is from this book. His comment this day was,"We have not yet understood all the COMPELLING purpose of God." As you can see the word, compelling jumped off the page at me. When that happens I know that God wants me to ponder this word. I got out my trusty old Webster's dictionary. Compel means to "constrain". Constrain means to "confine". Confine means to "keep within bounds,to limit or restrict,to give borders to".

And there lies the rub........We do not like to be constrained! We do not like someone telling us where we can and cannot go. But just like children need a fence around the yard to keep them from running out into the busy street,we also as children of God need the same confinement. A loving God does it for our protection,but we have the choice of staying within that wall of protection or breaking through to complete abandment of all rules ,guidelines and direction form the One who loved us first.

As a young child I remember my Granny Langston responding a certain way when someone would ask her if she would do this or that or go here or there. She would say ," If the Lord is willing." She read her bible and was quoting James 4:15. This passage warns us about boasting about tomorrow as if we decided what it holds. I guess that is as silly as hearing a two year old say."Tomorrow I am going to travel alone to New York and do some shopping". The bible says that God laughs at the plans of man. This puts his laughter in perspective doesn't it?

So, My prayer for you and myself is simple: May we get up each morning and say to the Lord," What is your plan for me today? What are you compelling me to do or not do today? Keep me in your fence of love and protection!!!! dedelang