Praying for a Challenge...

Our family is very blessed.  Our family consists of a mother and father, who are both employed, and two healthy children.  We have a home and two vehicles.  We have a church family who loves dearly and demonstrates their love through God's ministries.  We have wonderful friends who put us before themselves and care for our children.  We have parents and grandparents who give of their time and money to support us whenever they can.  It's times like these that I realize just how blessed we really are.  I haven't done anything to deserve God's grace, yet He continually provides for us.  He showers us (yes, showers) until we are completely drenched in His love, mercy, and grace.  We don't deserve it.  We haven't earned it.  In fact, we can't earn it. 

My mind can understand it.  He's God!  Why would he be so kind to us?  He knows we have screwed up too many times to count.  He knows I'm mean and impatient.  He knows we have failed in almost everything we've set out to do.  He knows we've wasted our money on useless things.  We haven't actively pursued his lifestyle of taking care of the widows, orphans, hungry, and sick.  Sure, we tithe and participate in the annual Lottie Moon and Samaritan's Purse ministries, but that's easy.  Write a check and stuff some shoe boxes...done and done.  I'm tired of the easy stuff.  

So, I'm praying now for a challenge.  I know I'm not equipped with the talent, time, and money to really make a different or to even succeed in a simple task.  But, I'm asking God for the opportunity.  I feel like God is showing me the importance of obedience.  Over the past week or so I've read or heard someone say that I am not responsible for the outcome, but I am responsible for my obedience.  For example, God didn't put Joshua in charge of bringing down the walls of Jericho.  All Joshua had to do was obey...walk around Jericho a certain number of times for a certain number of days.  He obeyed and God took care of the rest.  Well, that I can do.  

I'm praying for a test of my obedience and I'm scared to death that I'll fail.  I've failed at this thousands of times.  So you're probably thinking I've gone crazy.  I haven't; I promise.  I want to please my God.  He's pleased me.  He's done everything for me.  I want to do this for Him.  I'm praying for the opportunity, the strength and wisdom to follow through, and for it to be pleasing to Him.  Notice anything about this prayer?  He's still the one that has to do all the work!  But isn't that always how it is?  Isn't He always just looking for willing participants to His plan?

I am a willing participant and I'm asking for the opportunity to demonstrate my obedience to His plan.  I've been on the lazy side of this my whole life.  I'm ready to actively pursue His will.