I've just started reading Linda Dillow's newest book Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, and was struck by something she said in the first chapter.
"As a new believer I often said my purpose was to know Him and make Him known. Too often though, my emphasis was on making Him known rather than on knowing Him.
I longed for intimacy, ecstasy, and a deep relationship with my Bridegroom, but as the years passed and life became hectic and complicated, I settled for serving the One I loved."
Been there. Done that. And I'm wanting to take steps to make sure I don't do that again.
The last few months have been filled with re-thinking my priorities, with saying 'no' to certain things (even good things), and with turning my focus back on Jesus. I've managed to make a few people unhappy with me, but I think I've made Jesus happy with those choices, and whose opinion of me matters in the long run anyway? *smile* Yes, I still have heart to serve. Yes, I still want to make Him known to others. Yes, I still want to be highly involved in ministry. But not at the expense of my own relationship with Him.
Don't misunderstand me....I haven't quit all my ministry involvements, not by a long shot! But....I'm being much more picky about the things I say 'yes' to, and for right now, I'm on a honeymoon with Jesus. *smile*
I'm hoping to regain my focus during the next few months, to hear His voice a little more clearly, to feel His heartbeat, to know Him better. Because I want to make my life count for something that will outlast it. And I can't do that if I don't truly know Him. I can't serve effectively if I don't intimately know the One I'm serving. I can't follow His orders if I'm too busy to hear them. I can't help others come to know Him in a personal way if I don't know His heart. And I can't be truly happy when my life is full of 'clutter'....even so-called 'good clutter'.
So for now.... the answer is most likely 'no' to more serving. Because I'm learning to say 'yes' to knowing. *smile*
"As a new believer I often said my purpose was to know Him and make Him known. Too often though, my emphasis was on making Him known rather than on knowing Him.
I longed for intimacy, ecstasy, and a deep relationship with my Bridegroom, but as the years passed and life became hectic and complicated, I settled for serving the One I loved."
Been there. Done that. And I'm wanting to take steps to make sure I don't do that again.
The last few months have been filled with re-thinking my priorities, with saying 'no' to certain things (even good things), and with turning my focus back on Jesus. I've managed to make a few people unhappy with me, but I think I've made Jesus happy with those choices, and whose opinion of me matters in the long run anyway? *smile* Yes, I still have heart to serve. Yes, I still want to make Him known to others. Yes, I still want to be highly involved in ministry. But not at the expense of my own relationship with Him.
Don't misunderstand me....I haven't quit all my ministry involvements, not by a long shot! But....I'm being much more picky about the things I say 'yes' to, and for right now, I'm on a honeymoon with Jesus. *smile*
I'm hoping to regain my focus during the next few months, to hear His voice a little more clearly, to feel His heartbeat, to know Him better. Because I want to make my life count for something that will outlast it. And I can't do that if I don't truly know Him. I can't serve effectively if I don't intimately know the One I'm serving. I can't follow His orders if I'm too busy to hear them. I can't help others come to know Him in a personal way if I don't know His heart. And I can't be truly happy when my life is full of 'clutter'....even so-called 'good clutter'.
So for now.... the answer is most likely 'no' to more serving. Because I'm learning to say 'yes' to knowing. *smile*
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