Alignment of the will
"Through the Word we are put together & shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (2 Tim 3:17 MSG)
How many times have I prayed for God to align my will to His? Could be thousands. But am I prepared to accept the answer to that prayer? My will is bent; God's will is perfectly straight and true. Can I expect the process of being straightened out to be simple, easy, and pain-free?
I broke my leg when I was 19 years old, and shattered my shoulder blade at the same time. The doc said the shoulder x-ray looked like a picture window that a baseball had been thrown through. He put my leg in a cast, but all he could do with the shoulder blade was push the pieces back together, immobilize my arm, and hope for the best. Six weeks later the cast and sling came off. Then the pain of rehab began. My ankle and shoulder were created to rotate freely, but in just six weeks they had become frozen stiff. The doc gave me a regimen of exercises to bring the joints back to mobility. They were especially painful at first; they were absolutely necessary if I wanted to regain the use of my limbs.
My will has been bent and broken since the day of my conception. Thank God for the gift of His Word. It is slowly but surely putting me back together, shaping my will to the tasks He has given me to do. The discipline and rehabilitation can be painful, but they are essential the my development as a disciple of Jesus Christ. "Take my yoke upon you," Jesus says in Matthew 11:29-30, "for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Created over 2 years ago
