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| Mother at 21 |
If you could ask “one thing” of the Lord, and have it granted, what would it be? Why don't you ask? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 776).
First
off, I would try to cheat a bit and ask several favors in place of
one. I would ask that he plainly show me his will and that he give me
the grace to affirm and do it. I would ask this because it is not
always clear to me if I am accurately sensing my Father's will
instead of conveniently rationalizing that my will is his. The second
part of my request acknowledges that I can have difficulty affirming
and doing his will even when I am certain of it. Often, I could use
less “grace” and more courage and the spunk to work hard. I need
the gifts of discernment, stability, and strength. Why then don't I
ask for this? Because certain knowledge of God's will would leave no
wiggle room for excuses. Also, in a way, I think such certitude could
be dangerous. It could be corruptive and lead to insufferable
arrogance – or at least the widespread perception of it.
When
my mother was a young woman she found the Lord one evening at a
revival. The hymn that touched her heart that night during altar
call was “Fill Me Now.” This hymn does not ask for certitude of
knowledge, but the presence of the spirit. The difference
represented is not subtle, and it was a difference that marked the
tenor and tone of mother's entire life.
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