Scarcely have I read a passage that resonated so deeply both with the objections of my own heart and my desire to hear truth, as this one from Stepping Heavenward:
‘Having been pardoned by your God and Saviour, the next thing you have to do is show your gratitude for this infinite favour by consecrating yourself entirely to Him, body, soul and spirit. This is the least you can do. He has bought you with a price, and you are no longer your own.
“But,” you may reply, “This is contrary to my nature. I love my own way. I desire ease and pleasure; I desire to go to heaven, but I want to be carried thither on a bed of flowers. Can I not give myself so far to God as to feel a sweet sense of peace with Him, and be sure of final salvation, and yet, to a certain extent, indulge and gratify myself? If I give myself entirely away to Him and lose all ownership of myself, He may deny me many things I greatly desire. He may make my life hard and wearisome, depriving me of all that now makes it agreeable.”
But, I reply, this is no matter of parley and discussion; it is not optional with God’s children whether they will pay Him with a part of the price they owe Him and keep back the rest. He asks, and He has a right to ask, for all you have and all you are.’
Stepping Heavenward. Elizabeth Prentiss. P86-86
So many insightful tomes here at your blog, Sarah. It’s nice how you are OK with pasting something someone else has said ever so well.
And having reread Stepping Heavenward since you mentioned it in your last blog, I also was struck again by the truth and awful beauty of this excerpt and the many similar thoughts captured so honestly by E. Prentiss…
Isn’t she fabulous!!?? I’ll have to post another one of my faves from her soon. So down to earth and inspiring!
Thank you Keith!
I’m guessing that the stress of ‘I’m like this’ but ‘I’m [apparently] meant to be like that’ must take it’s psychological toll?
haha strangely not at all. And it’s funny, because you’d think it would right, and yet it does just the opposite. I guess truth is like that. You get peace with surpasses understanding; it’s clearly supernatural.