have already decided long before that we
are willing to go wherever our Father leads.
Then we will not tarry too long at the bend,
indulging in the fears and “what ifs” of what
our obedience may cost. This is true in the
small daily decisions, as well as the looming
life changing ones.
I recently spoke to a dear friend of
mine who had signed up as a volunteer at a
women’s retreat. She had already told God
in advance that she was willing to do what-
ever he asked of her, even if it was to clean
bathrooms. To her surprise, she received a
phone call from one of the retreat coordina-
tors, asking her to speak at the retreat! This
was not what she had expected, or what she
would have chosen for herself. However,
she graciously accepted, while admitting on
the phone, “The only reason I can say ‘Yes’
is because I already told God before you
called that I would do whatever he asked of
me.” Her humble submission to God before
8 HimPower January/February 2019
she was asked to speak, enabled her to travel
quickly down the path of obedience; instead
of anxiously wringing her hands at the
crossroads.
Similarly, we see this type of willing-
ness in Mary, when she was visited by the
angel Gabriel and was told that she was
going to bear a son. How incredible, how
confusing, how unimaginable! To be with
child by the Holy Spirit? Before committing
to such a life changing act of obedience,
shouldn’t she be able to at least get some
answers? Who would explain this to Joseph?
What would this entail for her future?
Obedience can be frightening because God
often calls us to action before revealing
how it will all turn out (in terms of earthly
circumstances). But Mary’s response is an
expression of utter surrender, “Behold, the
bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me
according to your word.” (see Luke 1:38).
She submitted herself completely to her