The factory had complicated machinery for making textiles, so the workers were given a very clear instruction: “If your threads get tangled, stop and send for the foreman” One of the workers, a woman who was dedicated to her job, and always worked hard, got her threads tangled one day and tried to disentangle them herself, rather than bothering the foreman. She succeeded only in making them more tangled.
Finally, she sent for the foreman. He took one look and asked “Have you been trying to fix this yourself? Why did you not send for me, as you were instructed?”
She admitted trying and said “I did my best”
His reply has a strong message to all blood-bought, adopted children of the living God.
He said to the worker
“Always remember that doing YOUR best is sending for ME!”
We all experience ‘tangled threads’ at times, don’t we? How do we respond? All too often, I try to sort things out myself, and all too often, the mess gets worse.
What should we do?
Philippians 4:6
Let your requests be made known UNTO GOD.
I remember the time, many years ago, when I struggled with a difficult problem. I had ‘handed the matter over to God’ and was trusting Him to work things out – or so I thought. When I read Philippians 4:6 for the eleventy-eighth time, the words “unto God” really jumped out at me. My response was “Well, OF COURSE it is ‘unto God’. There is no need to add those words!”
Then the Lord convicted me that yes, indeed, I had handed the matter over to Him, but I was still trying to work out, in my own mind, just HOW He would handle it. I was thinking that maybe He would use this person to speak to that person, or maybe He would cause this to happen or that to happen. Yes, I had to ‘let my requests be made known UNTO GOD’ and take my hands off the matter altogether, leaving it entirely to Him.
MY best was sending for HIM
and allowing HIM, the Expert, to handle the problem.
Psalm 91:15 CEV
When you are in trouble, call out to me.
I will answer and be there to protect and honour you.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto Me and I will answer you
and show you great and mighty things which you know not.
Philippians 4:6
Let your requests be made known UNTO GOD.
Our loving heavenly Father says to us:
Always remember that doing YOUR best is sending for ME!
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MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
Love this!! Great post! Reblogged on: godssceneryandpromises
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Reblogged this on godssceneryandpromises and commented:
I love this…”doing your best is sending for God!!” Great post!
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Thanks for the reblog.
“Sending for God” should be the automatic response from our hearts. After all, He has never failed us before, has He? So sad that I so often think I can handle things myself . . . thankfully, His great love soon gently draws me back to calling on Him and finding complete satisfaction in Him.
We serve an incredibly amazing God!
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Yup!! So much better to call on Him first…and get the Best answer…than trying ’til all else fails and get the leftover human response!! Lord, help us see the difference!
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Amen . . . and He always does, but we must be ‘tuned in’ to Him to recognise His leading.
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Oh, yes…and then comes the “and be obedient to His Voice” part!! Staying close to Jesus…brings favor and blessings! Amen!
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Thank you for this timely reminder, Angela. I’ve had a lot on my heart lately. My plate is full and I often feel as though I’m failing on every front.
It has occurred to me that I’m not only forgetting to seek the Lord’s direction EVERY morning–and throughout the day–, but also that when I do ask for help, I have a tendency to continue to fret about how things will eventually work out.
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I am afraid we all do this at times, Heather. We are independent folk who have been brainwashed into thinking we should be able to handle things ourselves.
However, as blood-bought, adopted children of the living God, we have all the resources of heaven available to us, and we have a loving Father who DELIGHTS to undertake for us. He bids us to let go of our problems and let Him carry them and solve them – and He does so in such a way as to teach us more of Himself and draw us closer to Him.
We serve an incredibly amazing God who loves us with an everlasting love and is always present with us and ready to meet our needs.
PS Heather, have you closed your blog? I tried to access it and received a notice that it was now private.
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Your site and personal encouragement are such good examples of how believers are to uplift and remind one another of what is True! It is my desire to allow the Lord to strip away the self-centeredness that often prevents me from seeing and loving others in this way.
Yes, my blog is currently closed. A few months ago, I was convicted of the need to step away and reassess my priorities without the temptation to maintain the site. It had become a matter of something “good” becoming an idol of sorts.
I’m learning to wait and listen for His voice more attentively even while praying that the Lord will release me to return sometime.
May He continue to bless your service here, dear Angela. This blog has never failed to touch my heart in some way.
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I understand. It seems I am constantly trying to “catch up”. I have often wanted to step aside from blogging, but the Lord very decisively leads me back. This is a ministry from Him and I must continue, but I have been compelled to do much less.
I hope to see you back here again soon Heather – but ONLY if He wills.
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This is so so good, Mentor Angela. I just love that doing my best is sending for Him! Praying that that stays imprinted in my mind and heart! Thank you so much and God bless you bunches!
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So true Debbie! My very best effort is of no effect unless directed by Him, so my best is sending for Him and giving Him complete control. He will NEVER fail me!
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Oh this was good Angela! I have had to practice this lesson so many times in my life. Turning situations over to God is hard. Turning relationships over to Him seems even harder. I am learning though to keep my hands off so that God can do His work His way!
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You mean I’m not the only one who is slow to learn?
We really have no excuse, do we? After all, He has ALWAYS undertaken for us. He has NEVER let us down. Whenever we give Him control, He acts on our behalf and ALWAYS for our good. I must remember that . . .
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Reblogged this on HOPE and PEACE In An Uncertain World and commented:
Full surrender to God’s will is the only way to live in this world- our temporary residence. Thank you Angela for another truth-filled post.
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Thanks for the reblog Stephanie. Full surrender IS the only way. As Proverbs 10:22 says The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
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Reblogged this on My Delight and My Counsellors.
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Thanks for the reblog
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Angela,
What you are describing is one of the most important, yet difficult, action for a Christian to take. It is in every person’s nature to worry and attempt to deal with our issues instead of relying upon the Lord to handle it for us. However, I have found that the more I have trusted in the Lord the easier it has become. Over time it is becoming a natural response to the issues that I face in my day to day life on earth.
Thanks for another great posting, as always they are a great encouragement and blessing. May the Lord be with you and Myles in a very special way.
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Thank you Rob. I have found that when our very first action on waking in the morning is to greet the Lord and invite Him to share our day, we tend to talk to Him constantly, seeking advice and direction and His enabling and empowerment as we progress through the day. Even so, I still sometimes tend to handle things on my own . . . until He gently reminds me He is still there.
We serve an incredibly amazing omnipotent God who delights to share our joys and sorrows – and our company. Amazing!
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He is calling for full surrender. All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give. . .
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Amen! Only in full surrender will we know the full blessings.
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