For His Glory?

For His Glory?

For some time now, I have been signing my emails, my letters, my notes “For His Glory.” I even once wrote a testimony of why...ultimately, because our desire IS for His glory-we serve to glorify our Lord.

Recently, here in Africa, I went to send an email and as I signed it...I couldn't write “For His Glory” from the heart. Why??? Was it because I no longer serve for His glory? Absolutely not. Was it because I don't seek to glorify my Father?? No. Of coarse not.
It was just that the words I so confidently signed at the end of my emails were replaced with this... “In His mercy.”

I think it comes through growth in my spiritual life. When you leave the comforts of home (the US) in the beginning, you are vibrant, fresh, a “new missionary!!” If you have ever been on a short-term mission trip or done some type of evangelical ministry (like Backyard Bible Club, VBS) you know that feeling of excitement! “Okay, God, I am ready to serve YOU- For your glory...let's do it!!” With such passion and confidence you burst out of the starting gate, running full speed ahead....screaming all along, “for His glory, for His glory!” And it is great!!! You run the race well!!

Then what.

Well, that fire and passion, that excitement is priceless, necessary and by all means beneficial.
But, I realized that something in that “For His Glory” might just involve me. Something I am able to do for Him. I am seeing that through our move to Africa, God is changing me, transforming me, moving me once again to a deeper walk with Him. “For His glory” is changed to “In His mercy” I serve. I don't serve out of any confidence, but out of PURE adoration and love for my God who calls me once again...now, to Africa. It is only, only by His divine love for me that I can possibly serve Him. It is only in Him that I can leave a country I loved (Ukraine) and be used by Him at all. I find it hard to believe that He calls us into a relationship with Him...and I find it even harder to believe that He continues to call us into a deeper relationship with Him. Praise God.

I still serve my Lord and Savior...that He might be glorified in me, but it is only through His mercy that I am privileged to serve Him at all. As John puts it (I am now studying the book of John), “the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

In His Mercy,
Maya McLane

Photos: Anna Katharine puckering up for a kiss, Canon standing behind the many gates that secure our house, the kids in the yard, inside our new house in Africa