Forsaking All

After reading five fictional books in four weeks, I was ready to take on something a little more serious and life changing. Since I first read Authentic Beauty in the summer of 2007, I have been captivated and encouraged by Leslie Ludy. Her books motivate me to become more like Christ each day, making Him not just prominent, but preeminent in my life.

My latest Ludy purchase, Sacred Singleness, is my current summer read. While Ludy's book is shorter than every book I read last month, I know Sacred Singleness will take me more time to read. Why? There's more to digest because God is sure to work on my heart--and I admit that I may not be completely willing to change.

The book begins with a reminder that in order to become more like Christ, I must be willing to forsake all--even the one thing society believes every girl dreams of: marriage. Ludy notes that "Our fulfillment cannot be found in marriage, children, or fairy-tale dreams come true. Until He is our all in all, we aren't truly living the Gospel life" (16).

Like so many Christian young ladies, I have struggled with this "curse" of singleness . . . but (as Ludy points out) singleness is not a curse, it is a gift! I can minister to the Lord as a single person in ways that I could never minister if I were married right now. Truly, as the song says, "Jesus Christ is made to me all I need."


So, am I completely content in Christ 100% of the time? Of course not! In fact, there are even times while reading Sacred Singleness that I want to throw the book down and complain that "Leslie just doesn't understand . . . after all, she's married!" But I know the true cause of my frustration: God want to change me--He wants me to be content in Him, but I'm still struggling to give Him every area He asks for. 


The Lord used Leslie Ludy to slap me in the face. Total surrender--"forsaking all"--isn't a cake walk. In fact, God tells us that walking in His steps will be hard. Elisabeth Elliot hit the nail on the head when she wrote that "None of us likes pain. All of us wish at times we did not need to 'go through all this stuff.' Let us settle it once and for all: we cannot know Christ and the power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His suffering" (20). Complete commitment to Christ requires sacrifice. God doesn't say what the sacrifice will be, but He does command that we willingly lay aside everything to follow His will.


So far, I'm loving Sacred Singleness, even if I do have a hard time swallowing the truths Ludy presents. My God wants to change me and I must be willing to forsake all.