Start from zero
By Christopher Myers
How often, I ask myself, do I just run errands and push through deadlines for work just to accomplish tasks and to make a paycheck? In other words, Chris, how much of your effort is detached from your true self? My answer, to myself, is quite a lot of my effort is without commitment. What do I mean by commitment? I mean the whybehind my efforts. I thought of a conversation with a friend when I’d felt overwhelmed and needed advice. He’s a pastor over in England and he mentioned Proverbs 16:3, “Commit whatever you do to the Lord and your plans will succeed.”
As I gradually exit my upheaval of circumstances with a new attitude and a refreshed soul, this verse is wonderful, because as I place everything I do before God Almighty, I have a great peace and assurance that I am working in harmony with his will. It’s not all sunshine and lollipops, but neither is real life. I have found that his will is real life.
Anyway, back to my conversation with my friend. He went on to say that committing whatever we do to the Lord, is a process of acknowledging that we are set on doing whatever it is but also that we’re well aware it’s beyond our capability to see it through. He continued, what makes commitment with God unique is that we can ‘roll it back’ on him, because it is his job, in effect, to make the plans succeed—not us.
What did Jesus say? “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 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.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)
In pondering all this, I envisioned a WWII airplane fighter pilot in England readying for a mission—receiving the brief, fully familiar with his aircraft and secure in his abilities. But in the quiet moment before take-off, in his heart and mind he committed to the mission. In other words, committing is being fully aware and having the ability but not just waffling through whatever happens. Committing our efforts, whatever we do, our ways to the Lord, we commit our whole self, effort, skill, experience and imagination to the mission.
Committing is not merely hoping it is total engagement.
I’m no longer ‘merely giving whatever I do to the Lord’ as a token, I’m committing: meaning, I’m fully behind it and allowing (expecting) his purpose and Spirit to indwell my effort. For this, his Spirit, is how the plans succeed. Amen!
Christopher Myers is a designer/writer/forgiven sinner and has fellowshipped with believers around the world. Faith is his passion. Email him at c.myers@me.com