Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20) |
My GOD, i shall not waste time deploring my weakness nor my unfitness for the work. The responsibility is not mine, but Yours. You have said, "I knew you -- I ordained you -- I sanctified you," and You have also said, "You shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatsoever I command you, you shall speak." Who am i to argue with You or to call into question Your sovereign choice? The decision is not mine but Yours. So be it, LORD. Your will, not mine, be done.
Well do i know, You are GOD of the prophets and the apostles, that as long as i honor You, You will honor me. Help me therefore to take this solemn vow to honor You in all my future life and labors, whether by gain or by loss, by life or by death, and then to keep that vow unbroken while i live.
i beseech You, give me sharp eyes to detect the presence of the Enemy; give me understanding to see and courage to report what i see faithfully. Make my voice so like Your own that even the sick sheep will recognize it and follow You.
May we all serve like the Master Servant -- with all meekness and the supernatural power of the Holy SPIRIT. |
i accept hard work and small rewards in this life. i ask for no easy place. i shall try to be blind to the little ways that could make life easier. If others seek the smoother path, i shall try to take the hard way without judging them too harshly. i shall expect opposition and try to take it quietly when it comes.
Or if, i should have grateful gifts pressed upon me by Your kindly people, stand by me then and save me from the blight that often follows. Teach me to use whatever i receive in such manner that will not injure my soul nor diminish my spiritual power. And if in Your permissive providence honor should come to me by Your church, let me not forget in that hour that i am unworthy of the least of Your mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as i know myself, they would withhold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.
And now, O LORD of heaven and earth, i consecrate my remaining days to You; let them be many or few, as You will. Let me stand before the great or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine, and i would not influence it if i could. i am Your servant to do Your will, and that will is sweeter to me than position, or riches, or fame and i choose it above all things on earth or in heaven.
Though i am chosen of You and honored by a high and holy calling, let me never forget that i am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the race of men. i pray You, therefore, my LORD and Redeemer, save me from myself and from all the injuries i may do myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with Your power by the Holy SPIRIT, and i will go in Your strength and tell of Your righteousness, even Yours only. i will spread abroad the message of redeeming love while my normal powers endure.
Then, dear LORD, when i am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above and make me to be numbered with Your saints in Glory everlasting. Amen. AMEN.
(Aiden Wilson Tozer, 1897-1963, "The Prayer of a Minor Prophet"
fully devoted follower -- share, testify Good News (in) agape love |
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Today, to prophesy is not to foretell future events or opine "new" revelation -- for all have already been revealed through and by and in CHRIST JESUS; and GOD's infallible written Word, the SPIRIT-inspired Holy Scriptures. A prophet today is one who preaches Biblical truths -- to make known to men the laws of GOD, to call the people back to obedience to GOD's laws; to exhort the people to sincerity in worship; to warn them of Divine judgment upon sin, both personal and national (Bible.org); to proclaim to all the world JESUS' imminent Second Advent.
One who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. (1 Corinthians 14:3)
May the prayer of A.W. Tozer, a "minor prophet," be our own resolute resolution -- our very own solemn vow. May we all present our ALL (body, heart, mind and soul; and money, time and talents) to be our intelligent and reasonable service, our spiritual act of worship. May we all be as living sacrifices, holy and separated unto GOD, acceptable in His sight. (Romans 12:1, paraphrased)
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