I have run too much

Do you remember the story of Jonah? He tried desperately to run from God's plan for his life. I wonder how many of us have tried that same action. If you are anything like me, you have probably done it once or twice. We don't always want to be 'disobedient', but when we delay in any form of 'obedience', we are actually running from God's expectations. So, if you are 'runner' too, let me assure you of this - you cannot escape God any more than I can!

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 138:7)

Jonah tried to run from God's plan for his life. He rejected God's plan more than once. He complained a whole lot when God asked him to do certain things that were 'contrary' to the way he thought things should be. He did what most of us have done - he put his own desires above those of God. Oh, don't be so pious - you have done it, too! To compound it, we pout because we aren't getting our own way! Aye! How patient God must be with all of us.

We cannot obey 'partially' - obedience requires our whole dedication. It is indeed good news to me that God can use someone who is willing to be 'partially' obedient and bring that individual to a place of total obedience. If that weren't the case, he'd never have used me at all! The flaws of my character didn't keep him from using me - how about you? Your flaws are probably there, but he uses you anyway. Why? He is merciful, gracious, and unwilling to allow us to continue in our 'partial' obedience. He will bring into the place where he can begin to transform our heart and move us toward total obedience.

If you ever wondered, God uses our weakness maybe even a little more than he uses our strength. Why? It is in our weakness that he comes through strong - the testimony that is manifest in our weakness, with his strength backing us all the way, is what touches lives around us. We might want to use our weakness as an excuse for why we cannot serve him entirely as he desires, but he sees those same weaknesses as his means to show himself strong! Just sayin!