I strongly believe that each and every one of us, as members of the body of Christ, are called to do something to advance God's kingdom. He has placed something inside of each of us that is meant to be used to show people how amazing He is. He designed each one of us, so it only makes sense that He would not only put something in us, but He would also be the one to call it up out of us.
Has there ever been a time when you did something and it felt like it was what you were born to do? Maybe it is to sing, or to speak publicly, or to care for others, or to fight for a cause, or to be an intercessor....the list goes on and on. But my question is, after you came into a relationship with Jesus have you ever felt like He was showing you something about yourself that somehow you already knew, but you just never realized? I know that may sound confusing, but sometimes when God calls something up out of us for us to do, there is this feeling inside the says "'THIS' is why I am this way....He put this in me to used for His glory". And once you begin to use the very things that God put in you there is such a feeling of fulfillment that comes along with it. For some, it is a lifelong calling. Whatever He has called you to do, you will do forever. But for others, it is a like a stepping stone process. He is calling you to do this, so He can get you to a place to do the next thing....and then the next...and then the next. Each thing He calls you to may pull another new thing out of you, or teach you something new so you can be used on a higher and deeper level.
If God has taught me anything over the past year, it is this.....Sometimes He needs to use you from the shadows so He can teach you to be humble. Sometimes we can get so caught up in wanting to be in the spotlight that we forget why we are doing what we do. It's all for Him! It's all for His glory. It is not for our own recognition, it's to for our own gain and it's certainly should never be by our own power that we do what God has called us to do. And sometimes, even with the best intensions, we "think" we have to be in the spotlight to be used. That we would be so much more effective if we had a mic in our hand and an audience of thousands. But that is not always the case. Time and time again God has used men (and women) without them being in the spotlight. He has done miraculous things with people whose names are barely known. So for me, when I felt God pressing it on me to begin to write I had not idea it would to impact the amount of people that it has. I began to write as a healing process from the divorce I was going through. I began to write to help others who may be hurting like I was hurting. I began to pour out the words that He put in me having no idea that a year later He would be putting new things in me daily to go write. And He has taught me that in a year these words would reach people in over 20 countries and be read over 7,000 times without anyone except my immediate friends even knowing who I am. And I know this was done to humble me! God knows that I was once in the ministry and I once desired the recognition too much. And I am humble enough now to say that. But surrendering to Him and being used from the shadows has been one the best things that has ever happened to me. I want to be very clear though....the only reason I am being used it because I surrendered who I was to Him and let him humble me through correction. This opened me up to follow in the direction He wanted to point me in. To use the gifts He has put in me to glorify Him. I know I may not be in the shadows forever, but for now He is using me and teaching me and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Like I stated earlier, God wants to use us all. The manner in which He wants to use you is between you and Him. Invite Him to show you what things He has put in you that only He can pull out of you to be used for His glory. It might take some humbling, it might take some stepping out, it might take moving out of your comfort zone....but it will be worth it!
God, Thank You that you actually want to use a messed up person like me. Thank You that You trust me enough to represent You and show others the power of Your life changing love. Holy Spirit I pray today that You will show others their God given value and gifts today, and change hearts so they will allow God to use them to bring light into the lives of those around them. I pray that you will keep us humble as we are being used.....reminding us that it is because of God that we are usable, and it is for His glory that we are being used. In Jesus name, Amen
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