As a child I played a game called ‘Mother, may I?’ with my friends. One person portrays the ‘mother’ and stands at the victory line, the rest of the children line up in a row facing ‘mother.’ Then ‘mother’ called each child by name and told them to take some steps and how big and what type of steps. For example, ‘mother’ might say, “Kimberly, I want you to take three giant steps.” Then Kimberly would have to say “Mother, may I?” If Kimberly took the steps and didn’t say, “Mother, may I?” she would be sent back to the starting line. Think how different the rules would be if it were our Heavenly Father who was standing at the victory line. God might say, “Kimberly, take two baby steps.” Kimberly would not be sent back to the starting line if she took those steps, because God, our Father is more benevolent. God would then give her something else to do and as long as she continues to obey Him, the closer and closer she will get to the victory line or God. If she is not obedient to God, she won’t get more instructions from God until she continues in obedience.
Our Father wants us at the victory line with Him. He has given us the tools to get there through the sacrifice and redemption of his own son and through the Word. He wants to give us instructions. We must be willing to listen, by reading the Word, and by doing what He tells us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” In Proverbs 8:33-35 “Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.” Instruction and wisdom go hand in hand. We get wisdom and instruction through asking God and by reading the Bible. God will make his words come alive for you if you ask.
Once in a church I was attending, God told me to get on my knees during praise and worship. I was hesitant at first, then I felt the Holy Spirit urge me again by saying “If you won’t obey me in the small things, I can’t give you bigger things.” I knew I must be obedient to God, I knelt that Sunday night. A couple of weeks later, on a Sunday morning, sitting towards the front of church, I received the same message to worship on my knees. I was more hesitant, reasoning in my mind that I was sitting at the front and didn’t want to make a spectacle, the lights were brighter, not dim as that one evening before. At the urging of the Holy Spirit I finally said in my mind, “Okay Father, I know.” I knelt again and I felt an indescribable peace. God blesses us when we are obedient.
When we are obedient, God can use us. No wonder the Bible refers to us being molded like clay. An obedient heart is pliable like a potter’s clay but a disobedient heart is hard like a brick. The brick can be broken or crushed and used again, where it is refashioned into another purpose but how much better to be fashioned into God’s purpose from the beginning! We do not need to see with our physical eyes the works of God. If he tells us to do something and we’re obedient he will get the glory. If we obey his instructions, great things take place. God is not a God of failure. He tells us in Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” He won’t tell us to do something without backing us up. He is just looking for an obedient person to carry out his work.
In ‘Mother, may I’ the children are ready to get to the victory line. Sometimes they take even bigger steps than instructed. God wants to see us get to our victory line, the line where we hear his exact instructions and do them willingly. We just have to open our hearts. If we haven’t heard from God lately and want to, all we have to do is ask and be obedient. Psalm 32:8 “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” We need to want to take giant steps but be willing to take baby steps if that is what our Father instructs. If we are in tune with what our Father wants, then we have his vision. How wonderful to see through God’s eyes and walk in his will, helping others to know that he is God, our Father who loves us so much! “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!” 2 Corinthians 5:16 Oh, to see through the eyes of God!
Prayer for each day: ‘Father, May I – have help to see through your eyes and know your will for my life. I willingly accept what you have for my life and walk in your instruction. Please guide me in every hour of each day. Amen.’
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Katie Storme 