“Go to the nations.”
Don’t you love it when God tells you to do something that seems so outside of your box that you stop and think :
Did He really say that?
Did I hear that correctly?
I wonder if I made that up!
Immediately, when I thought of the big task of “going to the nations, ” I felt…small.
But I also had the impression that God was smiling because we both knew that if I were to do this task, God would have to pour His power and Holy Spirit on me to do it. It was almost better that I was small so that I had the opportunity to rely on His power.
When God asks you to do something that feels HUGE, it is also an invitation to rely on HIS power.
Little me could not do this task. But God within me could…if I was willing.
For now I am in Africa, but I don’t really feel like I am “going to the nations” yet and so this feels more like a long term promise and task currently set before me.
Have you ever felt small when God asked you to do something?
When we feel under qualified for the job, that is when we know we need His power and spirit.
This sparks a new beauty in our relationship as we rely on Him to carry out these grandiose plans in our lives.
Although it can be scary, it can also be very exciting to step out with God and see what happens.
Will things always end up the way we hope? No.
Will we always see the miraculous? No, but sometimes we will and for those times, won’t it be worth it?
I’d rather put my faith out there and be wrong, then to not have lived with God at all.
God doesn’t choose the equipped. He chooses us, then He equips us. That is why you feel so under qualified.
When God told Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel, Samuel did not know who to anoint until God told Him.
“I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” (1 Samuel 16:1b)
As Samuel obeyed and went to see Jesse and his sons, he began looking at each of them. “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I had rejected him. The Lord does not look at the thing man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (vs. 6-7)
Jesse called his sons to pass in front of Samuel one by one, but Samuel knew that none of them were to be anointed. “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” (vs 11)
When Samuel saw him the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brother, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in Power.” (vs. 12b-13)
When you look at yourself in the mirror, you may not see a warrior or a great and powerful person. You may not see the “type” of person that you think it takes to do the job God has called you to do, but God is looking at your heart and He also knows what is to come.
Stop looking in the mirror and keep looking up to God – that is where your abilities, favor, help and power will come from.
God is the ultimate author and creator and He knows what He is doing.
God chose David, and then His Spirit came upon him. God has chosen you and His Spirit will come upon you too. The best thing we can do, is to partner with God and ask for His Spirit to come on us and enable us to carry out these awesome tasks.
Will we have to be brave? Yes. Will we have to move when we don’t feel ready? Probably. Will it be worth it to follow God’s leading? Yes!
May God’s Spirit come upon you and give you all that you need to do what He has placed before you.
