Choices...
Good Morning Ladies (and few gents),
Today’s devotion included below “Choices Determine Destinies” is a reminder from GiG Sharon that, “God has given each and every one of us gifts . . . gifts that He has purposed for us to use, invest, and multiply. He has given us talents and abilities that He expects us to use to further the kingdom and minister to others.”
GiG, it is naturally easy for me to succumb to hiding away my gifts, talents, and abilities. However, while in hiding, God purposes opportunities that leave me no choice but to come from out of the shadows and use them. No choice, that is, if I want to remain in obedience to Him. OUCH!
Maybe you too have found yourself in a similar pickle barrel.
GiG, here lays the blessings of inadequacy.
“It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
The apostle Paul wasn’t boasting; he gave God the credit for all his accomplishments. On the other hand, the false teachers were boasting about their own power and prestige. Oh, Paul never claimed he was capable of accomplishing all that God called him to do. Instead he simply learned to look beyond his own inadequacy to the sufficiency of Christ. If we'll adopt the same practice, we, too, can discover the blessings hidden in our own experiences of inadequacy.
Here’s the bottom line as it pertains to feelings of inadequacy. I learned seven precious truth gems a long time ago, but didn’t grasp hold securely until several years ago:
I can’t claim to be adequate without God’s help
My natural talents, abilities can carry me only so far without God’s calling (enabling)
My insufficiency drives me to God and that’s a great thing
My inadequacy relieves me of the burden of three self’s—effort, reliance and righteousness
My inability motivates reliance on a Creator, Savior, and Mighty Counselor
Using people like me—unqualified, broken, and a hot mess, God demonstrates what great things He can do—don’t fight it, just go along for the ride
My inadequacy challenges my faith. Is He who He says He is; will He do what He has said He’ll do. Do I trust Him even when I don’t have the whole picture?
GiG, may we be encouraged to draw from the Holy Spirit’s inexhaustible strength. He never intends for us to go it alone. There’s no limit to what He can do through us if we’re willing to give Him full control.
Think it over…why fear when the alternative is reliance upon the Lord. He will replace our anxiety with a quiet spirit of contentment and confidence; not in ourselves but Him.
God’s Got It…so have FAITH—God will often not show us what He plans to do until we do what He’s asked us to do. That’s called faith.
Have an “Embrace the Moment” Monday, July 9, 2018—invest all we have and live bold
Called to serve and encouraging others to thrive,
DEA
"My situation should not change my praise, but my praise can certainly change my situation!" Semper Gratus--always grateful
Check out today's Coffee and Conversations: Unless you are dead! https://youtu.be/T6YJNkjIVyk