Elisabeth Elliot - Trust God and Do the Next Thing

A great Christian woman died yesterday.  Elisabeth Elliot has been called one of the 20 most influential Christian women of the 20th century. 

Her life's story, her writings, and her Gateway to Joy radio broadcasts shaped at least two generations of Christians in our country.  I well remember hearing her broadcast come on WMIT when I was a college student.  Her broadcast always began with her saying, "You are loved with an everlasting love."  I heard her speak one time in person, when she came to the chapel at Southern Seminary.

Her no-nonsense, "Accept your lot as God's sovereignty, trust Him and do the next thing" teaching stood in direct contrast to the self-centered "make me happy" American culture that prevailed during much of her lifetime.

Ms. Elliot is one of the modern-day heroes we should tell our children about . . .

“Today is mine. Tomorrow is none of my business. If I peer anxiously into the fog of the future, I will strain my spiritual eyes so that I will not see clearly what is required of me now.”

“Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security.”

“One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”