Holding Back
“Lord, I will go anywhere but Africa.”
One of my favorite missionaries, Lorinda Robinson, explained once that when God spoke to her heart about missions at the age of three she spoke up promptly, “I’ll go tell them.” Later, as a teen she kept to the idea but told God under no circumstances would she go to Africa.
She ended up in Cote D’Iviore (Africa). She grew to love it there. It became home. While there fellow missionaries in Burkino Faso asked her to come there to teach.
“Nope. God sent me to Cote D’Iviore and I will stay here till He tells me to leave. Besides I like it here–it’s beautiful and thriving, Burkino Faso is dirty and dry.”
A few months later Cote D’Iviore had yet another coup. The missionaries were evacuated and she came home for a visit. Once again her friends in Burkino Faso asked if she would come. She insisted that the coups never lasted long in Cote D’Iviore and that soon she would be home. After another wait and many reassurances from the missionary assosication that no one was going back to Cote D’Iviore, she got a call from Burkino Faso again, asking if she was willing to come now.
She went and is now training leaders throughout Burkino Faso, who are coming for training in droves, and the ministry is growing so rabidly that no one can keep up.
“Lord, I will follow Thee; but . . .” Luke 9:61A
We all have our standards. God knows exactly the things we are holding back from Him and will eventually ask us for them. Abraham had his Issac, the rich young ruler had his money, and Lorinda had her Africa.
Eventually He will ask you let go. Are you ready?
He may not send you to Africa or ask you to sacrifice your son but He, the God of the Universe, willingly gave His only Son–the greatest sacrifice. He knows and He will ask you also to open your clenched hand so He can remove the thing that is held so tight, that you may be free to do the work He has set before you.
What are you holding onto?
Lord, You alone know what each of us are holding back. Lord I pray that You would lead each of us, gently, to open our hand and allow You to remove whatever is there from our clutches that we may better serve you in the capacity You have planned for us. Thank you Lord, Amen.
Great post. I’ve been wondering in my life what it is exactly that I’m holding on to. In my case, I think it is some thoughts or attitudes that I need to allow God to purge from my heart. Thanks for sharing. This should make many people think!
This is a “thinker” post! I need to pray about all the things I need to have Him remove. There’s a lot there.
I’m sure I’m holding some things tightly, but I remember one time God asking me to let go of my prized, brand-new Nissan Pathfinder. While I was excited during the “for sale” time, when the time came to sell it to the new buyer, I mourned. I loved that truck. It portrayed the “sporty me”. God gave me a Chrysler LHS free in exchange. I did not like that car. And was somewhat thankful when it died. I look back, and hope that if that situation comes up again, I’ll do better. I prayed that prayer, and I know God will show me what I hold too tightly.
Thanks for making me think, bless you.
What a wonderful post it is!!
I think what I hold back tightly is my life..my attitude to my life..every time I try my best to want to get what life in my heart. But I am so sorry to say that till now it is not what I want..really thank the Lord for his everlasting love for me, now I learn to let him be in the center of my life.
You know what I find so interesting? Exactly when we sav “never” that is exactly what God will work on first. His great wisdom is so fantastic.
Neat post!
Amen to that, Heather. Yes, I know that I am holding back on some things in my life. I really need to turn it over to Him and let Him change me.
Thank you for sharing…
Super post. “We all have our standards. God knows exactly the things we are holding back from Him and will eventually ask us for them. ”
Yep, we may as well give ’em up now.
Thank you