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Have you ever tried to explain to God how your life should be? You carve out a comfortable little niche where only your strengths are highlighted and you avoid your weaknesses and for some reason the Lord won’t let you stay there?! In truth, I’m grateful the Lord won’t leave us in our narcissism, but it’s never pleasant when He’s pushing us to mature and grow. If you are in the ‘squeeze’ right now, know that it is for your good and God’s glory if you will just continue to say ‘yes’ to Him.
One of the most amazing stories I’ve had the privilege to live out occurred when I was 20 years old and thought I knew everything about everything. I was the Worship Pastor at a church on the Alabama Gulf Coast that had experienced rapid growth after we planted it in 1999. I had some really cool encounters and opportunities as a young musician and was getting to operate in my “sweet-spot.” Once, a man at our church asked my Pastor and I if we would travel to the north of the county and minister to the inmates at a prison. To be completely honest, when he asked, my mouth said ‘yes’ but my heart said ‘no’. Couldn’t someone else go and do it that wasn’t as ‘high profile’ as me? I mean, I was made for being up on platforms and ministering to hundreds and thousands! Never-the-less, I said ‘yes’ because I was too prideful to admit I felt it was beneath me. (I think that’s a triple negative or something… either way it was really pathetic.) If you struggle with this click here to read my post on being thankful for the struggle.
Upon arriving a little late we couldn’t get in touch with our contact that had invited us. We wandered around a bit trying to find him and came across a room full of about 60 guys sitting quietly and waiting patiently. Assuming this was the group we had been invited to, I boldly walked to the front of the room and announced who I was and what we had come to do. I immediately started into the first song of worship. Between my arrogant heart and the shock of the guys in the room, it should be no surprise that no one sang anything and no one lifted their hands. About two songs into the set my heart began to tenderize and I started repenting to the Lord for my pride and self-worship. I finished the worship set and my Pastor delivered a brief and clear salvation message about the Love of Jesus, His blood and the hope we have in Him. About a dozen men responded to receive Christ that night. And if that was the end of it, it would be a good story. But it gets better…
As we prayed with the men, a very large African man wearing a dashiki walked into the room straight at us. He was visibly angry and I wasn’t quite sure what was about to happen! In a few direct words, he quickly explained to us that we did not belong there. Apparently, we had walked in to the ‘Islamic Interest Group Meeting’ on accident and he, being the leader of the group, was running late (which is why the guys were patiently waiting when we got there… not for us, but for him!) The Christian group we were supposed to be with met on the other side of the facility. Maybe that’s why we couldn’t find our friend who had invited us! We made our exit and nervously laughed, cried and prayed all the way back home. Click here to read my post on God using you even when you don’t realize it.
The amazing thing about the Lord is that He will use your ‘yes’ even when it’s with an arrogant heart or an impure motive. You think it’s about you. You think it’s about making your resumè better or expanding your influence or looking ‘holy’. It’s always about Him and His Kingdom expanding so that others can know His great Love. He wants you to have the joy of being used by Him in ways you can’t even imagine. Don’t let anything be beneath you. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought. Though I’m grateful God allowed me to be a part of that story, I wish the story was that I had been fasting and praying, believing for a God encounter for these precious men. Instead, the Lord used me in spite of myself. He really is humble, patient and so very good. Say ‘yes’ to the Lord today in the areas that He is stretching you. Your ‘yes’ will accomplish more than you ever dreamed.
(In a side note, today starts the month of Ramadan on the Islamic calendar during which Muslims will fast and pray during the daylight hours in order to repent of sin and desire to encounter their god. Would you take time this month to pray for our Muslim friends and neighbors, and all those around the world. Pray that the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the Father of The Lord Jesus would REVEAL HIMSELF to them in power, love and delight and they would know Him. Learn more about how to pray for Muslims during Ramadan here. )
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. – Romans 12:3 NIV
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 NIV
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NIV
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