The Place of Surrender

Recently a ministry opportunity presented itself to our church that we could become involved with.  It seemed like an answer to a prayer that I had made a year and half before. However there was a problem. The church budget could not handle this possible ministry opportunity.

So I decided to pray about it. I told the Lord about the ministry opportunity and asked if He would provide the necessary finances. I told Him that I wanted to be sure that this was what He wanted for the church at this time. After committing this matter to Him in prayer, I realized that I was going through three different stages concerning my prayer request.

1.            Manipulation stage

 After committing the matter to prayer, I began to have intense feelings about doing something to make this opportunity happen. I knew that in my own strength and with persuasive words, I could “encourage” others to finance the opportunity. In fact, I received a phone call from a Christian businessman I know, who could have provided the full amount for the opportunity. While we were speaking, I wrestled with whether or not to say anything about the opportunity.  I decided to wait on the Lord and let Him provide.

2.            Unbelief stage

The next day, I began to wrestle with doubts about if God could provide the money for the opportunity. I was really questioning God’s ability. I was having thoughts such as “God works through our abilities. But now you have handicapped God.”  The questions and the doubts were very real.

3.            Surrender stage

Finally after wrestling with doubts about God for a day, I remembered the account of the Hebrew captives in Daniel 3 who refused to bow to the golden image of the king. I was struck by their response to the king when they said “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” ( Daniel 3:17 - 18 ) Their attitude, “God is able, but if not,”   grabbed me. I had a sense that God is able to provide the money, but if not, He is still God. So I came to a place of surrender. I gave Him the ministry opportunity and rested in whatever He decided.

The next Sunday a couple came into my office to speak with me. They told me that a family member had given them a sum of money for the church. With it they wanted to give some to the missions trip fund. They also wanted to purchase the church a video projection system. Then they asked me if there was anything else that they could give money toward. At that point I felt that the Holy Spirit gave me freedom to speak about the ministry opportunity.  They were excited and agreed to provide the funds for the endeavor.

When they left, I silently sat stunned at how great God was. An interesting side note is the fact that they received the money two weeks before they spoke with me.  The Lord had to do a work in my life before I was ready to see the request answered. In fact He had already provided the answer before I knew about the ministry opportunity. To top it off, the church received a projection system that I have been praying for over the last few years.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21