One of the latest books that I've been reading is the well known book titled "Passion & Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. In it she pretty much uses her own story of how both her and her late husband Jim Elliot kept their love life fully submitted to Christ, even though there were quite a few times where she addresses how it wasn't easy. This book is more than a love story, it is full of Godly wisdom.
In one of her chapters, she talks about fighting her desires of wanting marry Jim. Sometimes she states how she entertained the thought of wanting to ask the Lord to simply to remove her feelings for such a noble gift if it wasn't His will, thinking it would be easier to go through life,better that than left wondering. (Boy, can I relate to that!) But I wanted to quote something she said that was really profound to me. It reads: "If the yearnings went away, what would we have to offer up to the Lord? Aren't they given to us to offer? It is the control of passion, not its eradication, that is needed. How would we learn to submit to the authority of Christ if we had nothing to submit?"
Isn't that the truth? How many times have we thought to pray, "Lord, instead of wondering if I should take this job or move to this town, or go to this college, why don't you just remove such desires from me? It would be so much easier to navigate through life if I didn't have to wonder."
Now isn't that funny. Could it be that we wonder so much because maybe we do not trust the Lord to answer our prayers according to his will? Or maybe deep down, we are not sure if we want his will, especially if that indicates going without those things we so desire. But if that's the case, the bible tells us plenty of things concerning issues like this. Let's look at a couple of scriptures.
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."- Matthew 10:37-39
Here's a good one. Jesus tells us that when we desire anything more than him to the point that we are willing to forsake him because of it, we are not even worthy of Him. How tragic. He also goes on to say that he who follows after his own way in life, without ever submitting or even seeking the will of God will lose it in the end, but he who forsakes his own way and now lives a life that seeks to only do and fulfill the will of God, these people will find it :) What an encouragement!
"Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."-Matthew 6:31-34
This one is pretty clear. We are not to worry about *anything*. The main thing that should consume our attention is mentioned in verse 33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you". When our focus is solely on God and being obedient to his perfect will and plan for our life, he will take care of everything else. He is faithful and can be trusted.
That is what I like about the book "Passion and Purity" because despite the trials, and temptations both Elisabeth and Jim faced, they laid all of that down at the feet of Christ and said "Thy will be done". Let it be so with us in our daily lives.
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