Stepping Stones: The Burning Question That Determines Your Life

December 29, 2011

Transformational Thought

Yes, "Have you accepted Jesus as your savior?," is the biggest question you have to answer. But have you asked yourself the next burning question, “Will I make Him the Lord of my life?” The answer to this question will determine the Christian’s life here on Earth.

You see, I accepted Christ as my personal Savior as a small child, saying the sinner’s prayer with my mother. Being raised in a Baptist church as a kid, I responded to many altar calls with further acceptance of Christ as my Savior, because what kid would ever want to burn in Hell forever? Just wanted to make sure I was guaranteed that eternal destination of Heaven.

Well, I continued through my middle school and high school years with great blessing and accomplishment, but on the inside, I was really struggling. Sure, I knew all the memory verses and was a clean cut, well-behaved, bright, well-spoken teenager in front of the adults. But I put acceptance and the opinions of my peers on the top of my priority list. I wanted to be important, included, popular, special.

Well, my foul language, lying, alcohol and drug use, and many other sinful behaviors, escalated causing multiple consequences … compromised athletic accomplishments in my senior year of high school , losing out on a baseball scholarship, loss of an Air Force ROTC scholarship after 2 years, almost getting thrown out of college for cheating, almost flunking out of school, and almost not being accepted into medical school.

It all culminated halfway into medical school, on Super Bowl Sunday. I was arrested for 6 counts of aggravated assault and landed in jail. It was there that God asked me if I was ready to make Him the Lord of my life, or if I still wanted to be the Lord of my life. He told me I would never regret making Him Lord. He told me, “If you make me the Lord of your life, I will reveal incredible principles and help you bring your educational and spiritual backgrounds together for your life-fulfillment and to help others.”

You see, when we answer this question soundly and regularly stand by it, all the other questions become so clear. Questions like, “Should I pray for healing or God’s will?” “Is this the right house?” “Should we use in vitro to get pregnant?” “Should I get divorced?” “Should I call that person I am angry with?” “Should I speak up for what is right, do the right thing?” When He is our Lord, our authority, the Holy Spirit is on the throne of our heart, and the Bible becomes our powerful how-to manual for life. It was way better than what I was using, which landed me in jail.

Since that night at 3 AM in a cold prison cell, with a bloodied face, a bruised body, and tattered shirt, God has never broken His promise to me, and my life has turned around. God’s grace and blessing have been truly amazing, abundant, and overwhelming.

Today, ask yourself that burning question, “Have you given yourself totally to God?” If the answer is no, then ask yourself why not? What do you need to believe differently about God or yourself in order to give yourself to Him as He gave Himself for you? As long as you keep putting yourself in your own hands, life will be hard and your potential very limited. Your decision, so choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, It is so beautiful and rewarding to see Your work even in difficult circumstances. Help me look to You, Father, during these difficult times, as there is so much to learn when life doesn’t meet my expectations. I want to live a life that is close to You. I ask You, Father, to remove every obstacle that prevents me from totally giving myself to You. I pray this in the name of the One who gave Himself totally for me, Jesus Christ; And all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Romans 8:26