Quietness in God our TRUE RESOURCE by Fenelon

"When it comes to accomplishing things for God, you will find that aspirations, enthusiastic feelings, careful planning and being able to express yourself well are not worth very much. The important thing is absolute surrender to God. You can do anything He wants you to do if you are walking in the light of full surrender. Living in this blessed way involves a continual death which is known to very few, but it is in this position that you can be really effective for God. A single word spoken to another person from this restful, abandoned position will do more to change circumstances than all our most eager and carefully planned schemes. You see, when you speak from this position of abandonment to God, it is the Spirit of God who is then speaking, and the word you speak out of context loses none of its force and authority. Only one word perhaps-but it enlightens, persuades, blesses, and moves to action. We have accomplished everything and have scarcely said anything. "

A truth worth living out for all followers of Christ and especially those like myself serving in full time ministry. Fenelon's book entitled "Let Go" has influenced my perspective towards ministry every since I read it for the first time years ago. In America we define "ministry success" in terms of numbers, results, what we do, our short term personal mission experiences and "accomplishments" and what we build. Moreover, we often minister out of our own woundedness of heart and our need to be approved by these terms and what others say. But God demands we be absolutely surrendered to Him and His approval only. This only comes from our love for our Heavenly Father which is manifested in the following virtues of Christ- true humility, obedience, faithfulness, forgiveness, integrity, compassion, selflessness and sacrifice. Success from God's viewpoint is found in living out the righteousness of these virtues towards our Heavenly Fathers purposes, plans and His People. Being quiet before God is our true resource that will lead us to speak and live more in accordance to the ways and will of God.