Are you committed? Do you want to be?

These are questions asked (my paraphrase) by Johnny Long in Springville tonight before he read the following prayer by John Wesley:

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside by you,
enabled for you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield
all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

I am going to pray over each part of this prayer.
I really desire to think about this commitment and ask God to
show me what is in my heart.

"I am no longer my own, but yours."

Scripture:
Galatians 2:19-21 (The Message)

19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Galatians 2:19-21 (New Century Version)
19 It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.20 I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.21 By saying these things I am not going against God's grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ's death would be useless.

Galatians 2:19-21 (New Century Version)
19 It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.20 I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.21 By saying these things I am not going against God's grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ's death would be useless.

Galatians 5:24 (Contemporary English Version)
24And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires.

The very first sin was rooted in pride and that is how I sin against God even to this day. I put myself first, trying to glorify myself. In doing so I have sinned in my anger that things or people did not follow my plans or measure up to what I wish would be. Am I willing to look God for everything and let God work out his plans in others lives without my powerless interfering and criticism? Am I ready to be an encourager, one who lifts up others because I believe God is working good in them for His glory? Will I quit worrying about what others think of me and what I think I am capable of doing and follow Christ in doing God's will even when it is hard?

A Prepared Dwelling for My God

I am to be a temple of God. His Spirit is to dwell in me! Have I got that dwelling ready? Am I able?
The answer is no. Even for His Spirit to dwell in me I must ask for His help.

In The Valley of Vision on page six is a prayer listing what must be done:

My thoughts of my own self-worth must be destroyed. I am nothing on my own. I have proven my character over and over again. I am a sinner.

My pride which makes me to think more highly of myself than any creature on earth or in heaven, including God Almighty, must be crushed to pieces and scattered to the winds. Whenever I put what I desire over and above God's plans for me or put my own interests above the interests of others I have decided I was more worthy.

Self-righteousness which pursues me and which I pursue time and again must be annihilated. Even as I desire to please God, the roots of self-righteousness become entangled in the good I wish to do. The next thing I know I am taking credit for doing good or defending my inability to do so instead of pursuing the God of the Universe, My Savior.

Tears of grief must fill my eyes as I see the sin, rebellion, and arrogance that have been manifested in my life instead of the glory of God.

I must be broken, willing and submissive to follow and fight for the life God has given me in Christ. Repentantly, expectantly looking to Christ for forgiveness and grace.

Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy, nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.