Tomorrow I look for a place to live in Grand Rapids. I'm moving back to the city for the purpose of ministering to the neighborhood. I am beyond nervous about this prospect, but it is definitely where I am called for this season of my life. I don't worry much about it anymore. I used to worry a lot, but last week it hit a peak and I stopped what I was doing to spend some quality time with Jesus. He promises us peace when we give him our anxieties, and that is what I got. I did a lot of listening and not much talking. This is normally the other way around, but what could I possibly say to my own creator except "Lord help me!". He taught me to trust Him. I've offered myself completely to be used by God, the all powerful, and here I was concerned about being ineffective. This is God's ministry, not mine. He will prepare the way, He will set it up, He will change hearts, He will transform lives; all I need is to be willing to be used. I am not qualified to do this kind of thing. Thankfully, the Lord doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I know that anything good that comes out of this venture will be because of the Holy Spirit's work and not my own, and that's how He works; To God be all the glory. If I felt qualified to do this, I might take some of the credit for the results. I think that Philippians 4:13 will be one of my theme verses.
I might write that verse on the wall when I move in. I know that the trials will come and it will be very difficult. I need to be reminded that my strength comes from the creator of the universe. If God is for us, who can stand against us?
1 comment:
I really like this quote and what you said about not being qualified meaning that we can't take any of the glory to ourselves, but instead give it all to God.
This made me think of 2 things.
First, I think God often uses people who've had nothing and no power to do great things so that the world might see their life and be amazed and know that such a feat was only possible through God. And in the same way, God takes those who come from every advantage, every privilege and brings them into the humblest situations, so the world might think "what a waste" but then when they see that somehow this person is so abundantly fulfilled the world knows that this also could only be the work of God.
2nd, your post made me think of the book The Cross and the Switchblade (I've been in the middle of reading it for quite some time). Have you read it?
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