Serving the Lord Wholeheartedly

“I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly” (Joshua 14: 8)

Years ago, my husband Marvin and I attended conference hosted by Campus Crusade for Christ, International. That week I committed myself to wholeheartedly follow the Lord and become a member of the Great Commission Army – to be a revolutionary, a radical. In more than 30 years I haven’t deviated from that commitment. Today, I am still a radical, although sometimes a very tired one.

One day, I was having trouble with vertigo and I was very dizzy. We were on our way to our annual staff conference and there I was, lying on the back seat of the car. The whole world was spinning, tilting and turning. I sure didn’t feel like a revolutionary.

But being a revolutionary for God isn’t about feelings. Being a revolutionary means loving Jesus with all your heart, your mind and your strength. You can do that when you are lying down. Being a radical is all about following Jesus Christ wherever He directs. Sometimes, when you are sick for example, that can mean praying and following Him, “beside the still waters.”

Being a revolutionary means multiplying the talents He has entrusted to you rather than burying them. Being a revolutionary means giving your life for the sake of the gospel, sometimes being misunderstood, maligned or ignored. Being a radical for Jesus means walking by faith, being obedient to His call, choosing over and over to confess your sins and forgiving those who have sinned against you.

Being revolutionary means allowing the Holy Spirit to direct you every moment of the day, even when we wouldn’t have chosen His plans. We can help change the world by being revolutionaries and radicals for Christ. He can and will use us, even when we don’t feel very revolutionary.

Father, I want You to be able to say of me, “You have followed the LORD wholeheartedly.” Father, I pray that for every person who reads this devotional. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit to direct your life? Why not pray this simple prayer right now and by faith invite God to fill you with His Spirit:

Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, bow in prayer and trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.

FURTHER READING

•   Bloom… Where You are Planted

•  Serving Faithfully and Fully – by Julie Lairsey

•   Doing Good –  by Alec Niemi

The post Serving the Lord Wholeheartedly can be found online at Daily Thoughts about God.