Life was not going so well for Charlotte Elliott. “If God loved me He would not have treated me this way”, Charlotte would say. She was continually battling health issues. One thing after another had made her very angry with God. On May 9, 1882, while she was having dinner with her family and their guest, Dr. Cesar Malan, a Swiss minister, she lost her temper. She directed her anger and God and her family. The outburst was so great that it embarrassed her family and they left the room leaving only Dr. Malan and Charlotte at the dinner table. He said to her, “You are tired of yourself, aren’t you?” She was holding in so much anger and hatred. “What is the cure”, she asked. “The faith you are trying to despise”, was his answer.
She wanted to become a Christian but she did not know what to do because of so much bitterness and anger in her life. Dr. Malan told her, “Give yourself to God just as you are now, with your fightings and fears, your hate, love, pride and shame”. She replied, “I would come to God just as I am? Is that right? And that is what Charlotte did and her life was changed. She still had health problems but her heart was healed of all the hatred and bitterness. Years later she wrote a poem, which she sold copies of to help raise money poor children. That poem said, “Just as I am without one plea. But that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come”.
Charlotte did not get cleaned up to take a bath, she just took a bath. It was a bath in God’s love and forgiveness. God wants us just at we are and then He will clean us up. The more we try to do it ourselves the bigger mess we will make of our own lives. I guess I am really talking about surrender. Trust Him, surrender to Him, worship Him. This week ask God if you are surrendered to Him. If you are not, then I encourage you lift your hands to God and Surrender.
This Sunday, October 9, 2011 we will sing Just As I Am along with I Surrender All as our foundation hymns. We will also sing Hosanna (Praise is Rising) and Here I Am to Worship. Our opening hymn will be To God Be the Glory.
I hope this will help you prepare yourself for worship.