God, Have Your Way in Costa Rica

Greetings again from our Global Methodist Church Convening General Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica! It is the rainy season here, but the afternoon and evening rains have not dampened the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. The Holy Spirit has been palpably present in all of our worship services; we feel that presence and thank God for it.

Bishop Mark Webb told us that his favorite prayer is a very simple one, but one that he is sometimes afraid to pray: “God, have your way, and if I get in the way, move me.” That has been such an important theme, and prayer, for our assembly of delegates. Sometimes things have not gone as some of us might have preferred, but we have seen over and over that our desire should be for what God wants—not what we want. When we have perhaps gotten in the way, God has moved us. Each time we have voted on something important, I have found myself remembering when the apostles cast lots to choose Judas’s successor, and I have prayed that just as they trusted God for the result, I will trust Him for the outcome. While we have not agreed on every vote, I am confident that God’s will has been done and will continue to be done, for we can trust the Lord.

David Duggan is the MidSouth Lay Leader and is present in Costa Rica to experience the 2024 General Conference.