Really? You Want Me?

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NLT)

A lot of us don't feel we have anything to offer God. We think we have no talent, we don't have a degree in a certain field, we make mistakes all the time...the list can go on and on. When God called Moses, several times Moses responded, and I am paraphrasing..."Really God? Me, you want me? What do I have to offer?" We do the same thing when God calls us to do something. You may not have said it, but you probably thought it, "Really God? You want me? I have nothing to offer." I thought the same thing. I thought He would use me in an area that I had talent and knowledge. And while I use those things in ministry, that is not where He has called me. He called me into counseling and teaching, something I never thought I was capable of, in fact I even said that I didn't think God wanted me to teach. The Holy Spirit got a hold of me and since then He has used me to teach in many areas. You see, God doesn't care how much knowledge you have or don't have, how many degrees you have or don't have, or how much talent you have or don't have. What He cares about is a willing heart and a willing mind, someone who isn't afraid to say "yes God, I'll do whatever you ask of me." Stop looking at what you don't have, and start looking at what you do have, God!

Take Away: Stop giving God all the reasons you think you can't do what He is asking you to do, and start saying, "God, I don't have the knowledge, the talent, or the strength to do what you are asking me, but You are with me and that is all I need, so lets do it!"

When You Hear God's Call

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NIV)

When God calls us to do some type of ministry, or even get involved in someone else's ministry, some of us, and I would venture to say most of us, think that we have to jump in and start doing that ministry the next day. Some of us even think we can go from doing nothing, to operating a global ministry overnight. But that just doesn't happen because if it would we would fall flat on our faces. When God calls you to do some type of ministry, He is telling you so that you can start preparing and training for it. God wants us to do things with excellence, and that only comes through training and preparation. For example, I felt God calling me to be a worship direction many years ago, but everytime an opportunity to take that role came along and I wouldn't get it. God kept closing the doors. Yes, I got frustrated and wondered if I was hearing HIm correctly. The problem was I that I was listening to the wrong voice. I heard God correctly about being a worship director, but then I started listening to my own voice that was saying "Kent, you got to do this now." When I decided to shut up and start listening to His voice, I heard Him saying that there are things I still need to learn before He could place me in that position. When I heard Him say that, I finally settled down and did all that I could to learn and eventually He opened the doors for me to take on the role of a worship director.

Take Away: When God calls you to a ministry, He is telling you so that you can start preparing. He will open the doors for you when you are ready and not a minute before. During that time of waiting is a time of learning and practicing.