Whatever It Takes
There’s a voice calling me, to an old rugged tree
And it whispers draw closer to me.
Leave this world far behind, there are new heights to climb
And a new place in me you will find.
Whatever it takes to draw closer to You Lord
That’s what I’ll be willing to do.
And whatever it takes to be more like You
That’s what I’ll be willing to do.
These are the opening lyrics to a song written many years ago by Lanny Wolfe. The first time I heard it my spirit was so moved that it became the theme song for my life. I am convinced one of the most difficult prayers to pray is a prayer of complete submission unto the Lord but I am also convinced it is the prayer that most moves our Father and this song is a song of submission. Check the next verse out:
Take the dearest thing to me, Lord if that’s how it must be
To draw me so much closer to Thee
Let the disappointments come, lonely days without the sun
If through sorrow more like You I’ll become.
You don’t hear many prayers like this today. Most of us are taught we are the Kings kid and deserve nothing but the best and that is true, but I believe God is more interested in our heart and character than how much we possess and how good we look, after all He said in His Word, “man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart” – 1Samuel 16:7 and He also said “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” – Matthew 6:33. Is your hand clenched so tightly around something or someone that it’s preventing a closer relationship with your heavenly Father? I encourage you to let it go. You will never know the true joy of relationship with Him until you do.
Take my houses and land, change all of my dreams and my plans
Lord I’m placing my whole life in your hands.
And if you call me someday, to a land that’s far away
I’ll go and your will obey.
Radical thinking huh? Give up my plans for my life? Can’t possibly do that. Yet that is what He is looking for. Consider for a moment Paul who at one time was a pillar of his community, a man of stature, very religious, so religious he persecuted those radical Christians and truly believed he was right until he had a personal encounter with the Savior. Then His life and attitude completely changed and where did it land him ? In prison. But that didn’t matter to him. All that mattered was obeying Christ, living for Him and glorifying Him. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ in me and the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me.” – Galatians 2:20 and “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. – Romans 5:2-4
I’ll trade sunshine for rain, comfort for pain
That’s what I’ll be willing to do
For whatever it takes for my will to break
That’s what I’ll be willing to do.
Are we willing to trade sunshine for rain, or comfort for pain? Whoever will be His disciple must be willing to take up is cross and follow Him. I don’t know about you but as for me, whatever it takes for my will to break I will be willing to do.
And it whispers draw closer to me.
Leave this world far behind, there are new heights to climb
And a new place in me you will find.
Whatever it takes to draw closer to You Lord
That’s what I’ll be willing to do.
And whatever it takes to be more like You
That’s what I’ll be willing to do.
These are the opening lyrics to a song written many years ago by Lanny Wolfe. The first time I heard it my spirit was so moved that it became the theme song for my life. I am convinced one of the most difficult prayers to pray is a prayer of complete submission unto the Lord but I am also convinced it is the prayer that most moves our Father and this song is a song of submission. Check the next verse out:
Take the dearest thing to me, Lord if that’s how it must be
To draw me so much closer to Thee
Let the disappointments come, lonely days without the sun
If through sorrow more like You I’ll become.
You don’t hear many prayers like this today. Most of us are taught we are the Kings kid and deserve nothing but the best and that is true, but I believe God is more interested in our heart and character than how much we possess and how good we look, after all He said in His Word, “man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart” – 1Samuel 16:7 and He also said “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” – Matthew 6:33. Is your hand clenched so tightly around something or someone that it’s preventing a closer relationship with your heavenly Father? I encourage you to let it go. You will never know the true joy of relationship with Him until you do.
Take my houses and land, change all of my dreams and my plans
Lord I’m placing my whole life in your hands.
And if you call me someday, to a land that’s far away
I’ll go and your will obey.
Radical thinking huh? Give up my plans for my life? Can’t possibly do that. Yet that is what He is looking for. Consider for a moment Paul who at one time was a pillar of his community, a man of stature, very religious, so religious he persecuted those radical Christians and truly believed he was right until he had a personal encounter with the Savior. Then His life and attitude completely changed and where did it land him ? In prison. But that didn’t matter to him. All that mattered was obeying Christ, living for Him and glorifying Him. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ in me and the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me.” – Galatians 2:20 and “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. – Romans 5:2-4
I’ll trade sunshine for rain, comfort for pain
That’s what I’ll be willing to do
For whatever it takes for my will to break
That’s what I’ll be willing to do.
Are we willing to trade sunshine for rain, or comfort for pain? Whoever will be His disciple must be willing to take up is cross and follow Him. I don’t know about you but as for me, whatever it takes for my will to break I will be willing to do.
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