One Thing Needful

I am a clay jar, mortal flesh in true form: weak, unlovely, made from the dust of the ground. Yet, Lord, You have chosen to place the treasure of Your presence–the light of Your presence in my heart. While I despise my flesh–my fleshly instincts and reactions–it is the vehicle for showing Your power. It is the showcase for Your power. It is the way Your power is shown. As I yield to You and surrender my will, I become conformed to the image of Christ. Only Your power can accomplish that in my life. Only Your Holy Spirit can provide the power for that work.

As the Spirit fills me and conforms me to Your image, I will be the fragrant aroma of You. I will be the light–Your light in a dark world. If I want to see my church fellowship to be healthly, fulfilling its commission, I must be Your light. Spiritual warfare takes place in the battle over my flesh. If I want the darkness to be driven out I must be the light. If I want an outpouring of the Holy Spirit I must be filled with the Spirit. I am Your light when I’m filled with Your Spirit. To be filled with Your Spirit I must be broken & surrendered–emptied of all selfish desire. Everything selfish must be surrendered to You. Everything!

II Timothy 1:12 – But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Paul was not ashamed to suffer because he knew Who his trust was in. Also, he was not ashamed to suffer becuase he was persuaded that the One he was trusting was able to guard the treasure (the gospel and his appointment to proclaim it) with which he had been entrusted.

Paul knew the ministry God had called him to and even though imprisonment and suffering seemed to thwart that purpose, he had confidence that God was able to guard for Paul what He was called to do. He even said on occasions that his imprisonment had actually advanced the gospel. In essence, Paul was saying, I know the One who called me, I know what He’s called me to do and I am confident that He will provide every opportunity and protect me from any hindrance or anything that would destroy my ability to fulfil that call. He was exhorting Timothy in his ministry, encouraging him to have the same understanding.

I Samuel 1:10 – Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.

v.15 – …I am a woman with a broken heart…I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord…I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.

Hannah could only pour out her heart because it was broken. The only reason she could get to the depths of her heart–where the hurt was–to pour it out before God was because it was broken. God, You will not despise a heart that is broken before You. In fact, that is the sacrifice that pleases You. A broken heart is a humble heart. Search me, God and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You. Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Psalm 19:12-13 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

I will be cleansed from blatant rebellion, I will be innocent when willful sins do not rule over me. Are there willful sins in my life? Do I let willful sins rule over me? I must entrust myself to You if I will not let willful sins rule over me. David’s request was “keep Your servant from willful sins.” There is submission in that request and humility–necessary qualities in a heart cleansed of willfulness.

Hannah’s anguish and resentment were born out of her deep hurt. These were unintentional sins that were revealed when her heart was broken–only then could she pour it out before God.

In Psalm 19 David moves from the unintentional to the willful because even sins that begin unintentionally can become willful. If Hannah had failed to be broken before God, her anguish and resentment would have become willful disobedience. What began as unintentional sin–the product of deep hurt–would have become willful sin. The cure for all sin is humility and submission before God. That’s why Hannah’s song of praise for answered prayer was completely founded in her understanding of God’s Sovereignty. Humility and submission is the only place to understand His character.

I Samuel 1:17 – Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you’ve requested from Him.” Eli didn’t know what Hannah’s petition was, but he blessed her because of her brokenness before God.