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Extravagant Worship

We highly recommend "Extravagant Worship" by Darlene Zschech.
One of the chapters is entitled "Energetic Commitment". In this chapter, Darlene defines "obedience" and "submission".

Obedience is: submission, which is habitual yielding to authority. Submission only happens when we obey even though we don't agree with what we have been asked to do.

She speaks of these terms in reference to our energetic commitment to worship God in any and all situations God places in our lives. Just as Abraham obeyed in surrendering his very own son Isaac on the altar, we are called to such simple obedience and submission. This act of faith cannot be conjured up or just come naturally. It needs to be nurtured by our ongoing, daily intimacy and worship of God. We need to build in ourselves a strong foundation of who God is, what His word says, so that when trying times come into our lives, we would not be shaken, but in faith respond, "Yes Lord, do as you wish."

This chapter led us to think about the many months our brother Keith was in the hospital for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. During the first 2 months, when he was unconscious, not able to open his eyes, not able to talk nor eat, there was never a time our immediate family complained or blamed God for such suffering. Why? We truly believe it's because God built a strong foundation of His unchanging character and faith in His promises before such a crisis entered our lives. Although our hearts ached and shed many tears, our faith in God and His promises was not shaken because He is faithful and will never leave nor forsake us. We clung to that promise.

In this Christian journey, the daily seeking of the Lord is crucial. "God has plans for you that are WAY beyond anything you could ever ask or think" (p. 77) Are we able to receive all things with obedience and submission? This would be very difficult if we do not allow God to feed us continuously as we seek and worship Him. Are we found to have energetic commitment to the things and ways of God in our lives? We hope our family would be found faithful to that end.

Posted by Ted on November 8, 2005 10:08 PM