FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey ya’ll -

It’s ridiculously warm here – it was nearly 80 yesterday … granted, we’re in the south on an island … but still .. it’s January!

This morning I was having my devotion time out overlooking Village Creek Landing (one of my favorite spots) and something really spoke to me, so I thought I’d share it.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Phil 2: 12-13

Ya know, I’ve prayed this a lot – the kind of prayer that says “God, please speak to me and let my desires be YOUR desires. Inspire me to do the things that You created me to do”. That’s a good prayer to say every day. Obviously, we learn that it’s God’s plan to do this, if we’ll just yield.

Lately, I’ve been restless and on many nights, sleepless. It seems as if I’ve been zapped of energy. I’ve written most of it off as my having too much going on, end of the year, trying to get back into the “routine” after the holidays, etc. I’m sure some of that is accurate. But what if there is more … what if I’m trying to do things that are NOT for “God’s good pleasure”?

You see – I looked up that word “works” in verse 13 (for it is God who works) … I got a cross-reference to 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (interesting – different book, but same chapter and verse). Here it is:

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as of the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

The Greek word here is “energeo”. Three guesses what common word we use that comes from this word … “energy”. According to the concordance, the word means: “one of the four big energy words: energeo, energes, energia, and energema … the words … all have to do with the active operation or working of power and its effectual results”.

So – what I learned is that God not only gives the vision or direction. He not only gives the “will” to do … but the inner ENERGY and DRIVE to make it happen.

We’ve all experienced this … there are some things that you can do no matter what – there is that inner energy, that inner force working in you that says “You want to do this, you are meant to do this, you can do it, no matter what”. Wow – that’s just not determination, it’s the energy/power of the Spirit of the Living God at work right there in our ole’ mortal bodies.

So what about the other – the total lack of energy and desire. How long will we strive in dead works? Is there something I’m doing over and over – no matter how good or profitable, but that I force myself to do it in my own strength – to the point of exhaustion? I’m taking the first half of next week off … time to go pray, fast, and seek the Lord for His will in my life, and that of my family. I can assure you – “dead works” … where are they, and how do I get rid of them efficiently .. that is going to be at the top of my prayer list.

If we truly surrender to Chris, He will direct or paths. He will plant within us, a desire to do what He’s called and purposed for us to do. Notice, he works the “will” and the “way”, but only for those things that align with “his good pleasures”.

Whoo, boy … I’ve got some praying to do.

For the Kingdom,
Fred