Tuesday Testimony

We’re reading through the book, Ordering Your Private World, by Gordan MacDonald.  This week is chapter three, Caught in a Golden Cage.

The last time I read this book, was my freshman year of college.  It irrevocably changed my inner life and relationship with the Lord.  Since reading it, I have experienced so many things that have hurt and shocked me.  Reading this now, again, I feel like I’m seeing some of the words with new eyes.

Being driven versus called, has a profound effect upon how God is able to use a person.  I remember reading about the driven person, and looked at myself  in a whole new way.  I could see why I worked so hard to make good grades, and make sure everyone thought I was this blessed young woman of God.  I wanted people to think well of me and acknowledge all of my hard work.  Reading about the driven person in this chapter, my mind was in a whirlwind and I changed for the better.

Reading it now, I still see many of the characteristics still in my life.  In a sense, I think we all have  driven characteristics.  It’s part of the human nature.  According to this chapter, the driven person is the following:

1. Most gratified only by accomplishment.
2. Preoccupied with the symbols of accomplishment.
3. Usually caught in the uncontrolled pursuit of expansion.
4. Has a limited regard for integrity.
5. Possess limited or undeveloped people skills.
6.  Tends to be highly competitive.
7. Possesses a volcanic force of anger, which can erupt at any time.
8. Usually abnormally busy.

The biggest issue with being a driven person, is not being able to let God take control.  It’s only through complete surrender to God, that He is able to work through us and be glorified.  There is example after example in the Bible of men trying to take control of situations themselves, and disaster befalling them.  King Saul himself, doomed himself to an un-blessed reign, because he could not hand over control to God. God decided to find someone “after His own heart (David),” because Saul was too driven to be used as God’s tool.  Moses, one of the most famous called men of God from the Old Testament, impatiently took control of a situation, and as a result would never be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

When you read this chapter, or read through the aspects of a driven person here, did you see yourself in some of the descriptions?  Are you driven so much to be in control of your own life, that you are only hurting yourself and those around you?  I want to encourage you and tell you that it is time to start handing it all over to God.

Task for this week: Read Chapters 4-5 of Ordering Your Private World, and spend at least five minutes a day in meditative prayer.  Focus on surrendering to God in this prayer time.  Tell God that you want to give up all these areas that you are trying to control, and surrender them to Him.  It will be easy to take back control just as soon as you give it up, so continue to surrender it every day this week.

I look forward to hearing your responses and reactions to reading the book so far!  And as always, please feel free to leave any prayer requests in the comment section, and know that I will pray over you this week.