Hey guys,
I just had to write to encourage you all to really get involved in our new series, Vital Pursuits. Sunday, Scott did an awesome job of leading us to think about our prayer lives, and to seek out how we can truly talk with God.
Having the book for this series will really deepen your understanding of each lesson. There's so much valuable information that it will be hard for Scott, Vaughn and me to cover everything during our class time on Sundays.
Also, there is a series of reflective readings and questions that help you focus on each lesson's Scriptural basis, and will help you apply it in your life.
For next Sunday's lesson on Listening to God, the readings focus on 1 Samuel 3:1-20. Today's reading takes verses 1-3 and asks us to reflect on the question "What effort has God created you to be involved in?"
I have to admit, I began reading the lesson last night with the full intent of answering Monday's question so Last-Minute Me could get ahead. :) But I got caught up in the lesson itself, and felt I needed to share what God showed me.
1 Samuel 3 is the story of God speaking to Samuel. As 12-year-old Samuel is sleeping in the temple, God calls his name, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel ends up answering God with "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Wow! What an awesome privilege to audibly hear God speak your own name!
That was my first thought. But it was quickly followed by this:
"Do I really want God to speak like that? What will he ask me to do? What if it's something that will hurt me or my family? What if he wants me to do something that everyone else thinks is crazy? There are plenty of stories in the Bible of God's devoted followers being hurt, persecuted and killed. I like my cozy life with my church, job and family. I finally feel settled and I don't want to mess that up!"
God help me. My will, no, even my spirit, is so weak that I shrink from such glorious contact for fear the message given would be too hard. Forgive me, Father, for my lack of trust in You and Your promise in Jeremiah 29: 11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Help me to remember that no matter the mission, You provide the means to accomplish it.
How many times have I missed out on God calling me to an effort which could have blessed me and my family because I purposely plugged my ears? I am willing to listen when I come to him with an agenda or need, but am I willing to listen when God initiates the conversation? Evidently not. My prayer for you all, as it is for me this week, is that we will not only listen to God as we pray, but that we will be willing to listen when He calls, and seek His strength and courage to follow through when ours is lacking. Remember, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."
God provides! May His blessings overwhelm you.
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3 comments:
WOW! Erin, you write so beautifully! I am so excited to start this series, and and equally excited to have you as one of our teachers! The Lord is moving in our class, and I'm eager to move with HIM! Thanks for sharing your thoughts...I am quite alot like you in your thinking. I love routine...and to be settled. I don't like to move outside my comfort zone, for fear that everything will get messed up-I have a weak spirit...I am buying into the lies of the Deceiver that I am not able, or ready, or good enough...and that I will mess it all up! But while my spirit is weak, MY GOD is strong! Scriptures build us up with the Lord's strength and that is something that I have been faced with and praying alot about lately...to be built up in the Lord's strength and wisdom, and to cast MY WILL aside. I am looking forward to getting my student book and starting this study. Thanks for being so transparent with your thoughts, and allowing me to see that I am not ALONE in my weakness...and reminding me of the scriptures...Gods GRACE is sufficient, and His POWER is made PERFECT in my weakness....Wow...that's something I'll chew on for a while.
Wow!! That was good stuff!! That one pegged me square in the forehead!!
Wow, Erin! I can see that you communicate for a living. I am so thrilled that you are going to be one of our teachers. You listened to God when He was calling you to teach! I don't believe you are as weak as you think!
We all are weak - we love our comfort zone - I am the first to admit that - it takes tremendous faith to step out of it. Just when we think we can't go on, He gives us more than we need. I await with great anticipation my study time tonight. I have already been blessed and convicted and I haven't even cracked open my Bible! His grace is truly sufficient!
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