I have been enjoying Richard Stearns book, “The Hole in Our Gospel”.  In chapter two he shares his personal testimony and the challenge to resign his position in the corporate world as CEO of Lenox and take a position in the non-profit world as President of World Vision.  His story and openness of the struggle is worth the cost of the book.

A phone call is made by a recruiter for World Vision and is very direct in challenging Richard to become the next president.  He didn’t want the job and gave all kinds of excuses. The tipping point was when the recruiter asked “are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?”  Great question!!

Almost 40 years ago we were pressed with the same question. I responded before Karen and had a couple of frustrating years waiting for my dear wife to catch the vision. One Sunday after church I had taken my children to the park while Karen cleaned up after dinner. I came back home to a sobbing wife. She related the story of how God got her attention while washing dishes and directed her to a devotional, “The Daily Bread”.  The title of the devotional for that Sunday was “Channels Only”.

It reads:

The year was 1872. The setting was a small congregation gathered in a barn for a Gospel service. A quiet-spoken preacher by the name of Henry Varley was conducting a message on 1 John 2:17. Lifting his eyes to the nearby haymow where an interested youth was seated, he said with emphasis, "The world has yet to see what God can do with, for, in and through one man (or woman) who is fully consecrated to Him”. One of the listeners was a young man by the name of Dwight L. Moody. He was stirred by what Varley preached and Moody said to himself, “He didn’t say he had to be educated or brilliant or anything else.. just a person who is willing to be used! I will try and be such a man.

Karen read the words "just a person who is willing to be used" and her will was broken and declared to the Lord that she was willing. Forty years later we both look back and although the road was not always smooth we marvel at the blessing of obedience.

Question to you:  Are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?