"Few of you, My children, are bold enough to ask Me for all that I have for you. You choose to wander on the perimeter of My perfect will - looking but never really seeing, listening but never really hearing; and doing, but never really having enough of Me to change your world. I have sorrow in My heart for you. You are really missing out on the abundant life that is your inheritance.

         "If I were given access to every area of your life, you would never be the same. I would make some changes. You would have to forgive everyone who has ever offended you. You would have to throw away some of the diversions in your life that replace your time with Me. You would need to start seeking relationships for their closeness to Me, rather than because they give you alternatives to My working in your life. I would overhaul your days, dwell in your dream patterns; and maintain your every thought, bringing it captive to My will.

         "I am a loving taskmaster, wanting only the best for you. You would lose all things that make you weak and receive everything that builds you up to emulate Jesus. Choose to find the abundant life. Be bold! Ask Me to really control every area of your life. It will be worth it. I promise!"

Ps. 18:30 AMP

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

John 10:10 AMP

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Rom. 12:2 AMP

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Eph. 3:20-21 AMP

20) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]­­-

21) To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

I think about the caterpillar. (I don't really do it often, honest.) If the caterpillar chose to stay outside the cocoon, it would never experience the lofty life of the butterfly. Its very nature would, however, continually attempt to drive it to its destiny of becoming a butterfly. To resist that call would take more effort than submitting to it. That is like each of us before we made Jesus our Lord.

Now carry that simple caterpillar-butterfly analogy further, and relate it to us as born again believers. If we don't completely submit to our Father's hand, it would be like the caterpillar entering the cocoon; but then deciding what parts of the butterfly it will accept and what parts of the caterpillar it will keep. The result would be a pretty foolish-looking, half-finished combination of both creatures, ill equipped to properly function as either. Maybe like some of us, huh?

Finish me completely, Lord,

Jim Corbett