Yielded Thinking And Yielded Lives Wanted
In my files of illustrations, articles and stories there is an article with a quoted statement by “anonymous” that is short, simple and to the point but yet it is so extremely profound. The statement reads, “God wants us more than He wants our plans.” Consider that for a moment. Make it personal. Connect it with your life or with us as a church. God wants us more than He wants our plans. The context in which this thought was expressed was that God could accomplish great things through weak people who had yielded their lives to His control. This is so true and is exampled continuously in individual lives, in churches and in scripture.
For example when you read about the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 it becomes abundantly clear that God used people for great things that had some definite chinks in their armor. They were truly flawed people. They had some very definite weaknesses but yet here they are, listed in Hebrews 11 in what many call the Hall of Fame of Faith. What made the difference? What caused them to be given special recognition for their faith and service to God? At least one of the reasons is because they were learning what “yielded thinkers” meant. Instead of doing what they thought, they desired to partner with God. When they did what they thought or wanted it only lead to experiencing failure and defeat. However once they got over themselves and they yielded their will to His will, it was then that God was able to accomplish great things through them.
Most sincere Christians want to accomplish and do great things for God and as a result most churches collectively want to accomplish and do great things for God. This attitude of willingness must make God very happy and please Him. However He isn’t pleased when we dream of possibilities and make great plans without very seriously yielding to His guidance and will. He isn’t pleased when we come up with some idea or plan that appears to be very logical, well thought out and reasonable, and then go to Him expecting Him to “rubber stamp” our plans, even if they are intended for His glory. As a result many of these “man made” plans fail, often the planners are disillusioned, get discouraged and often quit. Even though our motives may be right and genuine the thought mentioned above remains true, God wants “us” more than He wants our “plans” or good intentions. God wants those who are willing to yield their lives, activities and plans to Him and His control.
Many years ago Isaiah heard the voice of God say, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Without hesitation and with a yielded spirit Isaiah responded, “Here am I. Send me!” Today that is what God is looking for. He is looking for those who are willing to yield to Him, who are willing and available; who are willing to say, “What do you want me to do?” And when we yield, in this way to His guidance and control we will be given opportunities to influence the lives of others.
Many times when we pray we go to God asking Him to bless what we are doing. We ask Him to be with us as we move forward with what we have planned. We approach Him appealing that He would bless this endeavor or that activity. Then at the end, almost as an after thought we add, “but your will be done.” This thought rings hollow to hearers and smacks of being insincere often because the bulk of prayer is spent on selling God on our plan with only a passing comment regarding surrender. Is this right? Is this best? Do we need to consider changing the way we pray? If we truly are going to be people that are striving to yield and live surrendered lives to God more completely shouldn’t we rather be praying that we would be seeing and doing those things that God is blessing? At the very least this type of attitude exemplifies the yielded spirit.
What is God blessing? Whenever you see lives being transformed in real and genuine ways you can be certain that God is blessing those endeavors. Our choice is if we will yield to what He blesses.