Dear CCPC Family,

"He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Him,
things in heaven and things on earth."
-Ephesians 1:9-10

When I was little and refused to wear a hat, my mother called me "stubborn."

When I asked questions in school that were too pointed, my teacher called me "opinionated."

When I wouldn't take "no" for an answer, my co-worker called me "strong willed."

When I wouldn't budge on the color of a new refrigerator, my husband called me "hardheaded."

Seems to be a common thread, huh? Before writing this devotion, I looked up these adjectives in the dictionary and found that their definitions are very similar -- in fact, so similar it was like using a Thesaurus!

On one hand, people say that it's a good thing to know your own mind... that it's good to be unyielding in the face of individual creativity... that making decisions and sticking to them is a desired trait. I understand that way of thinking. On the other hand, the above used adjectives aren't very flattering and they don't sound like compliments!

And it's because of these hurtful words that I make it point to try to be more accommodating, more compliant, more cooperative. I have never wanted to be thought of as uncompromising or close-minded. Although hard as I try, those who know me best know I can be very obstinate.

I have the same trouble with my faith. I know that Jesus is Lord. That God's plan was purposed in Christ and is centered on Christ coming at the right time. That it was God's plan to bring unity in Christ by making Him Lord of all! What's more, I know that this plan that brings our salvation also brings God great pleasure.

So I ask myself: in what area of my life, my heart, my secret, my sin, my rebellion, have I not submitted to His lordship?

Gracious God, I know my heart can be deceitful. At times I can even fool myself. But when I kneel in Your presence and am convicted by Your Word, I find myself reminded of the areas I have not yet fully submitted to Your control and Christ's lordship. Please, dear Father, use the Holy Spirit to gently show me and convict me of my self-deception so that I may be wholly lost in Your will.
Through Jesus Christ, Lord of lords, I pray.
Amen.

Jan Cook
Communications