June 12

Read: Matthew 19:16-21

If thou wilt be perfect… come and follow me (Matthew 19:21).

Glad Acceptance Of God’s Plan

In Flames of Living Fire, Louise Robinson Chapman writes: “I sought heart holiness, publicly and privately for two years. Three things troubled me: I still wanted to follow the plans I had made for my own life; I was afraid God wanted me to preach; and I was afraid that God was going to send me to Africa as a missionary. One noon hour I told the Lord that I did not intend to leave until this question was settled forever. I began with my life plans. I promised God that I would work no more on them unless I had direct orders from the Almighty to do so. Preach? I would try.

“Then Africa loomed up. I saw myself away out in the jungle. I was dressed in a hideous black dress. All my teeth except two or three were gone. I sat on an old soap box by the side of a grass hut while a few naked children played at my feet. I started up in fear, and then I heard myself saying, ‘Lord God Almighty, You have a little old woman on Your hands from this very moment, now, and throughout eternity.’

“I jumped to my feet, feeling light as a feather. The room seemed to be on fire with the presence of God. Fear and hunger had gone, and I was free and satisfied. My heart was aflame with the love of God. I loved His will for me. I was ready to start immediately for Africa. I had not only settled my call but had been baptized with the Holy Ghost!”

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain, or plain, or sea; I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what You want me to be.

— Mary Brown