A Prayer of Surrender and Service
I recently heard a young woman recite a simple and beautiful prayer during an AA meeting: “Put me where you need me.” The strength of her message moved me because it carried wisdom, courage, and a clear willingness to answer God’s call.
A Simple Prayer for God’s Guidance
She offered this petition as a way of making herself available for service according to God’s will. In other words, she asked God to place her wherever she could help another person in need. I love the simplicity of this request.
Isaiah 6:8 and the Call to Be Sent
Upon reflection, I connect it to the powerful words of Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here I am; send me!’” This verse shows complete readiness to be sent by God for His mission.
Therefore, the phrase “Put me where you need me” echoes Isaiah 6:8 and serves as a powerful guide for carrying the Lord’s message in recovery.
Christian Recovery, Willingness, and Spiritual Service
- Personal surrender: Recovery begins with surrender. A person admits powerlessness over alcoholism and turns to a Higher Power for help. Likewise, Isaiah responds to God without hesitation when he says, “Here I am; send me.” In the same way, a person in recovery becomes ready to surrender fully and serve without reservation.
- Bearing witness to hope and healing: When people in recovery embrace this call to willingness, they offer their lives as instruments of grace. They are essentially saying, “God, use my story to help and heal others.” As a result, their experience becomes a testimony of hope rather than a source of shame.
- Empathy and relatability: The experience of alcoholism can create deep empathy for human suffering. Because of that experience, people in recovery can connect honestly with others, share their pain, and offer compassion in return. God often uses past wounds to reveal His grace and prepare people for service.
Answering God’s Call with Confidence
In essence, recovery from alcoholism, when lived out in faith, prepares a person to answer God’s call with confidence: “Here I am; send me.” It also gives deeper meaning to the simple prayer, “Put me where you need me.”
Reflection: Are you ready to be called to serve other alcoholics in need?