You are not your own; You were bought at a price…”
– 1 Cor. 6:19-20
Hello again friends.
I've been back to the States to see some of you since writing my last letter. It was truly a wonderful time and went by so fast! I visited family, worshipped with members of First Congregational in Ossippee, NH, and participated as maid of honor in the wedding of Tom and Jenny Milligan. This month of July has had me all over the place. In a few days I'm off to a small mountain village in Romania to help lead a week of camp for thirty youngsters, some from poor families, others from group homes, and some with mental and physical handicaps. Fun times! Camp for these younger children is July 21-28 and I'll tell you all about it in my next letter.
During my brief visit to the States early in July, I had the opportunity to share and sing at my parents' church. This month I want to share that same song and message with you.
The following song has meant a lot to me since I became involved in ministry here in Romania. It's actually a prayer by John Wesley (18th century), put to music my Simon Miner, a friend from my home church. It's about surrender, about offering our lives to God, laying down our plans and great ideas and letting Him lead us. It's about putting our whole selves at His disposal – our time, our gifts, our resources, our hopes and dreams — and then watching Him use us in ways we never dreamed possible.
I know from my experiences so far that surrendering my all to Jesus and putting my life at His disposal was the best decision I ever made. It has certainly not been easy, and I have had to consciously and verbally renew my commitment to surrendering my life to Him, especially when times get tough. But I take hope in knowing that the struggles we go through are not the end of this story we are living. Jesus told his disciples that in this world we would have troubles, but to take heart because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
So I share this song with you as an encouragement and as a challenge to ask yourself, “Where does my commitment stand with Jesus right now? Do I need to surrender my life, my will and my plans to Him? Is He asking me to go deeper? To trust Him with my whole heart?”
Make this prayer your prayer today and watch to see how God will reward your commitment to Him by doing things beyond your imagining.
With love always,
Rachel
Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but Thine,
Put me to what Thou wilt,
Rank me with whom Thou wilt,
Put me to doing, put me to suffering;
Let me be employed for Thee
Or laid aside for Thee,
Exalted for Thee
Or brought low for Thee;
Let me be full, let me be empty;
Let me have all things,
Let me have nothing;
I freely and heartily yield all things
To Thy pleasure and disposal
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am Thine.
So be it.
And the covenant
Which I have made on earth
Let it be ratified in heaven.
– John Wesley