Small Encouragements

I read this on December 5, 2003, about a month before I moved to New Brunswick, NJ. At the time I wasn't sure if I would be living in NJ or NYC. Lots of fears, lots of unknowns, lots of excitement. I had no idea at the time that 5 years later I would still be encouraged by this.

I said: "Let me walk in the field"

God said: "Nay, walk in the town"

I said: "There are no flowers there"

He said: "No flowers, but a crown"

I said, " But the sky there is black

There is nothing but noise and din"

But he wept as He sent me back

"There is much more" he said, "There is sin."

I said, "But the air is thick,

And fogs are veiling the sun"

He answered: "Yet souls are sick,

And souls in the dark undone."

I said "I shall miss the light,

And friends will miss me they say"

He answered me, "Choose tonight,

If I am to miss you or they."

I pleaded for time to be given,

He said "is it hard to decide?

It will not seem hard in Heaven,

To have followed the steps of your Guide"

I cast one look at the field,

Then I set my face to the town.

He said, "My child do you yield?

Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"

Then into his hands went mine,

And into my heart came he.

And I walk in the light Divine,

The path I feared to see.

-George MacDonald

And this prayer from one of Elisabeth Elliott's books... I read this sometime in 2003 as well, I'm still asking God to help me and make this true in my life every day.

"Lord I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept your will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to you to be yours forever. Fill me and seal me with your Holy Spirit. Use me as you will, send me where you want me to go, work out your whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever."