Why Not Enjoy His Best

Ruth was brought up on the mission field in Africa and her deep desire was to return to Africa, but the Lord didn't ask her to be a missionary.

One day during a special service at church, she had climbed into the choir loft during the singing and heard the young people singing a song that was a parody on going to the mission field. She listened to the words, "Lord, don't send me to Africa!"

Ruth said, "Lord, You see they don't even want to go and I do. I know the language and I want to be a missionary, but You don't call me."

The Lord so gently came to her and asked, "Yes, you are willing to go to Africa, but do you love Me enough to stay here?"Sometimes what we desire might appear to be a very good thing, but God seeks to know if we are willing for Him to choose for us.

Our Creator knows what He made us to enjoy. By releasing our desires, we may discover joys we never anticipated. I have a plaque in my living room that says, "God gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him."

Joy, outside of God's best, provides, at most, temporary pleasure. God's best yields eternal pleasures. When pleasing Christ is the motive of our lives, we discover that pleasing Christ is pleasing self.

Dear Jesus, I don't care what You choose for me today, only let me have the joy of knowing You are pleased with me.

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them" (John 17:13).