TOTALLY DEPENDENT

Psalm 55:22-Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you. (NIV)

While in Nigeria, we were privileged to meet the Governor of Plateau State, his Excellency Governor Jonah Jang. We arrived at his residence shortly after nine at night and were ushered into a sitting room where we waited for him to arrive. He is a retired 2 Star Air Force General who previously served twice as a military governor before retiring after very nearly 30 years of service to his country. When he served on active duty in the military, he knew ABOUT God, but he did not know God himself. It was only in retirement that he decided to follow Jesus and this changed his life in ways he could not have expected.

Once he entered retirement, Jonah Jang felt that God was calling him to serve his country further as a political leader. He spent much time in prayer asking God to confirm this call even as there were a number of other individuals working to recruit him to run for office. He was interested in the idea of running for political leadership, but was not going to run if it was not God's will. The Lord confirmed this calling to him in many different ways, and so he chose to run for the Governorship in Plateau State and won.

We were amazed that he would see us so late in the evening. Then when we met him, we were all impressed with his gentle and humble spirit. He approaches his office with a servant's attitude, refusing to allow others to call him "Excellency" as there is no Excellency other than God, to whom belongs all titles. We came to serve and to bless him, and he was concerned only for how he could serve us.

The central theme of all of our conversation with Governor Jang was that he was not able to do the work of his office on his own, but that he needed to give the work over to God, who would faithfully equip him for the work he'd been called to do. We all ended our meeting on the floor in prayer for the Governor and the Nation. It was a truly humbling experience for all of us.

How often do we cast our burdens on the Lord and trust for His sustainment? Are we not much more likely to attempt to attack a problem in our own strength when it would be so much easier and more efficient if we were to give it over to God? Why do we persist in doing it ourselves and stumbling, when all He wants is for us to recognize our need for Him and for His help?

I've always had this problem. My Mom called me her "I'd rather do it myself mother" child, as I was fiercely independent. While independence is something we prize as parents and adults, God prizes our recognition that we NEED to depend on Him for our sustainment. It is at that point that we are finally able to experience the fullness of the Christian life and gain the rest that is available to us in Him. What do you need to turn over to God today? Where are you missing the rest He promises and so desperately wants to give? What can you change to get where He wants you to be? Oh, that we could all be like Governor Jang - totally dependent on God!

Copyright 2008 Chris Govekar