A Prayer to Let the Lord Lead
By: Chelsey DeMatteis
"For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:15
Something I’ve found deeply enjoyable about growing older is watching the things that come to fruition that God has knit in my heart. You know, the things that make me, “me” and you, “you.” The “me and you” that was formed in our mother’s wombs. God created all of us with individual gifts, quirks, and personalities to show us the vastness of the God we serve. Within this reflection, I’m stunningly aware of how sin broke His perfection and why we needed a Savior.
I see this in how I get caught up in serving the Lord through my gifts. I begin trying to take the lead and want to work in my own strength.
The Lord began unfolding this all in my heart as I sat at a meeting with two other Christian women. I pulled up my chair, fully confident that they’d want to hear my ideas and that we’d all be on the same page. Well, I couldn’t have planned it more wrong had I tried. This nice lunch quickly turned into two of us butting heads over the way we wanted things done.
As I sat at that meeting, I felt as though my way of serving was being taken away. I felt like they were stepping all over my toes, and squandering my giftings. Does this sound like something you've experienced too?
Pride, fear, and rejection began rising up within me. All thoughts of God’s grace and His position of authority at this moment were diminished by my fleshly desire to serve the way I wanted, instead of submitting my heart to His plans.
As I made my way to my car and finally handed over my pride-filled heart to the Lord, I knew the meeting went the way it needed too and the gospel message pierced my heart again, it always does. This life is not about me and my way. Getting to serve isn’t supposed to be about me and having my plans go the way I'd prefer. It's about the Lord and His glory.
This lunch showed me much about the condition of not only my heart but everyone else's heart too. He showed me that I have to trust Him and His leading even in something as little as a lunch meeting. I was reminded that I have to take pride, fear, and rejection to the cross and put them to death so I can rightly serve The Lord in the giftings He’s given me.
I want to leave you with this: when Jesus came to serve the people of this world, He came with a heart full of humility, truth, and love. While He had all authority, He chose submission instead of demanding to be served.
John 13:15 tells us that as He washed the disciples’ feet, Jesus said this: "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." I pray that this leaves you trusting God’s leading. We don't need to make things happen, we just need to be obedient to God and have a heart humbly ready to serve.
Let's pray:
Lord,
Thank you for the gifts you knit within me. I pray Lord, as I live for your Kingdom, that my heart would always find itself attentive to your Holy Spirit. I pray that my heart would seek to serve you from a place of humility and honor you by honoring your truth. Help me see my pride clearly and reject it fully. Help me serve in humility and trust that you will open up opportunities for me to use my gifts and talents for your kingdom.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
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