We Were Desperately in Need
by Grace McCready
We were desperately in need of a moving of God amongst our people. There were many problems. I want you to know of all the people amongst those 5-600 that were in our congregation there was one person in that whole congregation that needed a moving of God's Spirit in their life more than anyone else. And that was me. I was a most unhappy person. I had become very bitter against my husband mainly over moving me into the Burlington area and involving me in his business on a full-time basis. I didn't really want to be there in the beginning. I had soaked and soured for many years when we moved. I wouldn't take part in anything in the church. I just sat on the sidelines and I missed all of God's blessings that He had for my life.
But then I heard some talk of some special meetings coming into our city. It was to be a revival crusade – whatever that was. As they talked about it I began to get very fearful. I was one person amongst that congregation that did not want revival in Burlington. For you see I feared at what would be revealed in my own life because in those days I thought I had hidden the real me very much from all the rest of the people.
I could put a smile on my face. I could entertain people, do what I needed to do, but you see my husband was the opposite and he was very involved. And guess what, I didn't like that either. You see it put me in positions that I didn't want to be. When I heard of this crusade coming God put Alex in charge. Somehow or another I just knew that I was going to be dragged into all of this and I didn't want to be. I had announced that I would attend two meetings a week and that was it. I used my physical well being which I had many problems at that point as an excuse. My husband didn't say a word. How can you fight with someone if he isn't going to say anything?
The crusade came. These Twin Brothers came into our city by the name of Sutera. In the meantime we had become acquainted with them in another city where our youngest son was a youth pastor and music director in Sarnia. Our Board had sent us there. On our way home I was scared to death at what was going to come. I asked my husband, "Do you think this crusade comes into our church, that you and I are we ready for this, are we prepared for it?" He said, "Yes, I think I am." And I said, "No, I'm not."
That would you ever realize that the couple that were the logistic people my husband brought them to live with us. I said, "For how long?" And he said, "well, maybe a week." And I thought, "Oh, it's ok I can fool everybody for a week, maybe." But you know the minute that couple came through our front door I knew that my goose was cooked. I felt that they could see right straight through me for some reason. Now I realize that it was God's Holy Spirit beginning to work.
Right in the very beginning God began to really move amongst our people. Friday night was a "Get Acquainted Night", Saturday morning the leadership, and their wives and husbands. Harold White, the man who was in charge of that meeting, he just wanted our people to turn around, their chairs back to back, get on our knees, and do nothing else but pray, talk to God. We did. But as I looked across the room there were some awfully horrified looks on the faces of our people. I imagine mine was the same. But the moment our knees touched the floor God began to work. All of a sudden I knew that if God could not do something for me that day, that morning, that hour, then I was going to totally give up. I would not go back to church again. I would just quit.
As I knelt I began to cry. And I just cried out, "Oh God, I have made such a mess out of my life. If you can do anything with it I gladly give it over to you." At that moment it was like a ten ton truck had rolled off my back. I had not been to any prayer room yet. I didn't know much about a prayer room other than I always thought I would like to help in one, but never could seem to force myself to get involved.
As the days went on God began to show me the in sin in my life and began to prepare me for what He was going to have me do in the future. The first thing that He did show me was the critical spirit. I had a very deep critical spirit. I just thought I was being honest with people. You see I could tell everybody around me what was wrong with them, but I could never see a problem in my own life. God had to break my heart over many, many areas. I want to testify about playing Holy Spirit in other people's lives which doesn't work. I did that too with my husband. It didn't work. You see when wives do that with their men the ego that God plants within a man, he digs in his heels and he goes in the opposite direction. And I had to learn that God alone, through His Holy Spirit, was the only One who could minister to my husband.
I came to a point where I just said, "Lord, whatever you want to do with me is fine with me. I'm willing to even to lay on the floor and let You walk on me if that's what You will be glorified through." I came to that point and I meant it. Then God began to change both of our lives in a real deep way.
God has done much for us, for our marriage. We enjoyed marriage for 62 years. We had our struggles. We shed our tears like everyone else. These last thirty-some years we knew where the victory was. We knew where to go when there was a problem. God had given us so many opportunities to serve Him. Opportunities that sometimes I'm just so surprised about because I'm just an ordinary person living an ordinary life, but when it's given over to the Lord Jesus Christ and He becomes Lord of all then He can work through you and He can perform the miracles that you would never dream of.
I'm so thankful that the Suteras came to our church those many years ago. Does revival last? Yes, it's your choice. It's a daily decision that you make to allow God to rule and reign supremely through His Holy Spirit in your life. I start the day that way every day in my own life and I dare not forget it or I would be in trouble. So I praise God for all that He has been doing, but I look forward yet to what He wants to do. Is my life changing? Yes, it is. I'm thankful that as He brings the changes He also brings blessing and opens new doors and opportunities for me to serve.
I thank God for the ministry that is still going on in my heart, still hunger after it and I enjoy being involved where I can.
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