"My life is in Your hands God. Use me to point someone towards You today - I promise to cooperate in any way I can. If You want me to say a word for You today, I'll do that. If You want me to keep quiet but demonstrate love and servanthood, by Your Spirit's power I will. I am fully available to You today, so guide me by Your Spirit."
Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Church in Chicago wrote these words. I read them on a relaxing holiday in the sunshine last summer (just writing the word sunshine makes me feel good!). I printed them out onto a bookmark in my diary. These words are a great prayer for the beginninmg of a day or week. They are true when you feel like you have capacity to think and give. They are true when you feel so stretched that "one more thing" will cause you to unravel. They are releasing words - and help with the guilt factor that screams "could do better Catrina!"
The truth that we are in God's hands; that He wants to (and does) use us; that we are all part of God's great plan to tell others about Him - these truths hold - despite our feelings or situations. All we need to do is be fully available, obey and take the opportunities when they come.
So yesterday my surprise phone call from a new friend with lots of "coincidental" connections was a God moment. And when my lovely friend who is so stretched right now also had an unexpected conversation she fully took up the opportunity to reach out and connect. Both conversations seem likely to result in women coming to Church or to other events we are putting on - women connecting with God and with other women. Great!
I'm So thankful that He is in control - and grateful that he would choose to use us to help others to find Him.
So as I go into work on this final day of the spring term, I'm going to pray this prayer and try to listen out for the Holy Spirit. And tomorrow, when we celebrate our daughter's birthday and the house is full of 12 year old girls I'll do the same - and each day after that !
Pray it with me - let's be fully available x
Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Church in Chicago wrote these words. I read them on a relaxing holiday in the sunshine last summer (just writing the word sunshine makes me feel good!). I printed them out onto a bookmark in my diary. These words are a great prayer for the beginninmg of a day or week. They are true when you feel like you have capacity to think and give. They are true when you feel so stretched that "one more thing" will cause you to unravel. They are releasing words - and help with the guilt factor that screams "could do better Catrina!"
The truth that we are in God's hands; that He wants to (and does) use us; that we are all part of God's great plan to tell others about Him - these truths hold - despite our feelings or situations. All we need to do is be fully available, obey and take the opportunities when they come.
So yesterday my surprise phone call from a new friend with lots of "coincidental" connections was a God moment. And when my lovely friend who is so stretched right now also had an unexpected conversation she fully took up the opportunity to reach out and connect. Both conversations seem likely to result in women coming to Church or to other events we are putting on - women connecting with God and with other women. Great!
I'm So thankful that He is in control - and grateful that he would choose to use us to help others to find Him.
So as I go into work on this final day of the spring term, I'm going to pray this prayer and try to listen out for the Holy Spirit. And tomorrow, when we celebrate our daughter's birthday and the house is full of 12 year old girls I'll do the same - and each day after that !
Pray it with me - let's be fully available x