Gail's Preparation to Serve

Gail MacDonald, in her book High Calling, High Privilege, tells of preparing to visit a hospitalized friend who would be undergoing cancer surgery. Gail sat at her kitchen table and reminded the Lord of Jacob's words: "I will not let you go, unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26). She knew she could not be a blessing unless God blessed her.

Two hours later she was ready to go. The thought came to her to take a hymnal and choose songs of worship and comfort. She herself was spiritually prepared as she worshiped through those hymns.

The time she and her friend shared in the hospital deeply affected both of them. "No amount of human caring or charisma alone could have made those moments so special," she said. "It was the time that I'd spent earlier in the presence of Christ that made the difference. She knew it and I knew it." Ringing in Gail's ears as she drove home from the hospital were Christ's words, "Without me you can do nothing," and, "With me all things are possible."

"Until the Spirit descended upon Him at His baptism, Jesus created no stir in Nazareth, but then events of world shaking importance began to happen," noted J. Oswald Sanders.

Dear Jesus, help me to never sacrifice my time with You so I can be a channel of Your words and Your Spirit rather than going in my own strength.

"My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek...Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:8, 14).