Luke 8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.

Sometimes the truth is revealed in ways we do not expect.

These demons recognized that Jesus had authority to grant permission.

I ended yesterday’s post with a bold statement of faith.

I prayed, “Use me to do your will!”

God answered me. “An empty vessel has no desires.”

What I saw in that moment was that God does not need our permission to do His will in us or through us. Nor does He have to tell us when He does. We are His to do with as He pleases.

What God tells us in answer to our prayers is for us to understand how God works in our lives.

My prayer was selfish. I wanted to feel useful. That is not an unreasonable thing but God was dealing with my insecurity. I wanted to be seen. Glorifying self is stealing God’s glory. That God will not allow.

John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

Look at this example.

Luke 8:44-46 English Standard Version

44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”

If God the Father doesn’t even make His own begotten Son aware that He will be used, what makes us think we have the right to give God permission to do His will?

An empty cup has no desire to be used. It moves because of the master’s hand.