– Secret Place Insights –
Dear One, I am excited to share this story with you. For me it is a familiar one, one I have shared with many friends, and various groups throughout the years. It is such a pleasure to recall it once again. You may be wondering why I waited this long to share it as a Secret Place Insight. It’s because I try to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead on what the next week’s topic will be. It seems that now is the time for this one.
It happened in the early 80’s, when the excitement of living life with an awareness of the Indwelling Holy Spirit was new to me.* His Presence made life new, and wondrously meaningful. In gratitude, I had an unrelenting desire to give God a gift. Yes, it seemed ridiculous to me too, but the desire was so strong, I could not let go of it. I prayed about it again, and again, unceasingly.
“Father, I know it makes little sense, but I have a burning desire to give You a gift. Please, is there anything that I can give You?” You, the reader, must be wondering, what was I thinking? I suppose it was more feeling than thinking.
After about two weeks, when I was seated at my desk for quiet time, I prayed the prayer for the very last time. “Lord, I so want to give You a gift. Is there nothing I can give you?” I certainly wasn’t expecting what happened next. I was merely hoping that an idea might come to mind, but it was then that I heard, “Give Me your pride.”
I was stunned. My pride?
I brought up my right hand, opened it slowly, and stared at my palm. In my mind’s eye my pride took on the form of an ugly, black glob. It quivered and seeped between my fingers. Too thick to drip, long, disgusting tentacles hung from between my fingers. In a wordless offering, I simply extended my arm up toward the ceiling. Instantly, what had been a hideous substance was transformed to a single, magnificent jewel.
Of course after that, in the days which followed, more pride emerged. When it did, I knew what to do with it. Repent. And months later, when God pointed out that I had a critical heart, I knew exactly what to do with that too. So far, I have not run out of a variety of such gifts for God, but thankfully my supply is not as abundant as it once was. He is a wondrous God who receives sincere repentance as a gift. “Oh, Father, you are far more than amazing, far more than wonderful.”
I just came across the following quote in my stack of notes:
“Jesus (or God) doesn’t want to be in your life, He wants to be your life.”
Dr. Tony Evans, Urban Alternative
Blessing,
Susanne
* It was a little while later that I came to understand that Jesus had been with me ever since I accepted Him as Lord. I also learned that it took more than just church attendance to develop a relationship with God. It took praying, reading His Word, and the desire to live for Him. If you would like suggestions on growing a deeper relationship with God please find on the Home Page, Making God a Priority or Going Deeper. If you have any questions, please write to me though Contact on the Website.
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