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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Willingness (02/21/05)
The Christian life...the true path of blessing, of hope, of meaning, of satisfaction, of peace, of endurance. It is a journey. So often I drift from that path and then wonder why I feel lost, stressed, forgotten, uncertain, misunderstood. The world's detour is just easier. More self-gratifying. Less of a sacrifice. The road signs are flashy and enticing. I tend to forget how cunningly deceiving is the opposition. Satan uses the same old trick on me that worked on Eve, in order to plant doubt in my heart.

I hear the same lines over and over: "Just give up. It's not worth the effort. You'll never please God. How could He use you? You need to fix "this" and "this" and "this", etc. before you can be happy and find fulfillment. All you are is talk. You are a Peter: possessing the right words without actions to back them. You are a Jonah: intimidated by the job and swept up in a comfort zone. You are King Saul: initially humble, but losing site of the task by spending too much time in front of the mirror.” His hammerings are relentless...but sometimes I find some truth to them.

Because I know how God works...because I know of His mercy, grace, love, acceptance, and power, I don’t doubt that He can use me if He really wants to. But it makes it a whole lot easier if I just cooperate with His ways and His plans. I desperately long to please God, to do great things for Him. However, at times that is all the further I get—just a desire, a casual prayer. God wants me to commit at one hundred percent. I tell Him, “I want to do 'this' for You…but can I still have 'this' in my life? Can I get at least SOME of the credit? Can I put aside my other responsibilities while I do this for you? Can I back out if I find I’m not equipped for the job?”

Talk is SO cheap. I want to teach Sunday school to impact young lives for Christ. I want to share the gospel with people I have contact with--like the Sweeneys and the Walkers. I want to involve myself in foreign missions. I want to write songs and poems and other Christian writing for God’s use. I want to memorize Scripture. I want to minister to those hurting or need of encouragement. I want to go calling with my church. I want to refresh myself with the contents of doctrine books. I want to find a Christian avenue for my musical abilities. I want to responsibly prepare myself for my future career/ministry. Etc., etc. etc…….

I could go on forever with all the things I would like to do. That’s why I feel overwhelmed sometimes. There is SO much I could be doing. And yet, all God asks of me is to serve Him where He has placed me with the task He has given me to do at THIS MOMENT. He might not have me lead someone to the Lord today, but He does want me to mirror His image to others and to be a faithful witness. God might not have me venture off to Africa on a missions trip this summer, but He can place certain missionaries on my heart to consistently pray for. I might not become a well-known Christian writer, but God certainly has called me to use my words and lips to praise Him, even if none of it ever reaches paper or another’s eye. It is still praise, even which consists merely of fragmented verse and awkward melody simply scripted within the quiet sanctuary of my heart.

God has given me abundant ministry right where I am, along with the capabilities to complete them well. I just need to realize that since I can’t do it all, I must still do what I can.
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This article has been read 798 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
donna robinson
03/02/05
I just had to let you know your words hit such a core with me. Sometimes we do indeed feel that what we 'want to do' just doesn't get done. Sometimes we feel we've let God down even! Yet I felt that your main and important point was, let God decide what it is you are to do. To have faith driven goals are wonderful but in the end prayer will lead us. Sometimes I think God has to build up our experiences and it may take years! But eventually, the one thing He truly wants and needs us to do will be made known to us. Until then, your last line said it all..
Theresa Veach
03/02/05
Your words spoke directly to my heart, a heart like yours, a heart that wants to do much and to make much of our Lord. Thanks for reminding me that we will never know how much we have served Him in things we think are the "little things." That is where our Lord is found: in the simplicity, in the purity, in our willingness to do whatever He asks great or small...
Karri Compton
03/02/05
You're not alone - I felt like you were describing me. Well done.
Lori Othouse 
03/04/05
Wow, this was so awesome...and so close to my heart, it's like reading my own thoughts! Shows me that I'm not the only one who wants to do SO much yet at times feels so inadequate. Thank you for the encouragement and reminder to always do what we can at this moment. God bless!