FJWL_02:498
         (Dad:) The Lord has so much for you, so much to give you--gifts of His love--and so much that He wants to use you for, but He'll only be able to fulfill His beautiful, wonderful, marvelous perfect plan if you are totally yielded to Him.
         The Lord's called you to go on for Him and to run the race right now. You can do that two ways: You can lay down what the Lord has asked you to lay down; you can look straight ahead and run with all you've got, knowing that His plan is perfect, His love is perfect and complete, and He loves you very much and wants to make you happy. That's one way you can run--in utter abandonment, leaving all else behind and just going for what the Lord has put in front of you right now, each step, day by day.
         Or you can still hang on to it, and that'll be like carrying a weight with you. You'll still run. You'll still complete the race because you're determined. But it's going to be heavier and harder on you, and it's not going to be as enjoyable. You won't run with the speed that you could if you left it all behind.
         If you feel you just can't let go, well, the Lord understands that. He knows your frame and remembers that you're but dust, but it'll be like just going halfway, or running at half speed. He'll still bless you and use you, but you won't have the same measure of happiness and fulfillment that you would if you gave it all to Him in utter abandonment--putting it on the altar, turning around and walking away. That's hard to do, I know. I really do know, I really do understand, and I can see your heart. I feel your hurt, and I know how hard it is for you.
         If you can trust, even though you don't see or understand; if you can believe and obey, even though it's not all real clear to you right now; if you can forsake that which is dearest to you, knowing that He does all things well--believe me, you'll be thankful and happy you did, and it's going to be worth it all.



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family