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July 20, 2018

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My Spirit Rejoiced in God

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:46-47

It's amazing how God works in our lives to bring us to that place where He can move freely in us to accomplish His will. It is interesting to study how God called Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, and Joshua. How instructive is the response of each as God spoke to them of serving Him.

Little did Mary know, when going about her domestic duties, what a single day would bring forth in her life. When God's time was come, she was informed of God's plan regarding her. She was filled with surprise and fear; but after the angelic messenger spoke to her of the peculiar favor that God had prepared for her, she yielded and committed herself with all of her concerns, into the hands of God. She could not help but know that submission to this plan of God might ruin her character and even affect her life. But she knew, that the one who had chosen her for this singular blessing, was able to protect and care for her in every way. When Joseph was told of this, he too responded in submissive obedience to walk in the path God was leading them.

In spite of all the fears, apprehensions, and consequences that surrounded both of them in a most alarming way, they chose to believe God and follow Him fully. When you are faced with unusual circumstances, how do you respond? Do you choose to worry and to be distressed, frustrated, and anxious? Or do you exchange all of this for His lordship in your life, in submissive servanthood, and cheerfully "cast all of your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you." Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us would respond in glorious praise and adoration, because He had chosen us to serve Him? Can you fathom the magnitude of these words? Service for God is the overflow of super-abounding devotion. It is the echo of my identification with His indwelling presence. It is the natural response of His life being lived in and through me. To serve the Lord is the deliberate love gift of a nature that has heard His still small voice saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it."

The story is told of Stephen Olin, a shining light in the early years of the Methodist church. He had become greatly discouraged and was about to leave his place of service. In a significant dream, he saw himself working in a rock quarry, swinging a pick ax repeatedly on an extremely hard rock. Unable to break the rock, he decided to quit. Suddenly, a dignified stranger appeared at his side and asked, "Were you not given this task by God?" "Yes, he replied." "Then why should you think of abandoning it?" "My work is not accomplishing a thing; it's useless." "Your duty is to pick, whether the rock yields or not. The work is in your hands; the results are not. Carry on." He resumed, and the rock burst into thousands of pieces. Stephen Olin awoke, realizing that faithful, submissive serving was what God required of him; the results were God's. Sometime later, by the Holy Spirit's mighty power, a great revival swept across New England through his ministry. Obedience is our responsibility; the results are His. "DARE TO BELIEVE" in the unfailing faithfulness of God! When we can't see His hand, dare to trust His heart!

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2018-07-20


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