Hello! Happy 4th of July weekend to all the Americans! 🙂 Hope you’ve been able to enjoy some rest, relaxation, and family time.

If you’re new to the Five Minute Friday link-up, learn more here about how it all works.

This week’s FMF writing prompt is: TAKE

Ready? GO. 

A couple of weeks ago I asked my daughter for suggestions for word prompts that I could use during the summer. One word she suggested was “take,” and as soon as she said it, all I could think of was the song, “Take my life, and let it be.”

This is the prayer of my heart, that the Lord would take my hands, take my feet, take my lips, take my love, take myself, and consecrate it all for Himself. It’s my deep desire, and yet so often (multiple times a day, in fact), I find myself taking for my own selfish purposes instead of giving of myself. I take what I want when I want it, and if I don’t get it, I can react poorly.

It’s a bit like the Apostle Paul’s conundrum in Romans 7. I call it ” the do-do chapter” because of what he confesses in verses 15-19:

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” 

I want the Lord to take my life and use it for His purposes and glory, yet my sinful nature also wants to keep my life and use it for my own purposes and glory. Isn’t this the lifelong tension we face as believers growing in sanctification, yet not yet in glory?

We struggle, but the struggle itself is a good sign. It means we’re growing in grace and holiness with the help of the Holy Spirit. So we keep fighting, in His strength and power, asking Him again and again to take our lives and let them ever, only, all for Thee.

STOP.

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Here’s what’s included: 

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Now it’s your turn! What comes to mind when you think of the word, TAKE? Share with us in five minutes or less using the link-up or comments section below, then read your link-up neighbor’s post and leave an encouraging comment!